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People v. Rivas

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 19, 1999
260 A.D.2d 583 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999)

Opinion

April 19, 1999

Appeal from the County Court, Suffolk County (Vaughn, J.).


Ordered that the judgments are affirmed.

The defendant's claims in support of his motion to withdraw his guilty plea under Indictment No. 217/94, including his assertion that his counsel coerced him into pleading guilty by providing him with erroneous information, were unsubstantiated and contradicted by statements he made during the plea proceedings. Accordingly, the County Court did not improvidently exercise its discretion in denying the motion without a hearing ( see, e.g., People v. Vega, 256 A.D.2d 367; People v. Leviyev, 256 A.D.2d 359).

As to his conviction under Indictment No. 2506/94, the defendant contends that the prosecutor's failure to give the Grand Jury limiting instructions with respect to testimony regarding a prior crime committed by him rendered the indictment fatally defective. However, dismissal of an indictment is warranted only where the integrity of the Grand Jury proceeding is impaired and prejudice to the defendant may result ( see, CPL 210.20 [c]; 210.35 [5]; People v. Darby, 75 N.Y.2d 449, 454). In view of the remaining evidence before the Grand Jury in this case, the absence of the limiting instruction did not prejudice the defendant and is not sufficient to require dismissal of the indictment ( see, People v. Hardison, 181 A.D.2d 506; People v. Thompson, 116 A.D.2d 377). Similarly, evidence of the defendant's prior crime was properly admitted at trial, with appropriate limiting instructions, since its potential prejudicial effect was outweighed by its probative value on the issues of the defendant's knowledge of and exercise of dominion and control over the cocaine, and his intent to sell the narcotics ( see, People v. Tineo, 232 A.D.2d 667; People v. Bright, 210 A.D.2d 244).

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.

S. Miller, J. P., Santucci, Sullivan and Florio, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Rivas

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 19, 1999
260 A.D.2d 583 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999)
Case details for

People v. Rivas

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. RUDI RIVAS, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Apr 19, 1999

Citations

260 A.D.2d 583 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999)
688 N.Y.S.2d 604

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Rivas v. Griffin

On April 19, 1999, the Appellate Division affirmed petitioner's convictions. See People v. Rivas, 260 A.D.2d…

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On April 19, 1999, the Appellate Division affirmed petitioner's convictions. See People v. Rivas, 260 A.D.2d…