Opinion
November 3, 1997
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Flaherty, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
The Supreme Court did not err in relieving counsel and allowing the defendant to represent himself at trial ( see, People v Gundy, 234 A.D.2d 476; People v. Hambric, 225 A.D.2d 633; People v. Howell, 207 A.D.2d 412, 413; People v. Gloster, 175 A.D.2d 258, 260). Although effective waiver of the right to counsel must be the product of free, meaningful choice, a criminal defendant may be asked to choose between waiver and another course of action as long as the choice presented is not constitutionally offensive ( see, Maynard v. Meachum, 545 F.2d 273, 278; People v Sawyer, 57 N.Y.2d 12, cert denied 459 U.S. 1178). Here, the defendant's refusal without good cause to proceed with able, appointed counsel was a voluntary waiver of his right to counsel ( see, Maynard v. Meachum, supra; Pizzaro v. Harris, 507 F. Supp. 642, 646).
The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.
Ritter, J. P., Copertino, Florio and Luciano, JJ., concur.