Opinion
04-28-2017
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Melchi N. JONES, Defendant–Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.).
The Abbatoy Law Firm, PLLC, Rochester (David M. Abbatoy, Jr., of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Nancy Gilligan of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Abbatoy Law Firm, PLLC, Rochester (David M. Abbatoy, Jr., of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Nancy Gilligan of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, CURRAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a plea of guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (Penal Law § 220.06[5] ) and various violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, defendant contends that County Court failed to make an appropriate inquiry into defendant's allegations of a potential conflict with his assigned counsel and thereby deprived defendant of his right to counsel of his choosing. We reject that contention.
"It is well settled that an indigent defendant is guaranteed the right to counsel by both the Federal and New York State Constitutions (see U.S. Const. 6th Amend; NY Const., Art. I, § 6 ), but this entitlement does not encompass the right to counsel of one's own choosing ... While a court has a duty to investigate complaints concerning counsel, ‘this is far from suggesting that an indigent's request that a court assign new counsel is to be granted casually’ ... Whether counsel is substituted is within the ‘discretion and responsibility’ of the trial judge ... and a court's duty to consider such a motion is invoked only where a defendant makes a ‘seemingly serious request [ ]’ ... Therefore, it is incumbent upon a defendant to make specific factual allegations of ‘serious complaints about counsel’ ... If such a showing is made, the court must make at least a ‘minimal inquiry,’ and discern meritorious complaints from disingenuous applications by inquiring as to ‘the nature of the disagreement or its potential for resolution’ " (People v. Porto, 16 N.Y.3d 93, 99–100, 917 N.Y.S.2d 74, 942 N.E.2d 283 ; see generally People v. Sides, 75 N.Y.2d 822, 824–825, 552 N.Y.S.2d 555, 551 N.E.2d 1233 ; People v. Medina, 44 N.Y.2d 199, 207, 404 N.Y.S.2d 588, 375 N.E.2d 768 ).
Here, on the day trial was scheduled to begin, defendant informed the court that, while he did not wish to represent himself, he also did not want to be represented by his assigned counsel. Defendant faulted defense counsel for failing to communicate with him, failing to provide him with certain paperwork, and failing to obtain a more favorable plea offer.
We agree with the People that defendant's complaints were not " ‘serious complaints about counsel’ " (Porto, 16 N.Y.3d at 100, 917 N.Y.S.2d 74, 942 N.E.2d 283 ). Rather, defendant "made only vague assertions that defense counsel was not in frequent contact with him and did not aid in his defense" (People v. MacLean, 48 A.D.3d 1215, 1217, 850 N.Y.S.2d 819,
lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 866, 860 N.Y.S.2d 492, 890 N.E.2d 255, reconsideration denied 11 N.Y.3d 790, 866 N.Y.S.2d 617, 896 N.E.2d 103 ; see People v. Velasquez, 66 A.D.3d 1460, 1461, 885 N.Y.S.2d 694, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 942, 895 N.Y.S.2d 333, 922 N.E.2d 922 ). Even assuming, arguendo, that defendant's complaints about defense counsel "suggest [ed] a serious possibility of good cause for the substitution [of counsel]" and thereby established a need for further inquiry (People v. Faeth, 107 A.D.3d 1426, 1427, 967 N.Y.S.2d 275, lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 1073, 974 N.Y.S.2d 322, 997 N.E.2d 147 [internal quotation marks omitted] ), we conclude that "the court afforded defendant the opportunity to express his objections concerning defense counsel, and the court thereafter reasonably concluded that defendant's objections were without merit" (People v. Bethany, 144 A.D.3d 1666, 1669, 42 N.Y.S.3d 495 ; see Faeth, 107 A.D.3d at 1427, 967 N.Y.S.2d 275 ).
Contrary to defendant's further contention, the court did not improperly focus on the timeliness of the request. The constitutional right to counsel "does not bestow upon a criminal defendant the absolute right to demand that his trial be delayed while he selects another attorney to represent him at trial" (People v. Arroyave, 49 N.Y.2d 264, 271, 425 N.Y.S.2d 282, 401 N.E.2d 393 ; see Porto, 16 N.Y.3d at 101, 917 N.Y.S.2d 74, 942 N.E.2d 283 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.