People v. Shabaz Nawaz

In People v. Shabaz Nawaz, 183 Misc. 2d 195 (N.Y. Crim. Ct. 1999), where a defendant was charged with criminal contempt in the second degree, it was alleged that "the informant observed the defendant drive past informant on a motorcycle . . . make a U-turn and park across the street from the informant . . . then stared at informant, causing informant to become annoyed and alarmed." Id. at 196. In denying a motion to dismiss for facial insufficiency, the Shabaz court focused on whether the defendant "willfully disobeyed" the order of protection. Id. at 197. In reviewing the facts, the court stated as follows: "Defense counsel further suggests that the incident was a "chance" encounter on the street. Even if the incident began as a "chance" encounter, the allegation in the accusatory instrument, that the defendant made a U-turn after passing the complainant and then parked his motorcycle across from her and began staring at her, suggests that the defendant's conduct was not merely part of a fortuitous chain of events."