People v. Merritt

• Decision Date: 14 June 2012
• Citation: 946 N.Y.S.2d 306,96 A.D.3d 1169,2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 04795
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Cedric K. MERRITT, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

96 A.D.3d 1169

946 N.Y.S.2d 306

2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 04795

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,

v.Cedric K. MERRITT, Appellant.

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

June 14, 2012.

Catherine A. Barber, Albany, for appellant.

P. David Soares, District Attorney, Albany (Steven M. Sharp of counsel), respondent.

Before: PETERS, P.J., MERCURE, STEIN, McCARTHY and GARRY, JJ.

PETERS, P.J.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court(Teresi, J.), rendered January 31, 2011 in Albany County, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crimes of burglary in the second degree and petit larceny.

Defendant was indicted for burglary in the second degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal impersonation in the fourth degree after the fruits of a burglary of an apartment in the City of Watervliet, Albany County were found in a car in which he was a passenger during a traffic stop.Following a hearing, Supreme Court denied defendant's motion to suppress the evidence recovered during the stop.Prior to the ensuing jury trial, the court granted defendant's motion to dismiss the charge of criminal impersonation in the fourth degree, and the parties stipulated to reducing the charge of grand larceny in the fourth degree to petit larceny.Defendant was ultimately convicted of burglary in the second degree and petit larceny and sentenced to 15 years in prison with five years of postrelease supervision on the burglary count and one year in jail on the petit larceny count, to run concurrently.He now appeals.

We find no merit to defendant's contention that the evidence seized from the vehicle should have been suppressed.Defendant does not dispute that the police had authority to stop the vehicle, which had a missing headlight ( seePeople v. Ellis,62 N.Y.2d 393, 396, 477 N.Y.S.2d 106, 465 N.E.2d 826[1984];People v. Muniz,12 A.D.3d 937, 938, 785 N.Y.S.2d 765[2004];People v. Lamanda,205 A.D.2d 934, 935, 613 N.Y.S.2d 755[1994],lv. denied84 N.Y.2d 828, 617 N.Y.S.2d 148, 641 N.E.2d 169[1994] ).Once the vehicle was lawfully stopped, the officer was justified in asking defendant for his name as part of a reasonable request for information and—after a New York Statewide Police Investigation Network (hereinafter NYSPIN) search did not return any results for the name he provided—in ordering him to step out of the vehicle and detaining him until a further NYSPIN search of his true name was completed ( seePeople v. Hollman,79 N.Y.2d 181, 185, 581 N.Y.S.2d 619, 590 N.E.2d 204[1992];People v. Robinson,74 N.Y.2d 773, 775, 545 N.Y.S.2d 90, 543 N.E.2d 733[1989],cert. denied493 U.S. 966, 110 S.Ct. 411, 107 L.Ed.2d 376[1989];People v. Green,80 A.D.3d 1004, 1005, 915 N.Y.S.2d 371[2011];People v. Tejada,270 A.D.2d 655, 656, 704 N.Y.S.2d 365[2000],lv. denied95 N.Y.2d 805, 711 N.Y.S.2d 173, 733 N.E.2d 245[2000] ).After the subsequent NYSPIN search indicated that defendant was wanted for an outstanding warrant, he was arrested and placed in the patrol car.Upon reapproaching the vehicle, the officer observed a wooden bank for loose change crafted from an old post office box tumbler matching the description of the stolen property in plain view on the floor behind the driver's side seat.Contrary to defendant's contention, the shining of the flashlight into an area of plain view was not an unreasonable intrusion and did not convert a proper observation into an impermissible search ( seePeople v. Cruz,34 N.Y.2d 362, 370, 357 N.Y.S.2d 709, 314 N.E.2d 39[1974];People v. Fells,279 A.D.2d 706, 709–710, 718 N.Y.S.2d 458[2001],lv. denied96 N.Y.2d 758, 725 N.Y.S.2d 284, 748 N.E.2d 1080[2001];People v. Wilson,284 A.D.2d 960, 961, 727 N.Y.S.2d 922[2001],lvs. denied96 N.Y.2d 943, 733 N.Y.S.2d 383, 759 N.E.2d 382[2001],97 N.Y.2d 689, 738 N.Y.S.2d 306, 764 N.E.2d 410[2001];People v. Evans,175 A.D.2d 456, 458, 572 N.Y.S.2d 508[1991],lv. denied79 N.Y.2d 856, 580 N.Y.S.2d 728, 588 N.E.2d 763[1992] ).As great weight is accorded to the factual findings of the suppression court where, as here, they are not clearly erroneous and are supported by the record ( seePeople v. Williams,25 A.D.3d 927, 928, 807 N.Y.S.2d 470[2006],lv. denied6 N.Y.3d 840, 814 N.Y.S.2d 88, 847 N.E.2d 385[2006];People v. Muniz,12 A.D.3d at 938, 785 N.Y.S.2d 765), we find no basis upon which to disturb its determination.

We further find that defendant's convictions are supported by legally sufficient evidence.To convict defendant of burglary in the second degree, the People were required to prove that defendant knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling with the intent to commit a crime therein ( seePenal Law § 140.25[2] ).The trial testimony established that the victims left their apartment around 3:00 P.M. on February 21, 2010.Although the doors to their apartment were left unlocked, only family had permission to enter the residence in their absence.A few hours later they returned to find that a bank for loose change and numerous pieces of jewelry were missing from their bedroom.Defendant was found with the stolen property, which he admitted that he alone possessed, the day following the burglary and just a few blocks from the victims' apartment.These facts and the evidence of defendant's actions and demeanor when confronted by the police, when viewed in the light most favorable to the People( seePeople v. Acosta,80 N.Y.2d 665, 672, 593 N.Y.S.2d 978, 609 N.E.2d 518[1993];People v. Bleakley,69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672[1987] ), provided the jury with a proper basis from which to reasonably infer that defendant is the one who burglarized the victims' home ( seePeople v. Hall,57 A.D.3d 1222, 1225–1226, 870 N.Y.S.2d 508[2008],lv. denied12 N.Y.3d 817, 881 N.Y.S.2d 24, 908 N.E.2d 932[2009];People v. Scurlock,33 A.D.3d 366, 366, 822 N.Y.S.2d 64[2006],lv. denied7 N.Y.3d 928, 827 N.Y.S.2d 697, 860 N.E.2d 999[2006];People v. Marmulstein,6 A.D.3d 879, 880–881, 775 N.Y.S.2d 405[2004],lv. denied3 N.Y.3d 660, 782 N.Y.S.2d 702, 816 N.E.2d 575[2004];People v. Miller,114 A.D.2d 863, 864, 494 N.Y.S.2d 899[1985],lv. denied67 N.Y.2d 763, 500 N.Y.S.2d 1036, 491 N.E.2d 293[1986];People v. Sim,53 A.D.2d 992, 993, 386 N.Y.S.2d 114[1976],affd.44 N.Y.2d 758, 405 N.Y.S.2d 686, 376 N.E.2d 1331[1978];comparePeople v. Moore,291 A.D.2d 336, 738 N.Y.S.2d 332[2002] ).This evidence was likewise legally sufficient to support the conviction of petit larceny ( seePenal Law § 155.25).

Nor are we persuaded that defendant's convictions are against the weight of the evidence.While defendant stated that he had found the property in a bag on a landing outside his friend's former apartment and took it because he was unsure why the property was there and wanted to safeguard it until his friend's return, the jury was free to reject his version of the events ( seePeople v. Hall,57 A.D.3d at 1226, 870 N.Y.S.2d 508;People v. Mangual,13 A.D.3d 734, 736, 785 N.Y.S.2d 785[2004],lv. denied4 N.Y.3d 800, 795 N.Y.S.2d 176, 828 N.E.2d 92[2005] ).Evaluating the evidence in a neutral light and weighing the probative force of the conflicting testimony and the relative strength of the conflicting inferences that may be drawn therefrom, while according deference to the jury's credibility determinations ( seePeople v. Carota,93 A.D.3d 1072, 1075, 941 N.Y.S.2d 302[2012];People v. Underdue,89 A.D.3d 1132, 1133, 931 N.Y.S.2d 784[2011];People v. Richards,78 A.D.3d 1221, 1222, 909 N.Y.S.2d 841[2010],lv. denied15 N.Y.3d 955, 917 N.Y.S.2d 115, 942 N.E.2d 326[2010] ), we find that the evidence was given the weight it should be accorded and, consequently, defendant's convictions were not contrary to the weight of the evidence.

Defendant next challenges Supreme Court's jury instructions.His contention that the court erred in instructing the jury on consciousness of guilt is unpreserved for our review ( seeCPL 470.05 [2];People v. James,75 N.Y.2d 874, 875, 554 N.Y.S.2d 465, 553 N.E.2d 1013[1990];People v. Dallas,58 A.D.3d 1019, 1021, 871 N.Y.S.2d 504[2009],lv. denied12 N.Y.3d 815, 881 N.Y.S.2d 22, 908 N.E.2d 930[2009];People v. Thaddies,50 A.D.3d 1249, 1250, 855 N.Y.S.2d 740[2008],lv. denied10 N.Y.3d 965, 863 N.Y.S.2d 149, 893 N.E.2d 455[2008] ).Because defendant did not request a missing witness instruction with respect to the People's failure to call the driver of the vehicle until after the close of all evidence, his request was untimely and, therefore, properly denied ( seePeople v. Rodney,79 A.D.3d 1363, 1365, 912 N.Y.S.2d 340[2010];People v. Turner,73 A.D.3d 1282, 1283–1284, 903 N.Y.S.2d 159[2010],lv. denied15 N.Y.3d 896, 912 N.Y.S.2d 584, 938 N.E.2d 1019[2010] ).Lastly, Supreme Court did not err in instructing the jury regarding the permissible inference that may be drawn from the recent and exclusive possession of the fruits of a burglary ( seePeople v. Baskerville,60 N.Y.2d 374, 382–383, 469 N.Y.S.2d 646, 457 N.E.2d 752[1983] ) and, in light of the evidence adduced at trial, the charge as given was appropriate ( se...