People v. Rivera
| Decision Date | 02 June 2021 |
| Docket Number | 2019-12014,Ind. No. 1654/18 |
| Citation | 144 N.Y.S.3d 631 (Mem) |
| Parties | The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Pedro RIVERA, also known as Pedro Castaneda, appellant. |
| Court | New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division |
Stephen R. Mahler, Kew Gardens, NY, for appellant.
Madeline Singas, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Jason R. Richards and Sarah S. Rabinowitz of counsel), for respondent.
HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J., MARK C. DILLON, ROBERT J. MILLER, FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Terence P. Murphy, J.), rendered October 1, 2019, convicting him of murder in the second degree, conspiracy in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (two counts), 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, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 ), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5] ; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053 ; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ).
The Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's motion for a mistrial based on the People's alleged violations of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215. "To establish a Brady violation, a defendant must show that the evidence is favorable to the defendant because it is either exculpatory or impeaching in nature, the evidence was suppressed by the prosecution, and prejudice arose because the suppressed evidence was material" ( People v. Breland, 178 A.D.3d 716, 717, 115 N.Y.S.3d 427 ; see People v. Rong He, 34 N.Y.3d 956, 958, 112 N.Y.S.3d 1, 135 N.E.3d 1081 ; People v. Alisuarez, 186 A.D.3d 1391, 1391, 128 N.Y.S.3d 880 ). " Brady does not require that disclosure be made at any particular point in the proceedings, but only that it be made in time for the defense to use it effectively" ( People v. McClinton, 180 A.D.3d 712, 713, 119 N.Y.S.3d 132 ; see People v. Alisuarez, 186 A.D.3d at 1391, 128 N.Y.S.3d 880 ; People v. Perkins, 227 A.D.2d 572, 574, 643 N.Y.S.2d 173 ; People v. White, 178 A.D.2d 674, 675, 578 N.Y.S.2d 227 ). Here, a statement allegedly made by Ramon Martines, which the defendant contends was exculpatory, was turned over to defense counsel during the People's case-in-chief and admitted into evidence during the defense case (see People v. Tripp, 162 A.D.3d 691, 693, 77 N.Y.S.3d 670 ). Moreover, defense counsel did not seek to recall any prosecution witnesses who had already testified for the purpose of conducting further cross-examination based on Martines's statement (see People v. Alisuarez, 186 A.D.3d at 1391–1392, 128 N.Y.S.3d 880 ; People v. Tripp, 162 A.D.3d at 693, 77 N.Y.S.3d 670 ). Accordingly, the defendant was afforded a meaningful opportunity to make use of Martines's statement, and there is no indication that earlier disclosure might have had any effect on the outcome of the trial (see People v. Fuentes, 12 N.Y.3d 259, 265, 879 N.Y.S.2d 373, 907 N.E.2d 286 ; People v. McClinton, 180 A.D.3d at 713, 119 N.Y.S.3d 132 ). A statement allegedly made by Raul Ponce was turned over to defense counsel prior to the commencement of the trial, and there is no indication that the People suppressed Ponce's statement (see People v. Alisuarez, 186 A.D.3d at 1392, 128 N.Y.S.3d 880 ; People v. Rispers, 146 A.D.3d 988, 989, 45 N.Y.S.3d 217 ).
Contrary to the People's contention, the defendant preserved for appellate review his contention that he was deprived of the right to present a defense by the Supreme Court's failure to admit Ponce's statement into evidence at trial (see CPL 470.05[2] ). Nevertheless, the court properly precluded Ponce's...
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