Opinion
2012-12-28
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. William M. DEAN, Defendant–Appellant.
The Abbatoy Law Firm, PLLC, Rochester (David M. Abbatoy, Jr., of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua, for Respondent.
The Abbatoy Law Firm, PLLC, Rochester (David M. Abbatoy, Jr., of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua, for Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, FAHEY, CARNI, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
On appeal from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of various crimes arising out of three burglaries, defendant contends that the conviction is not supported by legally sufficient evidence because the jury made inferences from other inferences in reaching its verdict. Defendant failed to preserve that contention for our review because he failed to renew his motion for a trial order of dismissal on that ground after presenting evidence ( see People v. Hines, 97 N.Y.2d 56, 61, 736 N.Y.S.2d 643, 762 N.E.2d 329,rearg. denied97 N.Y.2d 678, 738 N.Y.S.2d 292, 764 N.E.2d 396). 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 further conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence ( see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). With respect to defendant's contention that he was denied effective assistance of counsel, we conclude that “the evidence, the law, and the circumstances of [this] particular case, viewed in totality and as of the time of the representation, reveal that the attorney provided meaningful representation” ( People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400). Defendant has failed to demonstrate “the absence of strategic or other legitimate explanations” for the various allegations of ineffectiveness ( People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705, 709, 530 N.Y.S.2d 52, 525 N.E.2d 698).
[2] Defendant contends that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct on summation but failed to preserve for our review any of the alleged instances of misconduct ( seeCPL 470.05[2]; People v. Cox, 21 A.D.3d 1361, 1363–1364, 802 N.Y.S.2d 813,lv. denied6 N.Y.3d 753, 810 N.Y.S.2d 421, 843 N.E.2d 1161), and we decline to exercise our power to review defendant's contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice ( seeCPL 470.15[6][a] ). Defendant further contends that County Court violated the Confrontation Clause by ruling that defense counsel opened the door to a hearsay statement. We reject that contention. In People v. Reid, 19 N.Y.3d 382, 384–385, 948 N.Y.S.2d 223, 971 N.E.2d 353, the Court of Appeals concluded that the door could be opened to evidence that was otherwise inadmissible under the Confrontation Clause. We further conclude that the rule enunciated in Reid should be applied retroactively ( see People v. Pepper, 53 N.Y.2d 213, 219–221, 440 N.Y.S.2d 889, 423 N.E.2d 366,cert. denied454 U.S. 967, 102 S.Ct. 510, 70 L.Ed.2d 383).
We note that there is discrepancy between the certificate of conviction and the sentencing minutes with respect to count three, charging defendant with burglary in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.25[2] ). Defendant was sentenced to a determinate term of five years' imprisonment with three years' postrelease supervision, but the certificate of conviction states that defendant was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with five years' postrelease supervision. In addition, the period of postrelease supervision must in any event be at least five years ( see §§ 70.00[6]; 70.06[6][b]; 70.45 [2] ). Thus, we modify the judgment by vacating the sentence imposed on count three, and we remit the matter to County Court for resentencing on count three and for the court to correct the discrepancy between the certificate of conviction and the sentencing minutes regarding that count ( see People v. Hall, 5 A.D.3d 1011, 1011–1012, 773 N.Y.S.2d 632).
We have considered defendant's remaining contentions and conclude that they are without merit.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by vacating the sentence imposed on count three and as modified the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to Ontario County Court for resentencing on that count.