| People v Bynum |
| 2009 NY Slip Op 09318 [68 AD3d 1348] |
| December 17, 2009 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v CliftonBynum, Appellant. |
—[*1] Robert M. Carney, District Attorney, Schenectady (Gerard A. Dwyer of counsel), forrespondent.
Spain, J. Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Milano, J.), rendered July 2, 2008in Schenectady County, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crime of robbery in the thirddegree.
Defendant was convicted after a jury trial of robbery in the third degree in connection withthe theft of watches from a drug store located in the City of Schenectady, Schenectady County.After observing defendant pocketing the watches from a display case in the store, a securityguard ordered defendant to stop and empty his pockets. A scuffle ensued and defendant fled outof the store and away in a white vehicle. After the store manager provided the police with thelicense plate number and photographs of defendant from the store's video surveillanceequipment, defendant was apprehended and arrested. He was sentenced to 3 to 6 years ofincarceration based on his status as a second felony offender. Defendant now appeals from thejudgment of conviction, and we affirm.
Defendant contends that there was legally insufficient evidence that he used force during thecommission of a theft or that he possessed stolen property, both essential elements to show aprima facie case of robbery in the third degree (see Penal Law §§ 160.00,160.05). Legally sufficient evidence is present when the proof, viewed most favorably to thePeople, establishes "any valid line of reasoning and permissible inferences which could lead arational [*2]person to the conclusion reached by the jury on thebasis of the evidence at trial and as a matter of law satisfy the proof and burden requirements forevery element of the crime charged" (People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987][citation omitted]; see Penal Law § 70.10 [1]; People v Hurteau, 19 AD3d 878, 880 [2005], lv denied 5NY3d 806 [2005]).
Forcible stealing is defined as "us[ing] or threaten[ing] the immediate use of physical forceupon another person for the purpose of . . . [p]reventing or overcoming resistanceto the taking of the property or to the retention thereof immediately after the taking" (Penal Law§ 160.00 [1]). "All that is necessary is that there be a threatened use of force, which maybe implicit from the defendant's conduct or gleaned from a view of the totality of thecircumstances" (People v Rychel, 284 AD2d 662, 663 [2001] [citations omitted]). Whileforce merely used in order to escape will not support a robbery, the jury may infer that, when adefendant is in possession of stolen property, the use of such force is to retain control of theproperty (see People v Jones, 4AD3d 622, 623-624 [2004], lv denied 2 NY3d 801 [2004]; People vBrandley, 254 AD2d 185 [1998], lv denied 92 NY2d 1028 [1998]).
Here, the security guard testified that when he instructed defendant to empty his pockets,defendant produced two watches of a brand sold at the store, still in their packaging. Whenordered to empty his remaining pockets, defendant attempted to leave the store and the scuffleensued. The security guard further testified that, at one point, defendant attempted to strike himwith a fist and that when he "got scared and felt he was going to [get hurt]" he let defendant go.This testimony was corroborated by the testimony of a cashier and a pharmacist who witnessedthe altercation. Further, testimony was introduced that four other watches—unpackaged,of a brand consistent with those sold at the store and apparently new—were found indefendant's possession after he was apprehended. Viewed in the light most favorable to thePeople, permissible inferences could lead a rational person to the conclusion reached by the jurythat defendant used force or at least the threat of force in order to retain control of the watchesthus satisfying the proof and burden requirements for robbery in the third degree (see People v Whitted, 16 AD3d905, 906 [2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 892 [2005]; People v Jones, 4 AD3d at623-624; People v Rychel, 284 AD2d at 663).
Moreover, the foregoing evidence, coupled with proof that the security guard recovered twopackaged watches from defendant and that two empty packages were later found on the floornear the watch display that were identified as the packaging appropriate for two of theunpackaged watches found in defendant's possession, is sufficient to sustain the jury's conclusionthat defendant was knowingly in possession of stolen property (see People v Albanese, 38 AD3d1015, 1016-1017 [2007], lv denied 8 NY3d 981 [2007]; People v Whitted,16 AD3d at 906). Likewise, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we reject defendant'sarguments that the verdict was against the weight of the credible evidence (see People vMateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004], cert denied 542 US 946 [2004]; People ex rel.MacCracken v Miller, 291 NY 55, 62 [1943]; People v Lopez-Aguilar, 64 AD3d 1037, 1037 [2009]).
Defendant's remaining contentions are without merit. Specifically, we hold that defendantwas not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel. Contrary to defendant's assertions,defense counsel adequately raised sufficiency arguments in his motion to dismiss the indictmentfollowing the close of the People's case. We perceive no error in defense counsel's decision notto request that County Court poll the jury after the verdict; we also find that defense counsel'scomment to the court during a side-bar discussion that "defendant has been moaning for [*3]20 minutes that he needs a bathroom break," although somewhatunprofessional, did not render his trial unfair. Indeed, defense counsel filed appropriate motions,engaged in thorough cross-examination of the People's witnesses and proffered a cogent trialtheory. Accordingly, viewing this case in its totality, counsel offered meaningful representation(see generally People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137 [1981]; see People v Echavarria, 53 AD3d 859, 864 [2008], lvdenied 11 NY3d 832 [2008]; People v Jones, 47 AD3d 961, 964-965 [2008], lv denied10 NY3d 812 [2008]).
Finally, defendant's claim that he was improperly sentenced as a second felony offenderbecause he was not informed of his rights under CPL 400.21 is not preserved for review asdefendant failed to controvert the legitimacy of his prior conviction at sentencing or to move tovacate the sentence (see People v Proctor, 79 NY2d 992, 994 [1992]; People vOliver, 63 NY2d 973, 974-975 [1984]; People v Willis, 3 AD3d 793, 794 [2004], lv denied 2NY3d 766 [2004]). Further, inasmuch as we find that there was substantial compliance with thestatute, we decline to invoke our interest of justice jurisdiction to modify the sentence(see CPL 470.15 [3] [c]; [6] [a]; People v Johnson, 24 AD3d 967, 969 [2005], lv denied 6NY3d 814 [2006]; People v Booker, 280 AD2d 785, 786 [2001], lv denied 96NY2d 916 [2001]; People v Polanco, 232 AD2d 674, 675 [1996]).
Cardona, P.J., Lahtinen, Stein and McCarthy, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment isaffirmed.