People v. Bugman

• Decision Date: 02 October 1998
• Citation: 254 A.D.2d 796,679 N.Y.S.2d 491
• Parties: 1998 N.Y. Slip Op. 8188 PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Keith BUGMAN, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 491

679 N.Y.S.2d 491

1998 N.Y. Slip Op. 8188

PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Keith BUGMAN, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division,

Fourth Department.

Oct. 2, 1998.

J. Michael Jones, Geneseo, for Appellant.

Thomas E. Moran by Jennifer Sommers, Geneseo, for Respondent.

Before DENMAN, P.J., and GREEN, WISNER, BALIO and FALLON, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Defendant was convicted after a jury trial of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25[1] ) and tampering with physical evidence (Penal Law § 215.40[2] ). We reject the contention of defendant that Supreme Court improperly curtailed his efforts to establish that someone else may have committed the crime. Although a defendant has the right to introduce evidence showing a clear link between a third party and the crime, he has no right to introduce proof that merely raises a suspicion that another person committed the crime (see, People v. Wade, 245 A.D.2d 473, 666 N.Y.S.2d 467). Here, the court gave defendant considerable latitude to explore his theories; however, it properly refused to permit defendant to introduce extrinsic evidence to impeach one of the People's witnesses on a collateral matter (see, People v. Pavao, 59 N.Y.2d 282, 288-290, 464 N.Y.S.2d 458, 451 N.E.2d 216). Furthermore, defendant's motion to set aside the verdict based upon newly discovered evidence impeaching the credibility of a prosecution witness was properly denied without a hearing (see, People v. De Jac, 219 A.D.2d 102, 637 N.Y.S.2d 874, lv. denied 88 N.Y.2d 935, 647 N.Y.S.2d 168, 670 N.E.2d 452; People v. Burnette, 117 A.D.2d 987, 988, 499 N.Y.S.2d 288, lv. denied 69 N.Y.2d 1002, 517 N.Y.S.2d 1034, 511 N.E.2d 93; see also, People v. Sides, 242 A.D.2d 750, 751, 661 N.Y.S.2d 863, lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 836, 667 N.Y.S.2d 690, 690 N.E.2d 499).

Defendant also contends that he received the maximum sentence because he remained silent at sentencing. Defendant, however, made no objection to the court's comments at sentencing, thereby failing to preserve the issue for our review (see, People v. Caban, 246 A.D.2d 438, 668 N.Y.S.2d 181, lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 970, 672 N.Y.S.2d 850, 695 N.E.2d 719). In any event, defendant was not punished for his silence. The nature of the crime and the horrific attempt to cover it up justify the sentence imposed, which is neither unduly harsh nor severe.

We also reject the contention that defendant should be resentenced because of alleged bias or inaccuracy in the presentence report. Defendant submitted his own presentence memorandum, and his affidavit correcting the presentence report was made a part of the report.

The contention of defendant that the court should have summarily granted his suppression motion because the People's answering affirmation failed to controvert his factual allegations is not preserved for our review (see, CPL 470.05[2] ). We reject the further contention of defendant that the court erred in denying his suppression motion following the Huntley hearing. The record supports the court's determination that defendant...