People v. Brown

Decision Date31 January 2000
Citation704 N.Y.S.2d 83,268 A.D.2d 593
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
PartiesTHE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent,<BR>v.<BR>NELSON BROWN, Appellant.

Bracken, J. P., Santucci, Thompson and S. Miller, JJ., concur.

Ordered that the judgment is modified, on the law, by vacating the sentence imposed; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for resentencing in compliance with Penal Law § 70.10 (2).

The defendant's contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to establish his guilt of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree is unpreserved for appellate review (see, CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10; People v Udzinski, 146 AD2d 245). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see, People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15 [5]).

The defendant was found to be a persistent felony offender pursuant to Penal Law § 70.10 (2). The procedure to determine whether a defendant may be subjected to increased punishment as a persistent felony offender mandates a "two-pronged analysis" (People v Smith, 232 AD2d 586; see, People v Gaines, 136 AD2d 731, 733; People v Montes, 118 AD2d 812, 813; People v Oliver, 96 AD2d 1104, affd 63 NY2d 973). First, the court must determine if the defendant is a persistent felony offender as defined in Penal Law § 70.10 (1), namely, that he previously has been convicted of at least two felonies. Second, the court must determine if "the history and character of the defendant and the nature and circumstances of his criminal conduct are such that extended incarceration and lifetime supervision of the defendant are warranted to best serve the public interest" (CPL 400.20 [1] [b]; see, People v Oliver, supra, at 1105; see also, People v Smith, supra, at 586). Before imposing sentence, the court is obliged to set forth on the record its reasons for finding the second element present (see, Penal Law § 70.10 [2]; People v Smith, supra, at 586).

It is impossible to ascertain what conduct or circumstances the court relied upon in determining that the second prong of the persistent felony offender analysis was satisfied. The court's conclusory recitation at sentencing that it had reviewed the defendant's background and record was insufficient to fulfill the statute's mandate (see, People v Smith, supra, at 587; People v Gaines, supra; People v Montes, supra). As such, the sentence must be vacated and the matter remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for...

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5 cases
  • Brown v. Greiner
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York
    • March 21, 2003
    ...as both unpreserved for appellate review and without merit and his jury instruction claim as without merit. People v. Brown, 268 A.D.2d 593, 704 N.Y.S.2d 83, 84 (2d Dep't 2000). However, it vacated Brown's sentence because the sentencing court had failed to follow the "`two-pronged analysis......
  • Brown v. Greiner
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York
    • March 27, 2003
    ...as both unpreserved for appellate review and without merit and his jury instruction claim as without merit. People v. Brown, 268 A.D.2d 593, 704 N.Y.S.2d 83, 84 (2d Dep't 2000). However, it vacated Brown's sentence because the sentencing court had failed to follow the "`two-pronged analysis......
  • Brown v. Greiner
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • June 3, 2005
    ...the sentencing judge had failed to record the reasons for sentencing Brown as a persistent felony offender. People v. Brown, 268 A.D.2d 593, 704 N.Y.S.2d 83 (2nd Dept.2000), leave to appeal denied, 94 N.Y.2d 945, 731 N.E.2d 619, 710 N.Y.S.2d 2 (2000) (table). At resentencing, the trial cour......
  • People v. Brown
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • May 15, 2001
    ...from a resentence of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Starkey, J.), imposed March 9, 2000, upon remittitur from this court (see, People v Brown, 268 A.D.2d 593). ORDERED that the resentence is Contrary to the defendant's contention, the resentencing court complied with the mandates of Penal......
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