Opinion
2011-11-29
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Eleno MORALES, appellant.
Robert C. Mitchell, Riverhead, N.Y. (John M. Dowden of counsel), for appellant. Thomas J. Spota, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Marion M. Tang of counsel), for respondent.
Robert C. Mitchell, Riverhead, N.Y. (John M. Dowden of counsel), for appellant. Thomas J. Spota, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Marion M. Tang of counsel), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, LEONARD B. AUSTIN, and ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Hinrichs, J.), rendered December 10, 2008, convicting him of murder in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of those branches of the defendant's omnibus motion which were to suppress statements made to and in the presence of law enforcement officers.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the County Court properly concluded that the defendant's statements were voluntary, and that the defendant “spoke with genuine spontaneity ‘and not [as] the result of inducement, provocation, encouragement or acquiescence, no matter how subtly employed’ ” ( People v. Rivers, 56 N.Y.2d 476, 479, 453 N.Y.S.2d 156, 438 N.E.2d 862, quoting People v. Maerling, 46 N.Y.2d 289, 302–303, 413 N.Y.S.2d 316, 385 N.E.2d 1245; see People v. Bajana, 82 A.D.3d 1111, 919 N.Y.S.2d 194; People v. Tyrell, 67 A.D.3d 827, 828, 888 N.Y.S.2d 610; People v. Ayers, 43 A.D.3d 1071, 1071–1072, 841 N.Y.S.2d 462). Accordingly, the County Court properly denied those branches of the defendant's omnibus motion which were to suppress statements made to and in the presence of law enforcement officers.
The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence ( see CPL 470.05[2]; People v. Hawkins, 11 N.Y.3d 484, 493, 872 N.Y.S.2d 395, 900 N.E.2d 946). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution ( see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that the evidence was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence ( see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor ( see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053, cert. denied 542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence ( see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).
While the County Court erred in admitting into evidence a prior consistent statement of the People's witness, that error was harmless as there was overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt and no significant probability that the error contributed to the defendant's conviction ( see People v. Seit, 86 N.Y.2d 92, 97, 629 N.Y.S.2d 998, 653 N.E.2d 1168; People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787; People v. Evans, 16 A.D.3d 517, 792 N.Y.S.2d 112).
The sentence imposed was not excessive ( see People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675).