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People v. Thomas

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 14, 1988
144 A.D.2d 506 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

Opinion

November 14, 1988

Appeal from the County Court, Nassau County (Belfi, J.).


Ordered that the judgments are affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the hearing court erred in denying those branches of his omnibus motion which were to suppress his statements to police and certain physical evidence recovered from his living quarters is without merit. The record overwhelmingly supports the court's conclusion that the defendant repeatedly made knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waivers of his Miranda rights before speaking with the authorities. Indeed, there is no credible evidence in the hearing record indicating that the police employed coercive tactics in obtaining the challenged statements (see, People v. John B., 108 A.D.2d 920; People v. Boykins, 81 A.D.2d 922). Similarly, we agree with the hearing court's conclusion that the defendant gave informed and voluntary oral and written consent to a search of his living quarters. Significantly, the defendant did not resist police questioning, was cooperative rather than evasive while in police custody, and volunteered inculpatory information regarding his participation in the instant offenses (cf., People v. Gonzalez, 39 N.Y.2d 122). Moreover, he was fully apprised of the consequences of consenting to the search and was informed that he was free to withhold such consent. Hence, there is nothing to suggest that the search resulted from anything other than the voluntary and intelligent consent of the defendant.

The defendant's claim that his right to counsel was violated by the police is likewise unavailing. This contention, raised by the defendant for the first time on the instant appeal, is devoid of support in the record sufficient to permit appellate review (see, People v. Kinchen, 60 N.Y.2d 772; People v. Carreras, 133 A.D.2d 643; People v. Bayer, 133 A.D.2d 374).

We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Spatt, J.P., Sullivan, Harwood and Balletta, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Thomas

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 14, 1988
144 A.D.2d 506 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)
Case details for

People v. Thomas

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. DANIEL THOMAS…

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

Date published: Nov 14, 1988

Citations

144 A.D.2d 506 (N.Y. App. Div. 1988)

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