People v Tabor
2008 NY Slip Op 00836 [48 AD3d 1096]
February 1, 2008
Appellate Division, Fourth Department
As corrected through Wednesday, April 16, 2008


The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Dan Tabor,Appellant.

[*1]Frank J. Nebush, Jr., Public Defender, Utica (Robert R. Reittinger of counsel), fordefendant-appellant.

Scott D. McNamara, District Attorney, Utica (Steven G. Cox of counsel), forrespondent.

Appeal from a judgment of the Oneida County Court (Barry M. Donalty, J.), rendered April21, 2005. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of assault in the second degree.

It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the lawand a new trial is granted.

Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict ofassault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [2]). We agree with defendant thatCounty Court erred in summarily denying his request to proceed pro se. "A defendant in acriminal case may invoke the right to defend pro se provided: (1) the request isunequivocal and timely asserted, (2) there has been a knowing and intelligent waiver of the rightto counsel, and (3) the defendant has not engaged in conduct which would prevent the fair andorderly exposition of the issues" (People v McIntyre, 36 NY2d 10, 17 [1974]; seePeople v D'Antuono, 263 AD2d 968, 969 [1999]). In determining that a defendant is actingknowingly and voluntarily, the court must "ensure that the defendant . . . is aware ofthe disadvantages and risks of waiving his right to counsel" (People v Schoolfield, 196AD2d 111, 115 [1994], lv dismissed 83 NY2d 858 [1994], lv denied 83 NY2d915 [1994]). Here, the record establishes that all three prongs of the test in McIntyre weremet (see People v Ward, 205 AD2d 876, 877 [1994], lv denied 84 NY2d 873[1994]; cf. People v Lott, 23 AD3d1088, 1089 [2005]; see generally People v Arroyo, 98 NY2d 101, 103-104 [2002]).

We do not reach defendant's remaining contentions in light of our determination.Present—Hurlbutt, J.P., Smith, Fahey, Peradotto and Pine, JJ.


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