Opinion
2011-12-6
Arza Feldman, Uniondale, N.Y. (Steven A. Feldman of counsel), for appellant. William V. Grady, District Attorney, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Joan H. McCarthy of counsel), for respondent.
Arza Feldman, Uniondale, N.Y. (Steven A. Feldman of counsel), for appellant. William V. Grady, District Attorney, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Joan H. McCarthy of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Dutchess County (Hayes, J.), rendered October 31, 2007, convicting him of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence. The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress physical evidence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant contends that the hearing court improperly denied that branch of his omnibus motion which was to suppress physical evidence because the testimony of the arresting officer at the pretrial suppression hearing was incredible and patently tailored to overcome constitutional objections. However, this contention is unpreserved for appellate review, as the defendant failed to raise this specific claim before the hearing court ( see CPL 470.05[2]; People v. Rivera, 27 A.D.3d 489, 490, 812 N.Y.S.2d 575). In any event, the defendant's contention is without merit. “ ‘The credibility determinations of a hearing court are entitled to great deference on appeal, and will not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the record’ ” ( People v. Moran, 68 A.D.3d 786, 787, 891 N.Y.S.2d 109, quoting People v. Martinez, 58 A.D.3d 870, 870–871, 873 N.Y.S.2d 128). The evidence established that the police had probable cause to arrest the defendant, and the seizure of cocaine from his pocket was legal as arising from a search incident to a lawful arrest ( see People v. Parker, 306 A.D.2d 543, 761 N.Y.S.2d 850; People v. Cooper, 241 A.D.2d 553, 554, 661 N.Y.S.2d 243). Accordingly, the hearing court properly denied that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress physical evidence.
The defendant's remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, are without merit.