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People v. Clark

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Apr 15, 1994
203 A.D.2d 935 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)

Opinion

April 15, 1994

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Kubiniec, J.

Present — Denman, P.J., Balio, Fallon, Doerr and Davis, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: There is no merit to the contentions of defendant on appeal from his conviction of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree (15 counts), grand larceny in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree (two counts). Because the People announced their readiness within six months of commencement of the action and are not chargeable with any periods of postreadiness delay (see, People v McKenna, 76 N.Y.2d 59, 64; see generally, People v Kendzia, 64 N.Y.2d 331, 337), defendant was not deprived of his right to a speedy trial. The court did not err in admitting the identification testimony of seven prosecution witnesses; the photo array was not suggestive. The court did not err in admitting photographs, checks, and deposit and withdrawal slips over defendant's objection on hearsay grounds. The bank videos and photographs are not extrajudicial utterances, and thus do not implicate the hearsay rule. The checks and deposit and withdrawal slips were not admitted for the truth of any assertion set forth therein, and thus do not fall within the hearsay rule. The People introduced those documents to show that they were made by defendant in furtherance of the crime.

The People did not fail to provide a CPL 710.30 notice of identification. In preparing a witness for his trial testimony, the prosecutor showed him relevant exhibits, one of which was a forged photo identification that defendant had displayed to the witness during the course of the crime. Showing a witness a trial exhibit as part of routine trial preparation does not invoke CPL 710.30 (cf., People v Herner, 201 A.D.2d 954). Proof of identification was sufficient when viewed in relation to each count and overwhelming when viewed in its entirety. Similarly, proof of defendant's guilty knowledge was sufficient (cf., People v Johnson, 65 N.Y.2d 556). Defendant's contention that the prosecution presented evidence of uncharged crimes without obtaining a Ventimiglia ruling is unpreserved and without merit. Imposition of consecutive terms was not illegal (see, Penal Law § 70.25; People v Day, 73 N.Y.2d 208, 212), nor is the aggregate term of 12 1/2 to 25 years harsh or excessive. Finally, defendant was not denied his right to be present during the Sandoval hearing. The clerk's minutes note defendant's presence with defense counsel from the outset of that day's proceedings.


Summaries of

People v. Clark

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Apr 15, 1994
203 A.D.2d 935 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
Case details for

People v. Clark

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ANTHONY CLARK…

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

Date published: Apr 15, 1994

Citations

203 A.D.2d 935 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
611 N.Y.S.2d 387

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