People v Guzman
2014 NY Slip Op 02453 [116 AD3d 790]
April 9, 2014
Appellate Division, Second Department
As corrected through Wednesday, May 28, 2014


The People of the State of New York,Respondent,
v
Harry Guzman, Appellant.

[*1]Harry Guzman, Napanoch, N.Y., appellant pro se.

Janet DiFiore, District Attorney, White Plains, N.Y. (Raffaelina Gianfrancesco,Steven A. Bender, and Richard Longworth Hecht of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County(Holdman, J.), rendered July 9, 2010, convicting him of burglary in the second degree,upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People vBetancourt, 68 NY2d 707 [1986]; People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]),we find that it was legally sufficient to establish his guilt of burglary in the second degreebeyond a reasonable doubt (see Penal Law § 140.25 [2]; People v Hammon, 47 AD3d644 [2008]; People vBalaz, 43 AD3d 949 [2007]; People v Moon, 11 AD3d 486 [2004]; People vBrown, 288 AD2d 233 [2001]; People v Hirsch, 280 AD2d 612 [2001];People v Murray, 168 AD2d 573 [1990]). Contrary to the defendant's contention,his intent to commit a crime within the subject residence was sufficiently established bycircumstantial evidence (see People v Barnes, 50 NY2d 375, 380 [1980]; People v Bergman, 70 AD3d1494 [2010]; People v Gilmore, 199 AD2d 410, 411 [1993]; People vLide, 192 AD2d 557, 558 [1993]; People v Murray, 168 AD2d 573 [1990];People v Caraballo, 138 AD2d 725 [1988]), including DNA evidence linking thedefendant to the crime (seePeople v Jones, 105 AD3d 1059, 1060 [2013]; People v Dolan, 2 AD3d745, 746 [2003]; People v Rush, 242 AD2d 108 [1998]).

Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of theweight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342 [2007]), we neverthelessaccord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony,and observe demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004], certdenied 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 as to all of theconvictions was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d633 [2006]).

Contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court conducted an extensivecolloquy, following which the defendant executed a knowing, voluntary, and intelligentwaiver of his right to counsel (see People v Providence, 2 NY3d 579, 583 [2004];People v Vivenzio, 62 NY2d 775 [1984]; People v Anderson, 94 AD3d 1010, 1012 [2012]).[*2]

The defendant's remaining contention is withoutmerit. Dillon, J.P., Chambers, Austin and Duffy, JJ., concur.


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