Opinion
09-30-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Ricardo CARRASQUILLO, Defendant–Appellant.
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse (Piotr Banasiak of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (Romana A. Lavalas of Counsel), for Respondent.
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse (Piotr Banasiak of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (Romana A. Lavalas of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, NEMOYER, CURRAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:On appeal from a judgment convicting him, upon a jury verdict, of criminal possession of weapon in the second degree (Penal Law § 265.03[3] ), defendant contends that County Court erred in refusing to give a missing witness charge. We reject that contention inasmuch as defendant did not establish that the uncalled witness was “knowledgeable about a material issue pending in the case” (People v. Gonzalez, 68 N.Y.2d 424, 427, 509 N.Y.S.2d 796, 502 N.E.2d 583 ; see generally People v. Keen, 94 N.Y.2d 533, 539, 707 N.Y.S.2d 380, 728 N.E.2d 979 ).
Defendant's contention that he was denied a fair trial by prosecutorial misconduct upon summation is unpreserved for our review inasmuch as defendant did not object to any of the alleged instances of misconduct (see People v. Paul, 78 A.D.3d 1684, 1684–1685, 911 N.Y.S.2d 757, lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 834, 921 N.Y.S.2d 199, 946 N.E.2d 187 ; People v. Smith, 32 A.D.3d 1291, 1292, 821 N.Y.S.2d 356, lv. denied 8 N.Y.3d 849, 830 N.Y.S.2d 708, 862 N.E.2d 800 ), 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] ; People v. Smith, 129 A.D.3d 1549, 1549–1550, 10 N.Y.S.3d 374, lv. denied 26 N.Y.3d 971, 18 N.Y.S.3d 608, 40 N.E.3d 586 ). Contrary to defendant's contention, he was not denied effective assistance of counsel. The record as a whole establishes that defense counsel provided meaningful representation (see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400 ).
Contrary to defendant's further contention, the conviction is supported by legally sufficient evidence, including with respect to the element of defendant's constructive possession of the gun (see People v. Farmer, 136 A.D.3d 1410, 1411–1412, 25 N.Y.S.3d 505 ; see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Moreover, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the 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 reject defendant's contention that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, specifically with respect to whether defendant had dominion and control over the gun or the area in which the gun was found sufficient to give him the ability to use or dispose of the gun (see Farmer, 136 A.D.3d at 1411–1412, 25 N.Y.S.3d 505; see also Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ; see generally People v. Mattison, 41 A.D.3d 1224, 1225, 837 N.Y.S.2d 464, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 924, 844 N.Y.S.2d 179, 875 N.E.2d 898 ). Defendant contends on appeal that the court erred in refusing to suppress the physical evidence on the ground that the officers who searched the house did not have a copy of the warrant with them and failed to show defendant a copy at his request (see generally People v. Ellison, 46 A.D.3d 1341, 1343, 848 N.Y.S.2d 499, lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 862, 860 N.Y.S.2d 488, 890 N.E.2d 251 ). Although defendant initially raised that ground in support of his suppression motion, he failed to address it at the suppression hearing or in his posthearing submission to the court, and the court thus did not address it in its written decision denying the suppression motion. We thus conclude that defendant abandoned that ground (see People v. Graves, 85 N.Y.2d 1024, 1027, 630 N.Y.S.2d 972, 654 N.E.2d 1220 ; People v. Perez, 52 A.D.3d 1244, 1244–1245, 859 N.Y.S.2d 549, lv. denied 11 N.Y.3d 928, 874 N.Y.S.2d 14, 902 N.E.2d 448 ). Furthermore, in failing to address that ground at the suppression hearing, defendant failed to present us with a record adequate to enable us to review the contention (see People v. Kinchen, 60 N.Y.2d 772, 773–774, 469 N.Y.S.2d 680, 457 N.E.2d 786 ; People v. Dixon, 37 A.D.3d 1124, 1124, 829 N.Y.S.2d 342, lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 764, 854 N.Y.S.2d 325, 883 N.E.2d 1260 ; People v. Woods, 303 A.D.2d 1031, 1032, 759 N.Y.S.2d 824 ).
We have considered defendant's challenge to his sentence and conclude that it is not unduly harsh or severe.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.