Opinion
466 KA 19-00542
06-30-2023
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Jeffrey ANDERSON, Defendant-appellant.
JULIE CIANCA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER, BANASIAK LAW OFFICE, PLLC (PIOTR BANASIAK OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (NANCY GILLIGAN OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
JULIE CIANCA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER, BANASIAK LAW OFFICE, PLLC (PIOTR BANASIAK OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (NANCY GILLIGAN OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: PERADOTTO, J.P., BANNISTER, MONTOUR, AND GREENWOOD, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER It is hereby ORDERED that the case is held, the decision is reserved and the matter is remitted to Monroe County Court for further proceedings in accordance with the following memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree ( Penal Law § 130.75 [1] [a] ) and course of sexual conduct against a child in second degree (§ 130.80 [1] [a]), defendant contends that he was denied his right to be present during the Sandoval conference. As the People correctly concede, the record does not establish whether defendant was present at the Sandoval conference. Because the outcome of the conference was not "wholly favorable and the surrounding circumstances do not negate the possibility that defendant might have made a meaningful contribution to the colloquy," we cannot conclude from this record that defendant's presence would have been superfluous ( People v. Favor , 82 N.Y.2d 254, 267, 604 N.Y.S.2d 494, 624 N.E.2d 631 [1993], rearg denied 83 N.Y.2d 801, 611 N.Y.S.2d 137, 633 N.E.2d 492 [1994] ). We therefore hold the case, reserve decision, and remit the matter to County Court for a reconstruction hearing on whether defendant was present (see People v. Goodman , 275 A.D.2d 969, 969, 715 N.Y.S.2d 190 [4th Dept. 2000] ; People v. Jenner , 202 A.D.2d 986, 986, 610 N.Y.S.2d 918 [4th Dept. 1994] ).