| People v Rodrigues |
| 2010 NY Slip Op 05135 [74 AD3d 1818] |
| June 11, 2010 |
| Appellate Division, Fourth Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Sara N.Rodrigues, Appellant. |
—[*1] Cindy F. Intschert, District Attorney, Watertown (Nicole L. Kyle of counsel), forrespondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Jefferson County Court (Kim H. Martusewicz, J.), renderedNovember 24, 2008. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of robbery in thefirst degree (four counts), robbery in the second degree (six counts), burglary in the first degree(three counts), burglary in the second degree, assault in the second degree (two counts),conspiracy in the fourth degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree (three counts), criminalpossession of stolen property in the fourth degree (three counts), petit larceny (four counts),criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree (four counts), unlawful imprisonment inthe second degree (two counts) and making a false sworn statement in the second degree.
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the lawby reversing those parts convicting defendant of burglary in the first degree under count 12 ofthe indictment, assault in the second degree under counts 15 and 16 of the indictment and petitlarceny under counts 20, 24, 28 and 30 of the indictment and dismissing counts 12, 15, 16, 20,24, 28 and 30 of the indictment and as modified the judgment is affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting her upon a jury verdict of,inter alia, four counts of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15 [3]); six counts ofrobbery in the second degree (§ 160.10 [1], [2] [a]); three counts of burglary in the firstdegree (§ 140.30 [2], [3]); one count of burglary in the second degree (§ 140.25 [1][d]); two counts of assault in the second degree (§ 120.05 [6]); and four counts of petitlarceny (§ 155.25). We reject the contention of defendant that the evidence is legallyinsufficient to establish her accessorial liability (see generally People v Bleakley, 69NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Contrary to the further contention of defendant, we conclude that thetestimony of her accomplices was sufficiently corroborated (see generally People vBesser, 96 NY2d 136, 143-144 [2001]; People v Delgado, 50 AD3d 915, 917 [2008]).
We agree with defendant, however, that counts 15 and 16 of the indictment, for assault in thesecond degree, and counts 20, 24, 28 and 30, for petit larceny, must be dismissed as lesserinclusory concurrent counts. We therefore modify the judgment accordingly. Although defendantconcedes that she failed to preserve that contention for our review, preservation is not required,and those counts[*2]"must be dismissed as a matter of lawbecause 'a verdict of guilty upon the greater [count] is deemed a dismissal of every lesser[inclusory concurrent count]' " (Peoplev Moore, 41 AD3d 1149, 1152 [2007], lv denied 9 NY3d 879 [2007],denied reconsideration 9 NY3d 992 [2007], quoting People v Lee, 39 NY2d 338,390 [1976]). "[C]oncurrent counts are inclusory when the offense charged in one is greater thanthat charged in the other and when the latter is a lesser offense included within the greater" (People v Scott, 61 AD3d 1348,1350 [2009], lv denied 12 NY3d 920 [2009], denied reconsideration 13 NY3d799 [2009]; see CPL 300.30 [4]). Here, assault in the second degree and petit larceny arelesser inclusory concurrent counts of robbery in the second degree (see People vMcTyere, 90 AD2d 987 [1982]; People v Thorpe, 72 AD2d 590 [1979]; seegenerally Scott, 61 AD3d at 1350).
As the People correctly concede, we further conclude that defendant should have beenconvicted of only one of the two counts of burglary in the first degree under Penal Law §140.30 (2). "Regardless of how many persons are injured by the defendant inside the dwelling,the defendant can . . . be convicted of [only] one count of burglary [in the firstdegree under section 140.30 (2) where] there has been only one entry" (People v Perrin,56 AD2d 957, 958 [1977]; see also People v Daniels, 165 AD2d 610, 614-615 [1991],lv denied 78 NY2d 1010 [1991]). Consequently, count 12 of the indictment, for burglaryin the first degree under Penal Law § 140.30 (2), must be dismissed, and we thereforefurther modify the judgment accordingly.
Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes under the remaining counts ascharged to the jury (see People vDanielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we conclude that the verdict with respect to thosecounts is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 NY2d at495). The record belies the contention of defendant that she was penalized for exercising herright to trial (see People v Pena, 50 NY2d 400, 411-412 [1980], rearg denied 51NY2d 770 [1980], cert denied 449 US 1087 [1981]). The sentence with respect to theremaining counts is not unduly harsh or severe. We have considered the remaining contention ofdefendant with respect to her defense of duress and conclude that it is without merit.Present—Smith, J.P., Fahey, Carni, Green and Gorski, JJ.