Opinion
2014-00082 Ind. No. 374/13.
01-20-2016
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Diquan McCLOUGH, appellant.
Andrew E. MacAskill, Westbury, N.Y., for appellant. Madeline Singas, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Jason R. Richards and Joseph Mogelnicki of counsel), for respondent.
Andrew E. MacAskill, Westbury, N.Y., for appellant.
Madeline Singas, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Jason R. Richards and Joseph Mogelnicki of counsel), for respondent.
Opinion
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Delligatti, J.), rendered December 17, 2013, convicting him of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing pursuant to a stipulation in lieu of motions, of the suppression of the defendant's statement to law enforcement officials.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant was not entitled to suppression of a statement he made to law enforcement officials following his arrest and before he was advised of his Miranda rights (see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694). After a detective succinctly and accurately answered the defendant's inquiry if he was under arrest or being brought in for questioning, the defendant asked, “How could you arrest me without the gun?” The Supreme Court properly determined that the inculpatory statement was not prompted by the functional equivalent of custodial interrogation, and thus, was not subject to suppression (see Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 300–301, 100 S.Ct. 1682, 64 L.Ed.2d 297; Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694; People v. Davis, 32 A.D.3d 445, 821 N.Y.S.2d 217; People v. Harrison, 251 A.D.2d 681, 682, 677 N.Y.S.2d 794; People v. West, 237 A.D.2d 315, 654 N.Y.S.2d 390; People v. Pryor, 194 A.D.2d 749, 600 N.Y.S.2d 81; cf. People v. Tavares–Nunez, 87 A.D.3d 1171, 930 N.Y.S.2d 589).
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 470.155; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nonetheless 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, 410, 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 fact that the main prosecution witness had a criminal background and testified pursuant to a cooperation agreement did not render her testimony incredible (see People v. Bernard, 100 A.D.3d 916, 954 N.Y.S.2d 209; People v. Jean–Marie, 67 A.D.3d 704, 888 N.Y.S.2d 154; People v. Manley, 60 A.D.3d 870, 875 N.Y.S.2d 542; People v. Adams, 302 A.D.2d 601, 755 N.Y.S.2d 641).
The Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's request for reassignment of counsel (see People v. Porto, 16 N.Y.3d 93, 99–100, 917 N.Y.S.2d 74, 942 N.E.2d 283; People v. Ward, 121 A.D.3d 1026, 994 N.Y.S.2d 675; People v. Alexander, 100 A.D.3d 649, 952 N.Y.S.2d 892; People v. Ayuso, 80 A.D.3d 708, 915 N.Y.S.2d 149). Additionally, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's request for an adjournment of the sentencing hearing (see People v. Singleton, 41 N.Y.2d 402, 393 N.Y.S.2d 353, 361 N.E.2d 1003; People v. Davis, 118 A.D.3d 906, 988 N.Y.S.2d 217; People v. Hardy, 294 A.D.2d 516, 742 N.Y.S.2d 562).