Opinion
2012-04-20
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Timothy J. JOHNSON, Defendant–Appellant.
Kristin F. Splain, Conflict Defender, Rochester (Kimberly J. Czapranski of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Michael C. Green, District Attorney, Rochester (Nancy Gilligan of Counsel), for Respondent.
Kristin F. Splain, Conflict Defender, Rochester (Kimberly J. Czapranski of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Michael C. Green, District Attorney, Rochester (Nancy Gilligan of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, CENTRA, FAHEY, AND PERADOTTO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law § 265.02 [former (4) ] ). Contrary to defendant's contention, the evidence is legally sufficient to support the conviction ( see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). Defendant was charged as an accomplice ( see § 20.00) and, viewing the evidence 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), we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient to establish that defendant jointly possessed his codefendant's loaded firearm ( see People v. Velasquez, 44 A.D.3d 412, 412, 843 N.Y.S.2d 253, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 1040, 852 N.Y.S.2d 25, 881 N.E.2d 1212). According to the evidence presented at trial, just prior to the shooting defendant was driving a moped on which the codefendant was a passenger. Immediately before the codefendant fired a shot or shots toward a vehicle, defendant stopped the moped. It may therefore be inferred that defendant was aware that the codefendant had a loaded firearm, and that he aided the codefendant in that possession inasmuch as he stopped the moped in order for the codefendant to be able to line up his target and fire. In addition, defendant's actions after the shooting further show that he intentionally aided the codefendant in his possession of the loaded firearm. Defendant sped away from the scene of the shooting, swerving past a police vehicle in the process. He ignored the officer's efforts to stop the moped. Indeed, he drove onto the sidewalk, cut through a parking lot, and tried to maneuver around the police vehicles when the police attempted to block him. We therefore conclude that “defendant's conduct showed that he was aware that his codefendant possessed a handgun” and that he intentionally aided the codefendant in that possession ( People v. Santiago, 199 A.D.2d 290, 290, 605 N.Y.S.2d 702, lv. denied 82 N.Y.2d 930, 610 N.Y.S.2d 182, 632 N.E.2d 492; see People v. Carney, 18 A.D.3d 242, 243, 795 N.Y.S.2d 10, lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 882, 808 N.Y.S.2d 584, 842 N.E.2d 482).
Inasmuch as the evidence at trial is legally sufficient, defendant's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence before the grand jury is not reviewable on this appeal from the ensuing judgment of conviction ( see People v. McCullough, 83 A.D.3d 1438, 1439, 919 N.Y.S.2d 739, lv. denied 17 N.Y.3d 798, 929 N.Y.S.2d 106, 952 N.E.2d 1101; People v. Laws, 41 A.D.3d 1205, 1206, 838 N.Y.S.2d 328, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 991, 848 N.Y.S.2d 609, 878 N.E.2d 1025). Defendant failed to preserve for our review his further contention that his right of confrontation was violated at the predicate felony offender hearing at sentencing ( see People v. Dennis, 91 A.D.3d 1277, 1278, 937 N.Y.S.2d 496; People v. McMillon, 77 A.D.3d 1375, 1375–1376, 909 N.Y.S.2d 267, lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 897, 926 N.Y.S.2d 33, 949 N.E.2d 981). In any event, contrary to defendant's contention, the right of confrontation set forth in Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 “does not apply at sentencing proceedings” ( People v. Leon, 10 N.Y.3d 122, 126, 855 N.Y.S.2d 38, 884 N.E.2d 1037, cert. denied 554 U.S. 926, 128 S.Ct. 2976, 171 L.Ed.2d 900). Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.