Opinion
2015–03635 Ind. No. 3265/13
02-28-2018
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Paul HISLER, appellant.
Paul Skip Laisure, New York, N.Y. (Jenin Younes of counsel), for appellant. Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Jill A. Gross–Marks, and Deborah Wassel of counsel), for respondent.
Paul Skip Laisure, New York, N.Y. (Jenin Younes of counsel), for appellant.
Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Jill A. Gross–Marks, and Deborah Wassel of counsel), for respondent.
RUTH C. BALKIN, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDERAppeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (John B. Latella, J.), rendered April 20, 2015, convicting him of burglary in the second degree, assault in the second degree, criminal trespass in the second degree, and attempted escape in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant's challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction of assault in the second degree is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ). In any event, 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 of assault in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt. Additionally, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5] ; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053 ; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to that crime was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 643–644, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ).
The defendant's argument that his waiver of the right to counsel was invalid because the Supreme Court failed to delve into the question of his competency and capacity to represent himself before permitting him to waive his right to counsel and proceed pro se is without merit. Under New York law, a defendant's mental capacity may be taken into account in determining whether to permit the defendant to proceed pro se, "although the trial court need not conduct a formal ‘competency’ hearing prior to adjudicating a self-representation request" ( People v. Stone , 22 N.Y.3d 520, 527, 983 N.Y.S.2d 454, 6 N.E.3d 572 ; see Faretta v. California , 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 ). Here, in view of the whole record (see People v. Providence , 2 N.Y.3d 579, 583, 780 N.Y.S.2d 552, 813 N.E.2d 632 ), the court had no reason to believe that the defendant suffered from a mental illness that affected his ability to waive counsel and proceed pro se. Consequently, the court providently exercised its discretion in not undertaking a particularized assessment of the defendant's mental capacity in resolving the defendant's request to proceed pro se (see People v. Stone , 22 N.Y.3d at 528–529, 983 N.Y.S.2d 454, 6 N.E.3d 572 ; People v. Paulin , 140 A.D.3d 985, 987, 33 N.Y.S.3d 459 ; People v. Leitzsey , 121 A.D.3d 1020, 1020, 994 N.Y.S.2d 417 ).
The defendant's challenge to the admission of certain DNA evidence is unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Daly, 140 A.D.3d 593, 593–594, 33 N.Y.S.3d 266 ; People v. Harris, 129 A.D.3d 990, 991, 13 N.Y.S.3d 443 ). In any event, the defendant's arguments are without merit (see People v. John, 27 N.Y.3d 294, 315, 33 N.Y.S.3d 88, 52 N.E.3d 1114 ).
BALKIN, J.P., LEVENTHAL, CHAMBERS and MILLER, JJ., concur.