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People v. Mebert

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jun 28, 1993
194 A.D.2d 809 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)

Opinion

June 28, 1993

Appeal from the County Court, Putnam County (Braatz, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Having been advised that the defendant had told various individuals that he was involved in or had knowledge of the robbery-homicide of Dean Lockshiss on Federal Hill Road in Putnam County on July 5, 1989, New York State Police Officers went to Danbury, Connecticut. After locating the defendant in Danbury, the police spoke with him and subsequently obtained inculpatory statements from him.

On appeal, the defendant argues, inter alia, that the suppression court erred in denying suppression of all of the evidence obtained as the result of his unlawful arrest in Connecticut. However, we find that the suppression court properly concluded that the defendant was not in custody when he made his incriminating statements (see, People v. Sampson, 134 A.D.2d 706, affd 73 N.Y.2d 908). After the defendant admitted his participation in the robbery-homicide, the police had probable cause to arrest the defendant, and the defendant was, at that point, lawfully in the custody of Connecticut officials as a fugitive from justice in New York (see, People v. Perea, 182 A.D.2d 718). Thus, suppression is not warranted herein.

The defendant's contention that there is insufficient evidence to establish the element of intent for felony murder is unpreserved for appellate review (see, People v. Bynum, 70 N.Y.2d 858; People v. Udzinski, 146 A.D.2d 245), and, in any event, is without merit (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620). Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15).

The defendant also contends that the sentence imposed by the court was illegal to the extent that the sentences imposed upon the conviction for robbery in the first degree and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree were made to run consecutively to the sentence imposed upon the conviction of intentional murder. We disagree. The imposition of concurrent terms of imprisonment with respect to these offenses was not required, inasmuch as they were not "committed through a single act or omission, or through an act or omission which in itself constituted one of the offenses and also was a material element of the other" (Penal Law § 70.25). Rather, the record demonstrates that the intentional murder was "separate and distinct" from the robbery and criminal use of a firearm offenses, "even if [they were] part of a continuous course of activity" (People v. Ferkins, 116 A.D.2d 760, 764). Accordingly, the imposition of the consecutive terms of imprisonment was lawful and appropriate (see, People v. Hunt, 174 A.D.2d 980; People v. Hildreth, 148 A.D.2d 879; People v. Ferkins, supra). To the extent that our decision in People v. Duke ( 181 A.D.2d 908) may be interpreted to the contrary, it should not be followed.

The defendant's remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review or without merit (see, People v. Brooks, 194 A.D.2d 799 [decided herewith]). Sullivan, J.P., Balletta, O'Brien and Santucci, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Mebert

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jun 28, 1993
194 A.D.2d 809 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)
Case details for

People v. Mebert

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. MICHAEL MEBERT…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Jun 28, 1993

Citations

194 A.D.2d 809 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)
599 N.Y.S.2d 938

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