Opinion
577 KA 18-01630
08-26-2021
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Justin S. HAFFA, Defendant-Appellant.
THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (ALLYSON L. KEHL-WIERZBOWSKI OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. JASON L. SCHMIDT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MAYVILLE (EMILY A. WOODARD OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (ALLYSON L. KEHL-WIERZBOWSKI OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
JASON L. SCHMIDT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MAYVILLE (EMILY A. WOODARD OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, CURRAN, BANNISTER, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of robbery in the third degree ( Penal Law § 160.05 ). Defendant contends that, because he was purportedly forced to move for a mistrial after his first trial due to prosecutorial misconduct, his second trial was barred by the double jeopardy clauses of either the Federal ( US Const 5th Amend) or State Constitution ( NY Const, art I, § 6 ). We reject that contention. "Where the defendant either requests a mistrial or consents to its declaration, the double jeopardy clauses do not ordinarily bar a second trial" ( People v. Reardon , 126 A.D.2d 974, 974, 511 N.Y.S.2d 748 [4th Dept. 1987] ). However, "an exception exists where ‘the conduct giving rise to the successful motion for a mistrial was intended to provoke the defendant into moving for a mistrial’ " ( People v. Wirth , 224 A.D.2d 1002, 1003, 637 N.Y.S.2d 546 [4th Dept. 1996], quoting Oregon v. Kennedy , 456 U.S. 667, 679, 102 S.Ct. 2083, 72 L.Ed.2d 416 [1982] ). Here, as noted, defendant moved for a mistrial, and the record does not support "defendant's claim that the mistrial motion was necessitated by a deliberate intent on the part of the prosecution to provoke a mistrial" ( Reardon , 126 A.D.2d at 974, 511 N.Y.S.2d 748 ).
Contrary to the further contention of defendant, we conclude that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the People (see People v. Contes , 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 [1983] ), is legally sufficient to establish that he intended "to permanently deprive the victim of property by compelling the victim to give up property or quashing any resistance to that act" ( People v. Miller , 87 N.Y.2d 211, 217, 638 N.Y.S.2d 577, 661 N.E.2d 1358 [1995] ; see generally People v. Bleakley , 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 [1987] ). The testimony adduced at trial established that, after defendant suggested to his girlfriend that they rob and kill the victim, a police officer, defendant pushed the victim to the ground, restrained her, and took her service weapon (see generally People v. Dawson , 188 A.D.2d 1051, 1051, 591 N.Y.S.2d 916 [4th Dept. 1992], lv denied 81 N.Y.2d 838, 595 N.Y.S.2d 737, 611 N.E.2d 776 [1993] ). Furthermore, defendant was apprehended three hours after the incident, and he was still in possession of the gun (see generally Miller , 87 N.Y.2d at 217, 638 N.Y.S.2d 577, 661 N.E.2d 1358 ). We also reject defendant's contention that his intoxication negated the requisite element of intent (see People v. Felice , 45 A.D.3d 1442, 1443, 846 N.Y.S.2d 531 [4th Dept. 2007], lv denied 10 N.Y.3d 764, 854 N.Y.S.2d 326, 883 N.E.2d 1261 [2008] ; see also People v. Reibel , 181 A.D.3d 1268, 1270, 119 N.Y.S.3d 659 [4th Dept. 2020], lv denied 35 N.Y.3d 1029, 126 N.Y.S.3d 22, 149 N.E.3d 860 [2020], reconsideration denied 35 N.Y.3d 1096, 131 N.Y.S.3d 289, 155 N.E.3d 782 [2020] ). 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 [2007] ), we reject defendant's contention that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley , 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ).
Defendant's sentence is not unduly harsh or severe. We have reviewed defendant's remaining contentions and conclude that none warrants modification or reversal of the judgment.