Opinion
October 21, 1991
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Fertig, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
At approximately 7:50 P.M. on October 18, 1988, the police observed a man approach and apparently purchase drugs from Joseph Garcia, who was standing in front of an abandoned storefront in an area which had been the site of much criminal activity. About 30 minutes later, Garcia was seen holding dollar bills and walking towards a Monte Carlo automobile which had been parked in the vicinity since before Garcia's sale. Garcia extended his right hand with the money into the driver's window, and then withdrew it 10 seconds later holding a paper bag. Thereafter, Garcia placed the paper bag inside a nearby door. Subsequently, the police arrested Garcia and removed the defendant from the Monte Carlo. While removing the defendant, who was the only person seen entering or exiting the car since the first sale, the police saw paper bags on the console which contained 75 vials of crack cocaine. Similar vials of crack cocaine were found in the bag which Garcia had placed inside the door. Over $400 was found in the defendant's pocket. The defendant now claims that he was denied a fair trial when the court admitted testimony regarding the first sale. We disagree.
Although there was no proof that the defendant directly participated in the first sale, such evidence was "inextricably interwoven with the entire transaction and served to complete the narrative of the episode" (People v. Bowden, 157 A.D.2d 789, 790; see also, People v. Seaberry, 138 A.D.2d 422). In addition, the evidence of the first sale helped establish that the defendant possessed the drugs found in his vehicle with the intent to sell (see, People v. Parsons, 150 A.D.2d 614; People v. Wheeler, 140 A.D.2d 731; cf., People v. Guzman, 146 A.D.2d 799). In light of the court's limiting instruction, the probative value of the evidence outweighed any prejudicial effect. Sullivan, J.P., Lawrence, O'Brien and Ritter, JJ., concur.