Opinion
5 KA 19-00536
02-03-2023
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Sedetrice WRIGHT, Defendant-Appellant.
ERIK TEIFKE, ACTING PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER (CLEA WEISS OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (MARTIN P. MCCARTHY, II, OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
ERIK TEIFKE, ACTING PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER (CLEA WEISS OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (MARTIN P. MCCARTHY, II, OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, PERADOTTO, BANNISTER, AND OGDEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the case is held, the decision is reserved and the matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Monroe County, for further proceedings in accordance with the following memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting her upon a jury verdict of two counts each of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree ( Penal Law § 265.03 [1] [b] ; [3]) and assault in the second degree (§ 120.05 [2], [6]). The conviction arose from defendant's conduct following a fight that ensued at a house party. Specifically, defendant left the party, returned with a gun, and fired at two people, striking one in the arm.
Defendant contends that Penal Law § 265.03 is unconstitutional in light of the United States Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen , ––– U.S. ––––, 142 S.Ct. 2111, 213 L.Ed.2d 387 (2022). Inasmuch as defendant failed to raise that challenge in Supreme Court, it is not preserved for our review (see People v. Reese , 206 A.D.3d 1461, 1462-1463, 170 N.Y.S.3d 375 [3d Dept. 2022] ; People v. Reinard , 134 A.D.3d 1407, 1409, 22 N.Y.S.3d 270 [4th Dept. 2015], lv denied 27 N.Y.3d 1074, 38 N.Y.S.3d 844, 60 N.E.3d 1210 [2016], cert denied ––– U.S. ––––, 137 S.Ct. 392, 196 L.Ed.2d 308 [2016] ). Contrary to defendant's contention, her "challenge to the constitutionality of a statute must be preserved" ( People v. Baumann & Sons Buses, Inc. , 6 N.Y.3d 404, 408, 813 N.Y.S.2d 27, 846 N.E.2d 457 [2006], rearg denied 7 N.Y.3d 742, 819 N.Y.S.2d 876, 853 N.E.2d 247 [2006] ).
Defendant failed to preserve for our review her contention that the fourth count of the indictment for assault in the second degree ( Penal Law § 120.05 [6] ) was rendered duplicitous by the court's jury instructions (see People v. Hursh , 191 A.D.3d 1453, 1454, 138 N.Y.S.3d 437 [4th Dept. 2021], lv denied 37 N.Y.3d 957, 147 N.Y.S.3d 500, 170 N.E.3d 374 [2021] ), and we decline to exercise our power to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15 [6] [a] ).
Defendant further contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the conviction with respect to count four. At the close of proof, defendant moved for a trial order of dismissal, and the court reserved decision. There is no indication in the record that the court ruled on that portion of defendant's motion with respect to count four (see generally CPL 290.10 [1] ). Thus, we may not address defendant's contention because, "in accordance with People v. Concepcion , 17 N.Y.3d 192, 197-198, 929 N.Y.S.2d 541, 953 N.E.2d 779 (2011) and ( People v. LaFontaine , 92 N.Y.2d 470, 474, 682 N.Y.S.2d 671, 705 N.E.2d 663 [1998], rearg denied 93 N.Y.2d 849, 688 N.Y.S.2d 495, 710 N.E.2d 1094 [1999] ), we cannot deem the court's failure to rule on [the relevant part of] the ... motion as a denial thereof" ( People v. Bennett , 180 A.D.3d 1357, 1358, 115 N.Y.S.3d 737 [4th Dept. 2020] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see People v. Moore , 147 A.D.3d 1548, 1548-1549, 48 N.Y.S.3d 567 [4th Dept. 2017] ). We therefore hold the case, reserve decision, and remit the matter to Supreme Court for a ruling on that part of defendant's motion (see Bennett , 180 A.D.3d at 1358, 115 N.Y.S.3d 737 ; Moore , 147 A.D.3d at 1549, 48 N.Y.S.3d 567 ).
In light of our determination, we need not address defendant's remaining contentions.