| People v Wilson |
| 2011 NY Slip Op 08847 [90 AD3d 1155] |
| December 8, 2011 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v JasonS. Wilson, Appellant. |
—[*1] John M. Muehl, District Attorney, Cooperstown (Michael F. Getman of counsel), forrespondent.
Stein, J. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Otsego County (Burns, J.), renderedJuly 30, 2010, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crimes of sexual abuse in the firstdegree and attempted sexual abuse in the second degree.
In April 2009, the victim (born in 1995) informed her mother, defendant's live-in girlfriend,that defendant had molested her on two occasions while she slept—once in 2003, when heput his finger inside her vagina, and again in 2007, when he moved his hands along her stomachtoward her vagina and attempted to roll her onto her back. The victim's mother brought her to theState Police, where the victim gave a statement. Defendant was indicted and found guilty after ajury trial of one count of sexual abuse in the first degree and one count of attempted sexual abusein the second degree.[FN*]Defendant now appeals and we affirm.
The People's proof at trial included, among other things, a videotape of defendant's fullconfession to the police. County Court granted defendant's pretrial request for a Huntleyhearing, but proceeded to trial without conducting such hearing. Although County Court wasrequired to [*2]determine defendant's suppression motion beforethe commencement of trial (see CPL 710.40 [3]), defendant waived any objection to suchprocedural irregularity by proceeding to trial without a ruling and by failing to object to theadmission of the confession into evidence (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Wright, 5 AD3d 873, 875[2004], lv denied 3 NY3d 651 [2004]; People v Melendez, 141 AD2d 860, 861[1988], lv denied 73 NY2d 788 [1988]). In fact, defendant affirmatively withdrew hismotion to suppress the videotaped confession on the third day of the trial. In addition, whenasked by County Court during the trial whether he objected to the admission of the confession, hereplied in the negative. Defendant's contention on appeal that the videotape should have beenredacted to eliminate the portion of his police interview wherein he indicated his unwillingness tosubmit to a polygraph test is unpreserved for our review as he failed to request redaction orobject to its admission at any time before the videotape was shown (see CPL 470.05 [2];People v Perkins, 24 AD3d890, 891 [2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 816 [2006]; People v Vinogradov, 294AD2d 708, 709 [2002]; see generallyPeople v Abare, 86 AD3d 803, 805 [2011]).
Nor do we find merit to defendant's argument that the supplemental charge given by CountyCourt in response to the jury's question as to the meaning of sexual gratification was reversibleerror. During its deliberations, the jury sent a note to the court seeking "guidance or standards tounderstand what touching for the purposes of sexual gratification means." The court properlyapprised both parties of the request, and provided them with an opportunity to suggest a response(see CPL 310.30; People v O'Rama, 78 NY2d 270, 276-277 [1991]; People v Carpenter, 52 AD3d1050, 1051 [2008], lv denied 11 NY3d 735 [2008], cert denied 556 US—, 129 S Ct 1613 [2009]). After rereading the charges, including the elements thereof, andreiterating the People's burden of proof, County Court provided examples of factual scenariosfrom prior cases—as suggested by the People—indicating whether defendant'sconduct in those cases had or had not led to a jury determination that such conduct constitutedtouching for the purpose of sexual gratification. In addition, the court provided a definition ofgratification, as requested by defendant. Defendant's main contention is that the examples offactual scenarios provided to the jury prejudiced his right to a fair trial.
In responding to inquiries from a deliberating jury, the trial court "must give such requestedinformation or instruction as [it] deems proper" (CPL 310.30) by interpreting the question and"calculat[ing] what information is best suited to eliminate the apparent jury confusion"(People v Ward, 282 AD2d 819, 821 [2001], lv denied 96 NY2d 942 [2001];see CPL 310.30; People v Ellis, 183 AD2d 534, 536 [1992], affd 81NY2d 854 [1993]). Although the court may exercise some discretion in fashioning a response,the response must be meaningful (seePeople v Santi, 3 NY3d 234, 248 [2004]; People v Steinberg, 79 NY2d 673, 684[1992]; People v Ward, 282 AD2d at 821; People v Henning, 271 AD2d 813, 815[2000]; People v Pyne, 223 AD2d 910, 912 [1996], lv denied 88 NY2d 940[1996]). In interpreting the adequacy of the court's response, we consider the form of thequestion, the particular issue raised, the supplemental instruction actually given and theprejudice, if any, to the defendant (see People v Steinberg, 79 NY2d at 684).
Here, before providing examples where touching for sexual gratification had been found,County Court explained that they came from case law and instructed the jury that it was notrequired to find that defendant's conduct was for the purpose of sexual gratification even if thefactual scenarios were similar. County Court also reinforced defendant's right to remain silentand the jury's ability to seek additional instruction from the court. Upon reading the record as awhole, we find that County Court based its supplemental instruction on general and well-[*3]recognized legal principles regarding sexual gratification (seePeople v Ditta, 52 NY2d 657, 660-661 [1981]; People v Wagner, 72 AD3d 1196, 1197 [2010], lv denied15 NY3d 779 [2010]; People vMcDade, 64 AD3d 884, 887 [2009], affd 14 NY3d 760 [2010]). "[The court's]supplemental instructions when considered in full and in context neither misstated the applicablelaw nor tended, in the end, to confuse or coerce the jury" (People v Ellis, 183 AD2d at535). Moreover, the curative instructions given by the court obviated any prejudice to defendant(see People v Terry, 85 AD3d1485, 1487 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 862 [2011]; People v Wilson, 78 AD3d 1213,1215 [2010], lv denied 16 NY3d 747 [2011]; People v Oquendo, 268 AD2d 883,886 [2000], lv denied 95 NY2d 837 [2000]).
Defendant's contention that County Court improperly marshaled the evidence is alsounpersuasive, particularly in view of the fact that defendant did not present any evidence (seePeople v Owens, 69 NY2d 585, 591 [1987]; People v Culhane, 45 NY2d 757, 758[1978], cert denied 439 US 1047 [1978]). Further, any error was harmless in view of theundisputed trial evidence (see People v Steinberg, 79 NY2d at 684; People vEllis, 183 AD2d at 536).
Defendant's remaining contentions, to the extent that they have not been specificallyaddressed herein, have been considered and are unavailing.
Peters, J.P., Lahtinen, McCarthy and Garry, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment isaffirmed.
Footnote *: Defendant represented himselfat trial, assisted by an assigned attorney advisor.