Opinion
636
July 18, 2002.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (John Bradley, J.), rendered October 6, 2000, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of 10 to 20 years, unanimously modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, to the extent of reducing the sentence to a term of 71/2 to 15 years, and otherwise affirmed. The restriction on cross-examination of the undercover officer on matters concerning defendant's agency defense was a proper exercise of discretion (see, People v. Schinas, 204 A.D.2d 362, lv denied, 83 N.Y.2d 971; see also, Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 678-679). Defendant was permitted to elicit that, in the officer's experience, drug users sometimes make drug purchases for others. However, defendant's next question, which was precluded by the court, was improper. Defendant sought to ask whether, in that situation, the drug user is "working" for the buyer and not the seller of the drugs. This question delved into matters of law concerning the agency defense (see,e.g., People v. Taim, 283 A.D.2d 363, lv denied, 96 N.Y.2d 908), and had the potential for misleading the jury. Furthermore, it would have called for the officer to speculate on the motivation of a hypothetical actor. We note that defendant made no effort to recast his question in a more appropriate form.
HOPE KORENSTEIN, for respondent.
CYNTHIA FEATHERS, for defendant-appellant..
Before: Saxe, J.P., Buckley, Sullivan, Rosenberger, Ellerin, JJ.
We find the sentence excessive to the extent indicated.
Motion seeking leave to file pro se supplemental brief denied.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.