Opinion
2013-07-5
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Reginald WILSON, also known as Reginald M. Wilson, Defendant–Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.)
Bridget L. Field, Rochester, for Defendant–Appellant. Reginald Wilson, Defendant–Appellant Pro Se.
Bridget L. Field, Rochester, for Defendant–Appellant.Reginald Wilson, Defendant–Appellant Pro Se.
Lawrence Friedman, District Attorney, Batavia (William G. Zickl of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., PERADOTTO, CARNI, LINDLEY, AND WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of burglary in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.25 [2] ) and criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree (§ 165.50). In appeal No. 2, defendant appeals from an amended sentence directing him to pay restitution, including a 5% designated surcharge, in the amount of $1,491.78.
Defendant's contention in appeal No. 1 that the accomplice testimony adduced at trial was not sufficiently corroborated by independent evidence is unpreserved for our review ( see People v. Demolaire, 55 A.D.3d 621, 622, 865 N.Y.S.2d 625,lv. denied11 N.Y.3d 897, 873 N.Y.S.2d 273, 901 N.E.2d 767;cf. People v. McGrath, 262 A.D.2d 1043, 1043, 693 N.Y.S.2d 358). In any event, defendant's contention is without merit. “New York's accomplice corroboration protection ... requires only enough nonaccomplice evidence to assure that the accomplices have offered credible probative evidence that connects the accomplice evidence to the defendant” ( People v. Caban, 5 N.Y.3d 143, 155, 800 N.Y.S.2d 70, 833 N.E.2d 213 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Even the most “[s]eemingly insignificant matters may harmonize with the accomplice's narrative so as to provide the necessary corroboration” ( id. [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Here, defendant's accomplice testified that he assisted defendant in burglarizing the victim's home and stealing the victim's car, and that testimony was corroborated by the testimony of other witnesses that defendant was seen driving the victim's stolen car the day after the burglary. Contrary to defendant's further contentions in appeal No. 1, the evidence is legally sufficient to support the conviction and, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury ( see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence ( see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). In addition, we reject defendant's contention in appeal No. 1 that the sentence of concurrent terms of incarceration is unduly harsh and severe, and we decline to exercise our power to reduce the sentence as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice ( seeCPL 470.15[6][b] ).
In his main and pro se supplemental briefs, defendant contends with respect to appeal No. 1 that he was denied a fair trial by prosecutorial misconduct on summation. He concedes that he did not object to the alleged misconduct, however, and thus his contention has not been preserved for our review ( see People v. Roman, 85 A.D.3d 1630, 1631–1632, 925 N.Y.S.2d 310,lv. denied17 N.Y.3d 821, 929 N.Y.S.2d 810, 954 N.E.2d 101). We conclude in any event that his contention is without merit ( see People v. Hassem, 100 A.D.3d 1460, 1461, 953 N.Y.S.2d 444,lv. denied20 N.Y.3d 1099, 965 N.Y.S.2d 795, 988 N.E.2d 533). Also with respect to appeal No. 1, defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention in his pro se supplemental brief concerning the court's alibi charge ( see People v. Melendez, 16 N.Y.3d 869, 870, 925 N.Y.S.2d 6, 948 N.E.2d 1290). In any event, that contention is without merit. Contrary to the further contention of defendant in appeal No. 1, raised in his pro se supplemental brief, defense counsel's failure to object to the prosecutor's allegedly improper remark during summation and to the alibi charge did not amount to ineffective assistance of counsel ( see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400;People v. Walker, 50 A.D.3d 1452, 1453–1454, 856 N.Y.S.2d 775,lv. denied11 N.Y.3d 795, 866 N.Y.S.2d 622, 896 N.E.2d 108,reconsideration denied11 N.Y.3d 931, 874 N.Y.S.2d 16, 902 N.E.2d 450). Defendant's further contentions in his pro se supplemental brief that he was otherwise deprived of effective assistance of counsel and that he is entitled to a new trial in light of newly discovered exculpatory evidence are based on matters dehors the record and thus cannot be reviewed on direct appeal ( see People v. Rohlehr, 87 A.D.3d 603, 604, 927 N.Y.S.2d 919;People v. Dawkins, 81 A.D.3d 972, 972, 917 N.Y.S.2d 885,lv. denied17 N.Y.3d 794, 929 N.Y.S.2d 102, 952 N.E.2d 1097,reconsideration denied17 N.Y.3d 858, 932 N.Y.S.2d 23, 956 N.E.2d 804).
We reject defendant's contention in appeal No. 2 that the People failed to meet their burden of establishing the amount of restitution by a preponderance of the evidence ( seeCPL 400.30[4]; People v. Tzitzikalakis, 8 N.Y.3d 217, 221–222, 832 N.Y.S.2d 120, 864 N.E.2d 44). The victim testified at the restitution hearing and provided a detailed breakdown of the value of the stolen items as well as documents establishing the cost of replacing the ignition and locks on her vehicle, which was returned to her. In addition, the amount of restitution owed to the victim's insurance company, which was financially harmed by reimbursing the victim for a portion of the cost of changing the ignition and locks on her vehicle, was supported by the claim it submitted to the Genesee County Probation Department. It is immaterial that an employee of the insurance company did not testify at the restitution hearing because “[a]ny relevant evidence, not legally privileged, may be received [at a restitution hearing] regardless of its admissibility under the exclusionary rules of evidence ” (CPL 400.30[4] [emphasis added]; see Tzitzikalakis, 8 N.Y.3d at 221, 832 N.Y.S.2d 120, 864 N.E.2d 44).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.