Opinion
2014-06-20
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Yaquin ABDULLA, Defendant–Appellant.
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse (Philip Rothschild of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (James P. Maxwell of Counsel), for Respondent.
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse (Philip Rothschild of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (James P. Maxwell of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., FAHEY, PERADOTTO, SCONIERS AND DeJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of grand larceny in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 155.30[5] ). Viewing the evidence in light of that crime 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). “[R]esolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury” ( People v. Witherspoon, 66 A.D.3d 1456, 1457, 885 N.Y.S.2d 829,lv. denied13 N.Y.3d 942, 895 N.Y.S.2d 333, 922 N.E.2d 922 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Defendant's contention that Supreme Court erred in admitting testimony with respect to a letter defendant wrote to the District Attorney is not preserved for our review ( seeCPL 470.05[2]; People v. Woods, 72 A.D.3d 1563, 1564, 899 N.Y.S.2d 763,lv. denied15 N.Y.3d 811, 908 N.Y.S.2d 171, 934 N.E.2d 905). In any event, even assuming, arguendo, that defendant is correct that the court erred in admitting testimony as to the subject letter, we conclude that any such error is harmless ( see People v. Slater, 61 A.D.3d 1328, 1329, 877 N.Y.S.2d 593,lv. denied13 N.Y.3d 749, 886 N.Y.S.2d 103, 914 N.E.2d 1021;see generally People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241–242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787). Defendant's further contention that the People violated CPL 190.75(3) by improperly resubmitting the charge of robbery in the third degree when they sought a superseding indictment lacks merit ( see generally People v. Scott, 283 A.D.2d 1006, 1006, 725 N.Y.S.2d 586,lv. denied96 N.Y.2d 207, 730 N.Y.S.2d 805, 756 N.E.2d 93) and, in any event, that contention was rendered moot when the jury acquitted defendant of that crime. Finally, viewing the evidence, the law and the circumstances of this case, in totality and as of the time of representation, we conclude that defendant received meaningful representation ( see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400). We note that “claims of ineffective assistance based on [the] choice[ ] [not to request a lesser included offense] must usually be adjudicated in [a] posttrial motion[ ], so that evidence may be presented to show why counsel acted as he [or she] did” ( People v. Nesbitt, 20 N.Y.3d 1080, 1082, 965 N.Y.S.2d 743, 988 N.E.2d 478) and, here, defense counsel did not explain on the record why he did not seek that charge ( cf. id. at 1082, 965 N.Y.S.2d 743, 988 N.E.2d 478;see generally People v. March, 89 A.D.3d 1496, 1497, 933 N.Y.S.2d 477,lv. denied18 N.Y.3d 926, 942 N.Y.S.2d 465, 965 N.E.2d 967;People v. Calderon, 66 A.D.3d 314, 320, 884 N.Y.S.2d 29,lv. denied13 N.Y.3d 358, 892 N.Y.S.2d 272, 920 N.E.2d 328).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.