People v. Stallone

• Decision Date: 13 April 2022
• Docket Number: 2018–14688,Ind. No. 1873/17
• Citation: 204 A.D.3d 841,166 N.Y.S.3d 272
• Parties: The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Jerome STALLONE, appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

204 A.D.3d 841

166 N.Y.S.3d 272

The PEOPLE, etc., respondent,

v.Jerome STALLONE, appellant.

2018–14688

Ind. No. 1873/17

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

Submitted—January 24, 2022

April 13, 2022

Mark Diamond, New York, NY, for appellant, and appellant pro se.

Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney, Riverhead, NY (Timothy P. Finnerty and Marion Tang of counsel), for respondent.

FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, J.P., LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JOSEPH A. ZAYAS, LARA J. GENOVESI, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Timothy P. Mazzei, J.), rendered October 26, 2018, convicting him of robbery in the first degree, burglary in the second degree, and burglary in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is modified, on the law, by vacating the conviction of burglary in the third degree, vacating the sentence imposed thereon, and dismissing that count of the indictment; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to the County Court, Suffolk County, for the issuance of an amended uniform sentence and commitment sheet in accordance herewith.

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, 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, 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 defendant's contentions, raised in his main brief and his pro se supplemental brief, that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel are based, in part, on matter appearing on the record and, in part, on matter outside the record, and thus constitute a "mixed claim" of ineffective assistance ( People v. Maxwell , 89 A.D.3d 1108, 1109, 933 N.Y.S.2d 386 ; see People v. Evans, 16 N.Y.3d 571, 575, 925 N.Y.S.2d 366, 949 N.E.2d 457 ). Since the defendant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel cannot be resolved without reference to matter outside the record, a CPL 440.10 proceeding is the appropriate forum for reviewing the claim in its entirety, and we decline to review the claim on this direct appeal (see People v. Freeman , 93 A.D.3d 805, 806, 940 N.Y.S.2d 314 ; People v. Maxwell , 89 A.D.3d at 1109, 933 N.Y.S.2d 386 ). Although the defendant made a post-conviction motion pursuant to CPL article 440 to vacate the judgment of conviction on the ground of ineffective assistance of counsel, the issues raised in that motion are not properly before this Court, as he was denied leave to appeal from the order denying that motion (see People v. Lopez–Alvarado , 194 A.D.3d 961, 962–963, 144 N.Y.S.3d 380 ; People v. Meyn , 193 A.D.3d 1080, 1081, 146 N.Y.S.3d 305 ).

Contrary to the defendant's contention, he was not deprived of his right to testify since he did not make a request to testify, but, rather, to have certain evidence read into the record (cf. People v. Morgan, 149 A.D.3d 1148, 1153, 51 N.Y.S.3d 218 ; People v. Harden, 99 A.D.3d 1031, 1032–1033, 953 N.Y.S.2d 689 ).

The defendant's contention that certain remarks made by the prosecutor during summation were improper and deprived him of a fair trial is unpreserved for appellate review since the defendant failed to object to the remarks at issue (see CPL 470.05[2] ; People v. Munnerlyn, 193 A.D.3d 981, 982, 142 N.Y.S.3d 837 ; People v. Luciano, 192 A.D.3d 1045, 1046, 144 N.Y.S.3d 211 ). In any event, the contention is without merit. The challenged remarks were either fair comment on the evidence (see People v. Ashwal, 39 N.Y.2d 105, 109, 383 N.Y.S.2d 204, 347 N.E.2d 564 ), a fair response to issues raised in the defense summation (see People v. Galloway, 54 N.Y.2d 396, 399, 446 N.Y.S.2d 9, 430 N.E.2d 885 ), or not so egregious as to have deprived the defendant of a fair trial (see People v. Morales, 171 A.D.3d 945, 947, 98 N.Y.S.3d 121 ).

The defendant's contention, raised in his pro se supplemental brief, that the County Court failed to comply with the procedure for addressing jury notes set forth by the Court of Appeals in People v. O'Rama, 78 N.Y.2d 270, 277–278, 574 N.Y.S.2d 159, 579 N.E.2d 189 is unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Martinez , 186 A.D.3d 1530, 1532, 130 N.Y.S.3d 828 ). The alleged procedural defect did not constitute a mode of proceedings error which would obviate the preservation requirement, as the record demonstrates that the court fulfilled its core responsibilities under CPL 310.30 by providing defense counsel with meaningful notice of the contents of the jury notes at issue (see People v. Nealon , 26 N.Y.3d 152, 160–161, 20 N.Y.S.3d 315, 41 N.E.3d 1130 ; People v. Price , 197 A.D.3d 1182, 1184, 151 N.Y.S.3d 361 ; People v. Martinez , 186 A.D.3d at 1532, 130 N.Y.S.3d 828 ). The related contention raised in the defendant's pro se supplemental brief, that the court failed to meaningfully respond to certain of the jury's requests for supplemental instruction, is also unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Morris , 27 N.Y.3d 1096, 1098, 36 N.Y.S.3d 52, 55 N.E.3d 1025 ), and in any event, without merit (see People v. Malloy , 55 N.Y.2d 296, 303, 449 N.Y.S.2d 168, 434 N.E.2d 237 ).

As the People correctly concede, burglary in the third degree is a lesser included offense of burglary in the second degree (see Penal Law §§ 140.20, 140.25[1][c] ; People v. Best, 120 A.D.3d 707, 709, 991 N.Y.S.2d 441 ). Thus, we vacate the defendant's conviction of burglary in the third degree, vacate the sentence imposed thereon, and dismiss that count of the indictment (see CPL 300.40[3][b] ; People v. Lee, 39 N.Y.2d 388, 390, 384 N.Y.S.2d 123, 348 N.E.2d 579 ; People v. Best, 120 A.D.3d at 709, 991 N.Y.S.2d 441 ).

Contrary to ...