Summary
In Bristol v. Nassau Cty et al., No. 08-CV-3480, Plaintiff brought suit against certain Nassau County defendants for alleged violations of his constitutional rights stemming from the same January 4, 2008 arrest underlying the claims here.
Summary of this case from Bristol v. SchenkOpinion
2013-01-23
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Marcel C. BRISTOL, appellant.
Matthew Muraskin, Port Jefferson, N.Y., for appellant, and appellant pro se. Kathleen M. Rice, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Tammy J. Smiley and Michael J. Balch of counsel), for respondent.
Matthew Muraskin, Port Jefferson, N.Y., for appellant, and appellant pro se. Kathleen M. Rice, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Tammy J. Smiley and Michael J. Balch of counsel), for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, L. PRISCILLA HALL and SHERI S. ROMAN, JJ.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Kase, J.), rendered September 17, 2009, convicting him of grand larceny in the second degree, grand larceny in the third degree (three counts), criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree (two counts), identity theft in the first degree (four counts), and scheme to defraud in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing (McCormack, J.), of those branches of the defendant's omnibus motion which were to suppress physical evidence and his statement to law enforcement officials.
ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and the matter is remittedto the Supreme Court, Nassau County, for a new trial.
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the hearing court properly determined that the police lawfully stopped the vehicle in which he was a passenger, and that his arrest was supported by probable cause ( see People v. Walker, 186 A.D.2d 606, 588 N.Y.S.2d 399). Accordingly, the court properly denied those branches of the defendant's omnibus motion which were to suppress physical evidence and his statement to law enforcement officials.
The defendant's contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to support his conviction of grand larceny in the second degree is unpreserved for appellate review ( seeCPL 470.05[2]; People v. Hawkins, 11 N.Y.3d 484, 492, 872 N.Y.S.2d 395, 900 N.E.2d 946). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution ( see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 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 ( seeCPL 470.15[5]; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless 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,cert. denied542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828;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).
However, under the circumstances of this case, the defendant's waiver of his right to counsel was ineffective. “Before allowing a defendant to proceed pro se, the court must determine that the defendant's waiver of the right to counsel is made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently” ( People v. Rafikian, 98 A.D.3d 1139, 1139, 951 N.Y.S.2d 226;see People v. Crampe, 17 N.Y.3d 469, 481, 932 N.Y.S.2d 765, 957 N.E.2d 255;People v. Arroyo, 98 N.Y.2d 101, 103, 745 N.Y.S.2d 796, 772 N.E.2d 1154). “To ascertain whether a waiver is knowing, voluntary and intelligent, a court must undertake a ‘searching inquiry’ designed to ‘insur[e] that the defendant [is] aware of the dangers and disadvantages of proceeding without counsel’ ” ( People v. Crampe, 17 N.Y.3d at 481, 932 N.Y.S.2d 765, 957 N.E.2d 255, quoting People v. Providence, 2 N.Y.3d 579, 582, 780 N.Y.S.2d 552, 813 N.E.2d 632). The record should show that the defendant was adequately warned “of the risks inherent in proceeding pro se, and appris[ed] ... of the singular importance of the lawyer in the adversarial system of adjudication” ( People v. Smith, 92 N.Y.2d 516, 520, 683 N.Y.S.2d 164, 705 N.E.2d 1205). “The record should also disclose ‘that a trial court has delved into a defendant's age, education, occupation, previous exposure to legal procedures and other relevant factors bearing on a competent, intelligent, voluntary waiver’ of the right to counsel” ( People v. Rafikian, 98 A.D.3d at 1140, 951 N.Y.S.2d 226, quoting People v. Smith, 92 N.Y.2d at 520, 683 N.Y.S.2d 164, 705 N.E.2d 1205).
Here, prior to trial, the defendant indicated that he did not want his assigned counsel to represent him. The court gave the defendant the option of proceeding pro se, or having his assigned counsel represent him, which the court recommended. Alternatively, the court indicated that assigned counsel could “stand by [the defendant] and give [him] guidance.” The defendant indicated that he had “no objection to represent[ing] [himself],” and the court permitted him to proceed pro se. The court then discussed the potential sentence that could be imposed, and obtained certain pedigree information from the defendant, including his level of education and criminal history. Under these circumstances, the court failed to conduct a sufficiently searching inquiry of the defendant to be reasonably certain that he understood the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation ( see People v. Crampe, 17 N.Y.3d at 482–483, 932 N.Y.S.2d 765, 957 N.E.2d 255;People v. Slaughter, 78 N.Y.2d 485, 491–492, 577 N.Y.S.2d 206, 583 N.E.2d 919;People v. Rafikian, 98 A.D.3d at 1140, 951 N.Y.S.2d 226;Matter of Casey N., 59 A.D.3d 625, 629, 873 N.Y.S.2d 343). Accordingly, since the court failed to ensure that the defendant's waiver of his right to counsel was made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily, the defendant is entitled to a new trial ( see People v. Crampe, 17 N.Y.3d at 484, 932 N.Y.S.2d 765, 957 N.E.2d 255;Matter of Casey N., 59 A.D.3d at 630, 873 N.Y.S.2d 343).
The defendant's contentions raised in points I and III of his pro se supplemental brief are unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, are without merit. The defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his pro se supplemental brief, either are without merit or need not be reached in light of our determination.