People v. Harris

• Decision Date: 03 February 2017
• Citation: 47 N.Y.S.3d 528,147 A.D.3d 1328
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Daymond HARRIS, Defendant–Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

147 A.D.3d 1328

47 N.Y.S.3d 528

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,

v.Daymond HARRIS, Defendant–Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.

Feb. 3, 2017.

William M. Roth, Utica, for Defendant–Appellant.

Scott D. Mcnamara, District Attorney, Utica (Steven G. Cox of Counsel), for Respondent.

PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, PERADOTTO, DeJOSEPH, AND CURRAN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 220.09[1] ), and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (§ 220.03). To the extent that defendant may be deemed to challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we conclude that his challenge lacks merit (see People v. Torres, 68 N.Y.2d 677, 678–679, 505 N.Y.S.2d 595, 496 N.E.2d 684 ; see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Additionally, contrary to defendant's contention, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ).

Defendant did not object to the introduction of evidence that he was on parole at the time of the incident and thus failed to preserve for our review his contention that County Court erred in permitting the prosecutor to present that evidence (see People v. Johnson, 45 A.D.3d 606, 606, 845 N.Y.S.2d 400, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 1035, 852 N.Y.S.2d 20, 881 N.E.2d 1207 ; see also People v. Ricks, 49 A.D.3d 1265, 1266, 856 N.Y.S.2d 346, lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 869, 860 N.Y.S.2d 495, 890 N.E.2d 258, reconsideration denied 11 N.Y.3d 740, 864 N.Y.S.2d 399, 894 N.E.2d 663 ). In any event, we reject defendant's contention. Defendant's parole officer testified that defendant resided at the residence in which the cocaine was found, and that he had previously observed defendant sleeping in the bedroom in which the drugs were discovered by the police. That evidence was highly relevant to the issues at trial, including, in this constructive possession case, whether defendant exercised dominion and control over the bedroom in which the drugs were found. Evidence that a defendant is on parole is admissible where, as here, it is relevant to the issues at trial and its probative value exceeds its prejudicial effect (see generally People v. Scarver, 121 A.D.3d 1539, 1540, 993 N.Y.S.2d 830, lv. denied24 N.Y.3d 1123, 3 N.Y.S.3d 764, 27 N.E.3d 478 ; People v. Johnson, 94 A.D.3d 1144, 1145, 942 N.Y.S.2d 621, lv. denied 19 N.Y.3d 997, 951 N.Y.S.2d 474, 975 N.E.2d 920 ; People v. Pryor, 48 A.D.3d 1217, 1217–1218, 851 N.Y.S.2d 801, lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 868, 860 N.Y.S.2d 495, 890 N.E.2d 258 ). In addition, the court minimized any prejudice to defendant by refusing to admit any evidence detailing the specific crime of which defendant was convicted (cf. People v. Dowdell, 133 A.D.3d 1345, 1345–1346, 19 N.Y.S.3d 828 ), and by giving prompt cautionary instructions to the jury (see Johnson, 45 A.D.3d at 606, 845 N.Y.S.2d 400 ; People v. Jones, 276 A.D.2d 292, 292, 714 N.Y.S.2d 24, lv. denied 95 N.Y.2d 965, 722 N.Y.S.2d 482, 745 N.E.2d 403 ; see generally People v. Kims, 24 N.Y.3d 422, 439, 999 N.Y.S.2d 337, 24 N.E.3d 573 ).

Defendant further contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by a series of purported errors by his trial attorney. We reject that contention. With respect to defendant's contention that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the testimony of defendant's parole officer, it is well settled that "[a] defendant is not denied effective assistance of trial counsel merely because counsel does not make a motion or argument that has little or no chance of success" (People v. Stultz,

2 N.Y.3d 277, 287, 778 N.Y.S.2d 431, 810 N.E.2d 883, rearg. denied 3 N.Y.3d 702, 785 N.Y.S.2d 29, 818 N.E.2d 671 ; see People v. Gray, 27 N.Y.3d 78, 88, 29 N.Y.S.3d 888, 49 N.E.3d 1180 ; People v. Caban, 5 N.Y.3d 143, 152, 800 N.Y.S.2d 70, 833 N.E.2d 213 ). For the reasons discussed above, the court properly admitted the parole officer's testimony, and defense counsel therefore was not ineffective in failing to object to its introduction. Similarly without merit is defendant's contention that counsel was ineffective in failing to request a circumstantial evidence charge. "Defendant's proximity to the cocaine, which was in plain view, constitutes direct evidence of defendant's possession of the cocaine found in the apartment" (People v. Wilson, 284 A.D.2d 958, 958, 726 N.Y.S.2d 322, lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 943, 733 N.Y.S.2d 383, 759 N.E.2d 382 ; see People v. Goodrum, 72 A.D.3d 1639, 1639, 901 N.Y.S.2d 770, lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 773, 907 N.Y.S.2d 462, 933 N.E.2d 1055 ). Because this case involved both direct and circumstantial evidence of guilt, a circumstantial evidence charge was not warranted, and the failure to request such a charge "cannot be said to have constituted ineffective assistance of counsel" (People v. Jones, 138 A.D.3d 1144, 1145, 30 N.Y.S.3d 329, lv. denied 28 N.Y.3d 932, 40 N.Y.S.3d 360, 63 N.E.3d 80 ; see People v. Way, 115 A.D.3d 558, 558–559, 981 N.Y.S.2d 731, lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 1048, 998 N.Y.S.2d 318, 23 N.E.3d 161 ; see also People v. Johnson, 303 A.D.2d 830, 836–837, 758 N.Y.S.2d 687, lv. denied 99 N.Y.2d 655, 760 N.Y.S.2d 120, 790 N.E.2d 294, reconsideration denied 100 N.Y.2d 583, 764 N.Y.S.2d 393, 796 N.E.2d 485 ).

Furthermore, " ‘it is incumbent on defendant to demonstrate the absence of strategic or other legitimate explanations' for defense counsel's allegedly deficient conduct" (People v. Atkins, 107 A.D.3d 1465, 1465, 967 N.Y.S.2d 318, lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 1040, 972 N.Y.S.2d 537, 995 N.E.2d 853, quoting People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705, 709, 530 N.Y.S.2d 52, 525 N.E.2d 698 ; see People v. Benevento,

91 N.Y.2d 708, 712, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584 ; People v. Hutchings, 142 A.D.3d 1292, 1295, 38 N.Y.S.3d 863 ), and defendant failed to meet that burden with respect to the remainder of the purported failures of counsel raised on appeal. Viewing the evidence, the law and the circumstances of this case, in totality and as of the time of the representation, and noting in particular that defendant was acquitted of...