| People v Nadal |
| 2008 NY Slip Op 09627 [57 AD3d 574] |
| December 2, 2008 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v JuanNadal, Also Known as John Nadal, Appellant. |
—[*1] Janet DiFiore, District Attorney, White Plains, N.Y. (Maria I. Wager, Richard Longworth Hecht,and Anthony J. Servino of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal by the defendant from two judgments of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Molea,J.), both rendered January 6, 2004, convicting him of robbery in the first degree, robbery in the seconddegree (two counts), assault in the second degree (two counts), attempted assault in the second degree,criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (two counts), menacing in the second degree, andendangering the welfare of a child (two counts) under indictment No. 02-01123, and attempted assaultin the first degree, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree,and menacing in the second degree under indictment No. 03-00155, after a nonjury trial, and imposingsentences. The appeals bring up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant'somnibus motion which was to suppress his statements to law enforcement officials.
Ordered that the judgment rendered under indictment No. 02-01123 is modified, on the law, byvacating the convictions of assault in the second degree (two counts), vacating the sentences imposedthereon, and dismissing those counts of the indictment; as so modified, the judgment rendered underthat indictment is affirmed; and it is further,
Ordered that the judgment rendered under indictment No. 03-00155 is modified, on the law, byvacating the sentence imposed on the conviction of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree;[*2]as so modified, the judgment rendered under that indictment isaffirmed, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Westchester County, for resentencing onthat count in accordance herewith.
The defendant was convicted of several criminal charges stemming from acts of domestic violenceperpetrated against his then-girlfriend over the course of four different days. On this appeal, thedefendant raises a sundry list of legal issues, faulting the Supreme Court, the prosecution, and his owncounsel. Among other issues, the defendant contends that the entirety of his statements made to thepolice prior to and after the administration of Miranda warnings (see Miranda vArizona, 384 US 436 [1966]), should have been suppressed because the subsequentpost-Miranda statement admitted into evidence was part of an improperly elicited continuousinterrogation. However, since the defendant failed to raise this specific argument in support ofsuppression during the Huntley hearing (see People v Huntley, 15 NY2d 72 [1965]), itis unpreserved for appellate review (seePeople v Rogers, 34 AD3d 504, 504-505 [2006]; People v Thompson, 27 AD3d 495, 496 [2006]; People v Caballero, 23 AD3d 1031,1032 [2005]). In any event, the evidence of the defendant's guilt, without reference to the alleged error,was overwhelming, and there is no reasonable possibility that the alleged error might have contributedto the defendant's conviction. Thus, any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt (see Peoplev Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230, 237 [1975]; People v Rhodes, 49 AD3d 668, 669 [2008]).
The defendant's contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to support his convictions issimilarly unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Gray, 86NY2d 10, 19 [1995]). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution(see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient toestablish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility toconduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349[2007]), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hearthe testimony, and observe their demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004],cert denied 542 US 946 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]).Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight ofthe evidence (see People v Romero, 7NY3d 633, 644-645 [2006]).
The defendant's contention that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel rests on matterspartially dehors the record and to that extent it may not be reviewed on direct appeal (see People v Olson, 35 AD3d 890,890-891 [2006], affd 9 NY3d 968 [2007]). To the extent that the claim is based upon therecord, the defendant received the effective assistance of counsel (see People v Benevento, 91NY2d 708, 712-713 [1998]; People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137, 147 [1981]).
The defendant's contention that the verdict was repugnant is unpreserved for appellate review andis, nevertheless, without merit (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Alfaro, 66 NY2d 985,987 [1985]). As the People correctly concede, however, the defendant's convictions of assault in thesecond degree (see Penal Law § 120.05 [6]) as charged under indictment No. 02/1123must be vacated, and those counts of the indictment dismissed. Those offenses are merely inclusoryconcurrent counts of robbery in the second degree (see Penal Law § 160.10 [2] [a]), ascharged in the same indictment and under which he was convicted (see CPL 300.40 [3] [b];People v Bailey, 54 AD3d 419, 419-420 [2008]; People v Maldonado, 46 AD3d 842, 843 [2007]; People v Leal, 38 AD3d 917, 918[2007]).
As the People also correctly concede, the court erred in sentencing the defendant as a persistent[*3]violent felony offender on the charge of criminal possession of aweapon in the third degree (see Penal Law § 265.02 [1]) under indictment No.03/0155, as that charge does not qualify as a violent felony under the statute (see Penal Law§ 70.08 [1] [a]; People v Smith,33 AD3d 943, 944 [2006]). Therefore, the judgment rendered under indictment No. 03-00155must be modified to vacate the sentence imposed on the conviction of criminal possession of a weaponin the third degree, and the matter remitted for resentencing on that count. The remainder of thesentences imposed were not excessive, however (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]).
The defendant's contention raised in point 11 of his supplemental pro se brief, regarding the allegedviolation of his right to confrontation, and his contention regarding the People's alleged failure to instructthe grand jury on the defense of justification, raised in point 17 of his supplemental pro se brief, areunpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, are without merit. The defendant's remainingcontentions, raised in his supplemental pro se brief, to the extent they are reviewable on direct appeal,are without merit. Skelos, J.P., Lifson, Santucci and Balkin, JJ., concur.