Opinion
11-25-2015
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Will MULLINS, appellant.
Epstein & Conroy, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Gary Conroy and Jason W. Eldridge of counsel), for appellant. Kenneth P. Thompson, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Howard B. Goodman of counsel), for respondent.
Epstein & Conroy, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Gary Conroy and Jason W. Eldridge of counsel), for appellant.
Kenneth P. Thompson, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Howard B. Goodman of counsel), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, JOSEPH J. MALTESE, and BETSY BARROS, JJ.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Riviezzo, J.), rendered May 2, 2013, convicting him of assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court's Sandoval ruling (see People v. Sandoval, 34 N.Y.2d 371, 375, 357 N.Y.S.2d 849, 314 N.E.2d 413 ) was a provident exercise of discretion. The court's ruling struck an appropriate balance between the probative value of the defendant's prior conviction on the issue of his credibility and the potential prejudice to the defendant (see People v. Malak, 117 A.D.3d 1170, 1174, 984 N.Y.S.2d 666 ; People v. Linnen, 309 A.D.2d 1280, 765 N.Y.S.2d 559 ; People v. Koberstein, 261 A.D.2d 849, 691 N.Y.S.2d 214 ; People v. Damon, 150 A.D.2d 479, 541 N.Y.S.2d 82 ).
A determination of whether a verdict is repugnant is based solely on a review of whether the verdict is inherently inconsistent when viewed in light of the trial court's charge regardless of its accuracy (see People v. Muhammad, 17 N.Y.3d 532, 539, 935 N.Y.S.2d 526, 959 N.E.2d 463 ; People v. Green, 71 N.Y.2d 1006, 1008, 530 N.Y.S.2d 97, 525 N.E.2d 742 ). Such an inquiry into the elements of the crimes as charged by the trial court is made without regard to the particular facts of the case (see People v. Muhammad, 17 N.Y.3d at 539, 935 N.Y.S.2d 526, 959 N.E.2d 463 ). Contrary to the defendant's contention, the verdict finding him guilty of assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree was not repugnant, notwithstanding that his two codefendants were acquitted of the same crimes. The charge clearly instructed the jury to reach separate verdicts as to each defendant and never stated that the defendant's guilt was dependent on the guilt of either of his codefendants (see People v. Green, 71 N.Y.2d at 1007, 530 N.Y.S.2d 97, 525 N.E.2d 742 ; People v. Drayton, 288 A.D.2d 132, 732 N.Y.S.2d 568 ).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 ), we find that it was legally sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, upon our independent review pursuant to CPL 470.15(5), 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 ).
Further, contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court's response to a jury note, which indicated that one juror had verbally threatened another juror during deliberations, was meaningful and sufficiently addressed the problem which motivated the communication (see People v. Cochran, 302 A.D.2d 276, 755 N.Y.S.2d 388 ; People v. Scott, 213 A.D.2d 501, 624 N.Y.S.2d 42 ; People v. Sampson, 201 A.D.2d 314, 607 N.Y.S.2d 290 ).
The defendant's contention that certain comments made by the prosecutor on summation deprived him of a fair trial is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ) and, in any event, without merit.The defendant's remaining contention is without merit.