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People v. Wells

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 19, 2001
288 A.D.2d 408 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)

Opinion

Submitted October 23, 2001.

November 19, 2001.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Orange County (DeRosa, J.), rendered March 25, 1999, convicting him of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress his statement to law enforcement officials.

Philip H. Schnabel, Chester, N.Y., for appellant.

Francis D. Phillips II, District Attorney, Goshen, N.Y. (David R. Huey of counsel), for respondent.

Before: MYRIAM J. ALTMAN, J.P., HOWARD MILLER, SANDRA J. FEUERSTEIN, BARRY A. COZIER, JJ.


ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court erred in permitting his statement to be admitted into evidence is unpreserved for appellate review inasmuch as the defense counsel conceded that the statement was admissible (see, People v. Williams, 143 A.D.2d 162, 163). In any event, the People sustained their burden at the hearing of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant's statement, taken after he was placed in custody but before Miranda warnings (see, Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436) were administered, was made voluntarily and spontaneously, and was not the product of police interrogation (see, People v. Lynes, 49 N.Y.2d 286, 294; People v. Green, 258 A.D.2d 531, 532-533). To the extent the defendant contends otherwise, he improperly relies upon trial testimony which may not be considered in reviewing a suppression ruling (see, People v. Gonzalez, 55 N.Y.2d 720, cert denied 456 U.S. 1010; People v. Gold, 249 A.D.2d 414).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses (see, People v. Gaimari, 176 N.Y. 84, 94). Its determination should be accorded great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the record (see, People v. Garafolo, 44 A.D.2d 86, 88). 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's claims regarding the alleged ineffective assistance of trial counsel involve matters dehors the record which may not be reviewed on direct appeal (see, People v. Fontana, 267 A.D.2d 398), or are without merit (see, People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 146-147; People v. Brown, 48 N.Y.2d 388, 393).

The defendant's remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.

ALTMAN, J.P., H. MILLER, FEUERSTEIN and COZIER, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Wells

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 19, 2001
288 A.D.2d 408 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
Case details for

People v. Wells

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE, ETC., respondent, v. OWEN WELLS, appellant

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

Date published: Nov 19, 2001

Citations

288 A.D.2d 408 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
733 N.Y.S.2d 634

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