People v. Thomas

• Decision Date: 21 June 1990
• Citation: 558 N.Y.S.2d 641,162 A.D.2d 822
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Anthony THOMAS, Also Known as Mark Turley, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 641

558 N.Y.S.2d 641

162 A.D.2d 822

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Anthony THOMAS, Also Known as Mark Turley, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Department.

June 21, 1990.

Carl Silverstein, Legal Aid Soc. of Sullivan County, Monticello, for appellant.

Stephen F. Lungen, Dist. Atty. (Claire Sullivan, of counsel), Monticello, for respondent.

Before MAHONEY, P.J., and KANE, YESAWICH, LEVINE and MERCURE, JJ.

KANE, Justice.

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Sullivan County (Leaman, J.), rendered January 27, 1989, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crimes of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, perjury in the first degree, forgery in the second degree (two counts), making an apparently sworn false statement in the first degree and petit larceny, and the violation of trespass.

Defendant was returning to the City of Elmira, Chemung County, in a vehicle driven by Darryl Hall when the two stopped to repair a flat tire along State Route 17 in the Town of Monticello, Sullivan County. A Deputy Sheriff came upon the scene and transported defendant and Hall in an unsuccessful attempt to locate a replacement tire. The two were returned and left off back at Hall's vehicle. They later proceeded to take two tires from a local automotive dealership for which they were subsequently arrested. Hall's vehicle was then impounded and 39 vials of crack cocaine were discovered in a bag under the passenger side of the front seat.

After his arrest, defendant signed a fingerprint identification card with a false name. Defendant subsequently signed a waiver of immunity with a false name and testified before a Grand Jury under the same alias. The Grand Jury indicted defendant for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, perjury in the first degree, making an apparently sworn false statement in the first degree, two counts of forgery in the second degree, petit larceny and trespass. Defendant's pretrial motion to suppress the cocaine was denied due to lack of standing to challenge the search of Hall's vehicle. After trial, the jury found defendant guilty of all charges. We first address those points raised by defendant on appeal regarding his trial, none of which have merit. We reject defendant's argument that the number of vials of cocaine was insufficient to prove intent to sell. Viewing the trial evidence in a light most favorable to the People (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), especially the number of vials and the testimony of Detective James Whalen which he based on his past investigative experience, the evidence was legally sufficient to establish defendant's guilt of intent to sell. We also reject defendant's argument that the false identity he submitted to the Grand Jury was immaterial to its investigation and could not support the charges based thereon. The false identification was relevant to defendant's credibility and thus material (see, People v. Davis, 53 N.Y.2d 164, 170, 440 N.Y.S.2d 864, 423 N.E.2d 341). Furthermore, we cannot accept defendant's argument that his false signature on the fingerprint card and waiver of immunity did not misrepresent their authenticity. The misleading nature of signing a false name and the subsequent advantages to defendant, as well as his fraudulent intent, were apparent (see, People v. Bigus, 115 A.D.2d 751, 497 N.Y.S.2d 145, affd 68 N.Y.2d 723, 506 N.Y.S.2d 333, 497 N.E.2d 700).

We also reject defendant's contention that the jury charge concerning the statutory presumption of his possession of cocaine was improperly given. Defendant argues that the presumption (see, Penal Law § 220.25[1] only applies when a defendant and the controlled substance are found in the vehicle at the same time. We disagree. The presumption has been allowed in cases involving contraband where (1) the defendant was observed leaving the vehicle, (2) the police observed the vehicle thereafter, and (3) the contraband was found before a nonoccupant of the vehicle could have placed it there (see, People v. Dowdell, 136 A.D.2d 757, 523 N.Y.S.2d 216; People v. Heizman, 127 A.D.2d 609, 511 N.Y.S.2d 409; People v. Hunter, 82 A.D.2d 893, 440 N.Y.S.2d 287, affd 55 N.Y.2d 930, 449 N.Y.S.2d 191, 434 N.E.2d...