Opinion
04-28-2017
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Stephen DAWSON, also known as "Shooter Steve," Defendant–Appellant.
Erickson Webb Scolton & Hajdu, Lakewood (Lyle T. Hajdu of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. John J. Flynn, District Attorney, Buffalo (Nicholas T. Texido of Counsel), for Respondent.
Erickson Webb Scolton & Hajdu, Lakewood (Lyle T. Hajdu of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
John J. Flynn, District Attorney, Buffalo (Nicholas T. Texido of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, DeJOSEPH, NEMOYER, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of kidnapping in the first degree (Penal Law § 135.25[2][a] ) and robbery in the first degree (§ 160.15[4] ). As we noted in the appeal by a codefendant, "[t]he charges arose from an incident in which the victim was held captive, pistol whipped, and then repeatedly humiliated, including being forced to lick his own blood from a boot of one of the perpetrators. The perpetrators made a video recording of parts of the incident and posted the recording on social media" (People v. Woods, 142 A.D.3d 1356, 1357, 38 N.Y.S.3d 337 ).
Contrary to defendant's contention, Supreme Court properly refused to suppress his statements to the police. The evidence from the suppression hearing established that police officers were searching for the victim after viewing the video recording of him being beaten, and his family members reported to the police that defendant, who was riding a bicycle in a certain location, knew where the victim was being detained. Based on that information, an officer stopped defendant, and said that defendant needed to speak to a detective who was on his way to that location. Defendant immediately said that he could find the missing person on his own if the officer would let him go. Shortly thereafter, a detective arrived and told defendant that they were searching for the victim, and the detective questioned defendant about the victim's whereabouts. Defendant indicated that he would have to walk by the house in which the victim was detained so he could show the officers where it was but, after they indicated that he would not be released, he agreed to allow the initial officer to drive him in the patrol vehicle. As they drove, he pointed out a house and said that the victim was in it.
As the People correctly concede, defendant was in custody at the time that he spoke to the officers (see generally People v. Yukl, 25 N.Y.2d 585, 589, 307 N.Y.S.2d 857, 256 N.E.2d 172, cert. denied 400 U.S. 851, 91 S.Ct. 78, 27 L.Ed.2d 89 ) and, "[a]s a general rule, a person who is in custody cannot be questioned without first receiving Miranda warnings" (People v. Doll, 21 N.Y.3d 665, 670, 975 N.Y.S.2d 721, 998 N.E.2d 384, rearg. denied 22 N.Y.3d 1053, 981 N.Y.S.2d 359, 4 N.E.3d 371, cert. denied – –– U.S. ––––, 134 S.Ct. 1552, 188 L.Ed.2d 568, affd. 98 A.D.3d 356, 948 N.Y.S.2d 471 ). Nevertheless, we agree with the court that the initial statement, i.e., the one defendant made before the detective arrived, was spontaneous, inasmuch as it was "in no way the product of an interrogation environment [or] the result of express questioning or its functional equivalent" (People v. Harris, 57 N.Y.2d 335, 342, 456 N.Y.S.2d 694, 442 N.E.2d 1205, cert. denied 460 U.S. 1047, 103 S.Ct. 1448, 75 L.Ed.2d 803 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see People v. Rivers, 56 N.Y.2d 476, 480, 453 N.Y.S.2d 156, 438 N.E.2d 862, rearg. denied 57 N.Y.2d 775, 454 N.Y.S.2d 1033, 440 N.E.2d 1343 ; People v. Wearen, 19 A.D.3d 1133, 1134, 796 N.Y.S.2d 763, lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 834, 804 N.Y.S.2d 48, 837 N.E.2d 747 ). Thus, the court properly refused to suppress that statement.
Furthermore, the court also properly refused to suppress defendant's next set of statements, in which he identified the house in which the victim was being held. At that time, the police were aware that the victim was being held and were seeking information from defendant regarding the victim's location in order to rescue him. "Given the legitimate concern of the police for the safety of the victim, the questioning of the defendant regarding the victim's ... whereabouts, without first advising him of his Miranda rights ..., was lawful" (People v. Boyd, 3 A.D.3d 535, 536, 771 N.Y.S.2d 155, lv. denied 2 N.Y.3d 737, 778 N.Y.S.2d 463, 810 N.E.2d 916 ; see Doll, 98 A.D.3d at 364, 948 N.Y.S.2d 471 ; People v. Zalevsky, 82 A.D.3d 1136, 1138, 918 N.Y.S.2d 790, lv. denied 19 N.Y.3d 978, 950 N.Y.S.2d 361, 973 N.E.2d 771, reconsideration denied 19 N.Y.3d 1106, 955 N.Y.S.2d 562, 979 N.E.2d 823 ).
We reject defendant's contention that the evidence is not legally sufficient to support the conviction. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 ), and affording them the benefit of every favorable inference (see People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ), we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient to establish the elements of the crimes of which defendant was convicted (see id. ). Furthermore, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we reject defendant's further contention that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ).
Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.