People v. Mateo

• Decision Date: 23 July 1998
• Citation: 252 A.D.2d 821,677 N.Y.S.2d 187
• Parties: , 1998 N.Y. Slip Op. 7161 The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. James MATEO, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 187

677 N.Y.S.2d 187

252 A.D.2d 821, 1998 N.Y. Slip Op. 7161

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. James MATEO, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Department.

July 23, 1998.

Petro & Grieco (Thomas K. Petro, of counsel), Kingston, for appellant.

Michael Kavanagh, District Attorney (Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, of counsel), Kingston, for respondent.

Before MIKOLL, J.P., MERCURE, PETERS, SPAIN and CARPINELLO, JJ.

SPAIN, Justice.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Lamont, J.), rendered May 3, 1996 in Ulster County, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of assault in the second degree and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree.

In August 1995, defendant was indicted for the crimes of assault in the second degree, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, two counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired. In March 1996, defendant pleaded guilty pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement to assault in the second degree and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree. Defendant was sentenced as a second felony offender to indeterminate terms of imprisonment of 2 to 4 years on the assault conviction and 1 1/3 to 4 years on the aggravated unlicensed operator conviction, with the sentences to run concurrently. Defendant now appeals.

We affirm. Initially, we reject defendant's contention that he received ineffective assistance of counsel in the initial stages of this proceeding. ¹ In order to succeed on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must show that, viewed in the totality of the circumstances, he or she was deprived of meaningful representation (see People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400; People v. Hodges, 246 A.D.2d 824, ----, 667 N.Y.S.2d 812, 814). "A contention of ineffective assistance of trial counsel requires proof of less than meaningful representation, rather than disagreement with [counsel's] strategies and tactics * * * " (People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705, 708-709, 530 N.Y.S.2d 52, 525 N.E.2d 698 [citation omitted]; see, People v. Benn, 68 N.Y.2d 941, 510 N.Y.S.2d 81, 502 N.E.2d 996).

Here, the record reveals that counsel for defendant filed an omnibus motion requesting, inter alia, dismissal of the indictment, release of the Grand Jury minutes, completion of discovery, early release of Rosario material and a Sandoval hearing. Defendant's assertion that the failure to request a probable cause hearing is tantamount to ineffective assistance of counsel is unavailing. It is well settled that counsel's failure to make a pretrial motion does not, by itself, establish ineffective assistance (see, People v. Garcia, 75 N.Y.2d 973, 975, 556 N.Y.S.2d 505, 555 N.E.2d 902; People v. Rivera, supra, at 709, 530 N.Y.S.2d 52, 525 N.E.2d 698; see also, People v. Hartford, 217 A.D.2d 798, 799, 629 N.Y.S.2d 822). In our view, defendant failed to show that his counsel had no legitimate reason to forego the probable cause hearing, so as to rebut the presumption that counsel acted competently (see, People v. Wheeler, 249 A.D.2d 774, 672 N.Y.S.2d 155; People v. Bass, 236 A.D.2d 651, 652, 653 N.Y.S.2d 873).

We further reject defendant's contentions that counsel's failure to secure an agreement regarding the People's cross-examination of defendant in the Grand Jury and failure to timely move for dismissal of the indictment (see, CPL 190.50[5][c] ) rendered counsel's performance ineffective. A defense counsel's failure to facilitate a defendant's intention to testify before the Grand Jury does not solely give rise to a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel (see, People v. Wiggins, 89 N.Y.2d 872, 873, 653 N.Y.S.2d 91, 675 N.E.2d 845; People v. Noble, 231 A.D.2d 800, 647 N.Y.S.2d 304, lv. denied 89 N.Y.2d 866, 653 N.Y.S.2d 289, 675 N.E.2d 1242). Here, the record reveals that counsel not only facilitated defendant's desire to testify, but, as defendant concedes, he made requests of the People prior to defendant's testimony. Moreover, it has been held that a counsel's failure to timely seek dismissal of the indictment pursuant to CPL 190.50(5)(c) by itself does not deny a defendant of meaningful representation (see, People v. Hoppe, 244 A.D.2d 764, 764-765, 666 N.Y.S.2d 518, 519, lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 973, 672 N.Y.S.2d 853, 695 N.E.2d 722; People v. Thompkins, 233 A.D.2d 759, 760, 650 N.Y.S.2d 406; People v. Lasher, 199 A.D.2d 595, 605 N.Y.S.2d 973, lv. denied 83...