Opinion
February 8, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County, John Moore, J., Robert Straus, J.
Contrary to defendant's unpreserved contention, the arresting officer's testimony, which, after recounting the detailed description of the seller's clothing, race, height and gender received over the radio from an experienced undercover officer, was to the effect that defendant was arrested because he was "dressed the same" as the person described in the transmission, provided an ample factual basis on which to conclude that the seller and defendant were the same person, and that probable cause to arrest defendant therefore existed ( People v Pared, 205 A.D.2d 462, lv denied 84 N.Y.2d 871). There was overwhelming evidence of defendant's intent to sell the drugs found in his possession, and this evidence was not undermined by the jury's inability to reach a verdict on the sale count ( People v. Ortiz, 170 A.D.2d 396, lv denied 77 N.Y.2d 998; People v. Martinez, 165 A.D.2d 788, lv denied 78 N.Y.2d 924).
Defendant's claim that he was deprived of his right to be present during the questioning of prospective jurors at sidebar about their ability to be impartial is belied by a record showing that during a colloquy concerning whether it would be necessary to include defendant in sidebar conferences, the court noted, without contradiction, that the small size of the courtroom placed defendant in close proximity to the sidebar, "three steps" away, in any event, thereby demonstrating that defendant saw and heard the sidebar conferences ( People v. Brown, 221 A.D.2d 160; People v. Walker, 202 A.D.2d 312, lv denied 83 N.Y.2d 972).
We have examined defendant's other contentions and find them to be without merit.
Concur — Milonas, J.P., Ellerin, Wallach, Kupferman and Williams, JJ.