People v. Lepczynski

• Decision Date: 16 June 1997
• Citation: 240 A.D.2d 593,659 N.Y.S.2d 53
• Parties: The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Richie LEPCZYNSKI, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 53

659 N.Y.S.2d 53

240 A.D.2d 593

The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Richie LEPCZYNSKI, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division,

Second Department.

June 16, 1997.

Daniel L. Greenberg, New York City (Susan Epstein, of counsel), for appellant.

Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Brooklyn (Roseann B. MacKechnie and David O. Leiwant, of counsel), for respondent.

Before MILLER, J.P., and COPERTINO, SULLIVAN and ALTMAN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Curci, J.), rendered September 21, 1995, convicting him of menacing in the second degree, attempted burglary in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third 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 v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of the crimes of attempted burglary in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt on those counts was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15[5] ).

We reject the defendant's contention that he was denied his fundamental right to be present at all material stages of the trial when the court heard further argument on his Sandoval motion and made its ruling in his absence. A review of the record demonstrates that the defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to be present when defense counsel informed the court, in the defendant's presence, that the defendant had signed a written waiver indicating that he was fully advised of his rights and that he agreed to waive his right to be present (see, People v. Rivera [Luis], 237 A.D.2d 539, 656 N.Y.S.2d 894; People v. People, 223 A.D.2d 732, 637 N.Y.S.2d 204; People v. Thomas, 221 A.D.2d 388, 633 N.Y.S.2d 351; People v. McGee, 214 A.D.2d 587, 625 N.Y.S.2d 248).

The defendant's sentence was not excessive (see, People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675).

The defendant's remaining contentions are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.