People v. Santos

Judgment unanimously reversed, on the law and facts, and indictment dismissed. Memorandum: Defendant was convicted by a jury of arson in the second degree and was sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment with a maximum of 15 years and a minimum of five years. The evidence against defendant was entirely circumstantial. The testimony at the trial established that defendant and his friend, Modesto Martinez, visited the home of “Chinoman” on the evening of May 22, 1980. According to the testimony of Martinez, Chinoman’s wife, Maria, stated that she played a numbers game with Fruto…