People v. Martin

Citation545 N.Y.S.2d 287,153 A.D.2d 807
PartiesThe PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Donald MARTIN, Defendant-Appellant.
Decision Date21 September 1989
CourtNew York Supreme Court Appellate Division

D. Fabi, for respondent.

H. Winestine, New York City, for defendant-appellant.

Before MURPHY, P.J., and KASSAL, ROSENBERGER, ELLERIN and RUBIN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM DECISION.

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (John A.K. Bradley, J.), rendered October 2, 1987, convicting defendant-appellant of two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, unanimously modified, on the law and the facts, to dismiss one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and otherwise affirmed.

The defendant was arrested after two police officers stationed on the rooftops of two buildings on East 13th Street in Manhattan, using binoculars, observed him exchange several red and white glassine envelopes with a man who handed the defendant some money. Before the exchange took place, the officers saw the defendant stash a brown paper bag somewhere near the gas tank of a parked van. The defendant removed the glassine envelopes from the same area where he had placed the bag.

One of the officers radioed another officer on foot patrol in the area, informing him of what had been observed and directing him to arrest the man who had handed the defendant the money. Acting on this information, the officer on patrol arrested Arthur Anderson, who was found in possession of six red glassine envelopes of cocaine and four white glassine envelopes of heroin which were marked with a triple seven insignia.

Defendant was subsequently arrested and $140 in cash was found on his person. A brown paper bag containing five red glassine envelopes of cocaine and 21 glassine envelopes of heroin with the triple seven insignia was recovered from the rear of the van where the officers on the rooftop had instructed the arresting officer to look.

Arthur Anderson, who testified for the defense at trial, denied that he had purchased drugs from the defendant. He also maintained that the officer who arrested the defendant was not among the group of officers who had arrested him. However, on rebuttal, the officer in question asserted that he had arrested Anderson.

The defendant was acquitted of the two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, but convicted of two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third...

To continue reading

Request your trial
6 cases
  • People v. Kalabakas
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 21 Mayo 2020
    ...between the types of narcotics possessed, but treats all drugs classified as narcotics interchangeably" ( People v. Martin , 153 A.D.2d 807, 808, 545 N.Y.S.2d 287 [1989], lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 950, 550 N.Y.S.2d 284, 549 N.E.2d 486 [1989] ; see Penal Law § 220.00[7] ). Thus, it has been recogn......
  • Harbin v. Sessions, Docket No. 14-1433-ag
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • 21 Junio 2017
    ...no basis for multiple counts under this section based on the fact that the narcotics happen to be of different types.153 A.D.2d 807, 545 N.Y.S.2d 287, 288 (1st Dep't 1989). A conclusion that NYPL § 220.16(1)"treats all drugs classified as narcotics interchangeably" suggests that NYPL § 220.......
  • People v. Rivera
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 12 Enero 1999
    ...presented, since it properly aggregated all the drugs simultaneously found in defendant's constructive possession (see, People v. Martin, 153 A.D.2d 807, 545 N.Y.S.2d 287, lv. denied 74 N.Y.2d 950, 550 N.Y.S.2d 284, 549 N.E.2d The court properly denied defendant's motion to suppress since t......
  • People v. Brown
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • 3 Diciembre 1998
    ...than in allowing aggregation of monetary amounts to meet larceny or stolen property threshold amounts. The reference to People v. Martin, 153 A.D.2d 807, 545 N.Y.S.2d 287 (1st Dept.1989, lv. den. 74 N.Y.2d 950, 550 N.Y.S.2d 284, 549 N.E.2d 486) is baffling since that case held that a defend......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT