Opinion
1547
June 26, 2003.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Edward McLaughlin, J.), rendered March 20, 2000, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree, and sentencing him, as a second violent felony offender, to concurrent terms of 15 years and 3½ to 7 years, respectively, unanimously affirmed.
Matthew J. Galluzzo, for respondent.
Laura Burde, for defendant-appellant.
Before: Andrias, J.P., Sullivan, Ellerin, Williams, Lerner, JJ.
The court properly permitted defendant to proceed pro se at trial after a thorough colloquy at which the court ensured that defendant was aware of the disadvantages and risks of representing himself and of the important role of a lawyer (see People v. Arroyo, 98 N.Y.2d 101; People v. Smith, 92 N.Y.2d 516). The court noted that defendant had experience with the legal system. Moreover, at the end of this colloquy, defendant exhibited a familiarity with criminal proceedings by making inquiries about grand jury minutes and other Rosario material and the need for time to examine such documents.
We perceive no basis for reducing the sentence.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.