Opinion
2012-12-26
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Olban GONZALES, appellant.
Leon H. Tracy, Jericho, N.Y., for appellant. Kathleen M. Rice, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Robert A. Schwartz and Laurie K. Gibbons of counsel), for respondent.
Leon H. Tracy, Jericho, N.Y., for appellant. Kathleen M. Rice, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Robert A. Schwartz and Laurie K. Gibbons of counsel), for respondent.
PETER B. SKELOS, J.P., L. PRISCILLA HALL, SHERI S. ROMAN, and JEFFREY A. COHEN, JJ.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (McCormack, J.), rendered August 12, 2010, convicting him of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree (three counts), assault in the first degree (three counts), and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (four counts), upon a jury verdict, and sentencing him to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of 25 years to life on the conviction of murder in the second degree, determinate terms of imprisonment of 25 years, followed by a term of 5 years postrelease supervision, on the convictions of attempted murder in the second degree, to run consecutively with each other and with the conviction of murder in the second degree, and concurrently with all other counts, determinate terms of imprisonment of 25 years, followed by a term of 5 years postrelease supervision, on the convictions of assault in the first degree, to run consecutively with each other and with the conviction of murder in the second degree, and concurrently with all other counts, and determinate terms of imprisonment of 15 years, followed by a term of 5 years postrelease supervision, on the convictions of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, to run concurrently with each other and to all other counts.
ORDERED that the judgment is modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, by reducing the sentences imposed upon the defendant's convictions on each count of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree from a determinate term of 25 years imprisonment to a determinate term of 18 years imprisonment; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution ( see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, upon our independent review pursuant to CPL 470.15(5), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence ( see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).
The defendant's contention that the accomplice testimony adduced at trial was insufficiently corroborated by independent evidence is without merit ( seeCPL 60.22[1]; People v. Breland, 83 N.Y.2d 286, 292, 609 N.Y.S.2d 571, 631 N.E.2d 577;People v. Dailey, 86 A.D.3d 579, 580, 926 N.Y.S.2d 662;People v. Goodson, 35 A.D.3d 760, 761, 825 N.Y.S.2d 778). The Criminal Procedure Law requires only that the corroborative evidence “tend[s] to connect” the defendant with the commission of the relevant offense (CPL 60.22[1] ). Under that standard, “[a]ll that is necessary is to connect the defendant with the crime in such a way that the jury may be reasonably satisfied that the accomplice is telling the truth” ( People v. Daniels, 37 N.Y.2d 624, 630, 376 N.Y.S.2d 436, 339 N.E.2d 139). That standard was met in this case.
The defendant's further contention that the testimony of several witnesses that he admitted to the crimes charged was not adequately supported by corroborative evidence also is without merit. “A person may not be convicted of any offense solely upon evidence of a confession or admission made by him without additional proof that the offense charged has been committed” (CPL 60.50; see People v. Booden, 69 N.Y.2d 185, 187, 513 N.Y.S.2d 87, 505 N.E.2d 598).CPL 60.50 requires only some proof that a crime was committed by someone ( see People v. Chico, 90 N.Y.2d 585, 589, 665 N.Y.S.2d 5, 687 N.E.2d 1288). Here, there was ample testimony establishing such proof.
The Supreme Court erred in denying the defendant's request for a missing witness charge. In opposition to the defendant's prima facie showing that the uncalled witness could have been reasonably expected to testify favorably to the People, that he was knowledgeable about a material issue in the case, and that he was in the People's control ( see People v. Ingram, 71 A.D.3d 786, 787, 896 N.Y.S.2d 446), the People failed to “account for the witness'[s] absence or otherwise demonstrate that the charge would not be appropriate” ( People v. Gonzalez, 68 N.Y.2d 424, 428, 509 N.Y.S.2d 796, 502 N.E.2d 583).However, the error was harmless, as there was overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt and no significant probability that the error contributed to his conviction ( see People v. Johnson, 95 A.D.3d 1237, 1237, 943 N.Y.S.2d 910;People v. Chardon, 83 A.D.3d 954, 955, 922 N.Y.S.2d 127;People v. Brown, 75 A.D.3d 515, 516, 904 N.Y.S.2d 752).
The defendant's contention that the sentences imposed constituted cruel and unusual punishment is unpreserved for appellate review ( see People v. Clerge, 69 A.D.3d 955, 955, 893 N.Y.S.2d 607). In any event, the contention is without merit ( see People v. Jones, 39 N.Y.2d 694, 697, 385 N.Y.S.2d 525, 350 N.E.2d 913;People v. Khan, 89 A.D.3d 750, 751–752, 932 N.Y.S.2d 107;People v. Cruz, 54 A.D.3d 962, 963, 864 N.Y.S.2d 137). However, the sentences imposed upon the defendant's convictions on each count of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree were excessive to the extent indicated ( see People v. Diaz, 118 A.D.2d 651, 499 N.Y.S.2d 804;People v. Young, 113 A.D.2d 852, 493 N.Y.S.2d 516;People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675).