Opinion
December 22, 1995
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Rossetti, J.
Present — Green, J.P., Lawton, Fallon, Doerr and Balio, JJ.
Judgment unanimously modified as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice and as modified affirmed in accordance with the following Memorandum: Defendant's contentions that the trial court erred in failing to give a circumstantial evidence charge and in improperly restricting defense counsel's opening statement are not preserved for our review (see, CPL 470.05), and we decline to exercise our power to review those contentions as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see, CPL 470.15 [a]). The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the People (see, People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621), is sufficient to support the conviction, and the verdict is not contrary to the weight of the evidence (see, People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495). Defense counsel provided meaningful representation (see, People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147). The remaining contentions raised in the pro se supplemental brief are based upon matters outside the record and are not subject to review on direct appeal (see, People v. Simmons, 221 A.D.2d 994; People v. Ford, 184 A.D.2d 1013, lv denied 80 N.Y.2d 929).
In our view, the sentence of 15 years to life imposed upon the burglary conviction is unduly harsh. Although defendant has had a number of contacts with the law, the majority of his convictions are for petty offenses and none of his convictions involves an act of violence. We, therefore, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, reduce defendant's sentence to an indeterminate term of incarceration of 8 years to life (see, CPL 470.15 [b]; People v Friday, 114 A.D.2d 970, 972; People v Brewer, 109 A.D.2d 1077, 1077-1078).