Opinion
2012-01-31
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. John KELLEY, Defendant–Appellant.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Barbara J. Davies of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Donna A. Milling of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Barbara J. Davies of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Donna A. Milling of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., FAHEY, CARNI, SCONIERS, AND GORSKI, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
On appeal from a judgment convicting him, after a nonjury trial, of burglary in the third degree (Penal Law § 140.20) and criminal mischief in the fourth degree (§ 145.00[1] ), defendant contends that County Court erred in refusing to suppress his statements to the police because, inter alia, he was subjected to custodial interrogation and thus Miranda warnings were required. We reject that contention. In determining whether a defendant was in custody for Miranda purposes, “[t]he test is not what the defendant thought, but rather what a reasonable [person], innocent of any crime, would have thought had he [or she] been in the defendant's position” ( 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). “[T]he court ‘should consider: (1) the amount of time the defendant spent with the police, (2) whether his freedom of action was restricted in any significant manner, (3) the location and atmosphere in which the defendant was questioned, (4) the degree of cooperation exhibited by the defendant, (5) whether he was apprised of his constitutional rights, and (6) whether the questioning was investigatory or accusatory in nature’ ” ( People v. Lunderman, 19 A.D.3d 1067, 1068–1069, 796 N.Y.S.2d 481, lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 830, 804 N.Y.S.2d 44, 837 N.E.2d 743). In addition, “[t]he determination of a suppression court must be accorded great weight ‘because of its ability to observe and assess the credibility of the witnesses[,] and its findings should not be disturbed unless clearly erroneous' ” ( People v. Jones, 9 A.D.3d 837, 838–839, 779 N.Y.S.2d 695, lv. denied 3 N.Y.3d 708, 785 N.Y.S.2d 35, 818 N.E.2d 677, 4 N.Y.3d 745, 790 N.Y.S.2d 657, 824 N.E.2d 58).
Here, defendant was questioned for a maximum of 20 minutes in his sister's home, rather than at a police station, and there is no evidence indicating that his freedom of movement was restricted in any way. Indeed, the evidence at the suppression hearing established that defendant was moving around within the room and changed his shirt while the police spoke with him, and that his brother and sister were present in the same room during the questioning. “Although the questioning ... may have been accusatory, that fact alone did not render the interrogation custodial in nature” ( People v. Davis, 48 A.D.3d 1086, 1087, 850 N.Y.S.2d 307, lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 861, 860 N.Y.S.2d 487, 890 N.E.2d 250; see generally Lunderman, 19 A.D.3d at 1068–1069, 796 N.Y.S.2d 481). Consequently, the court properly concluded that defendant was not in custody for Miranda purposes. We have considered defendant's remaining contention with respect to the suppression ruling and conclude that it is without merit.
Defendant failed to move for a trial order of dismissal, and thus he failed to preserve for our review his further contention that the conviction is not supported by legally sufficient evidence ( see People v. Hawkins, 11 N.Y.3d 484, 492, 872 N.Y.S.2d 395, 900 N.E.2d 946; People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 19, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919). In any event, that contention lacks merit ( see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes in this nonjury trial ( 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 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).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.