Summary
determining that the prosecutor's argument that the "defendant 'lie[d] to the police about his alcohol consumption' prior to operating his motor vehicle ... was fair comment on the evidence"
Summary of this case from State v. AustinOpinion
11-17-2017
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert J. MASTOWSKI, Defendant–Appellant.
Timothy P. Donaher, Public Defender, Rochester (David R. Juergens of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Leah R. Mervine of Counsel), for Respondent.
Timothy P. Donaher, Public Defender, Rochester (David R. Juergens of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Leah R. Mervine of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, NEMOYER, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree ( Penal Law § 125.13 [3 ] ) and two counts of driving while intoxicated ( Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192[2], [3] ). Defendant contends that he was deprived of a fair trial by prosecutorial misconduct during summation. As an initial matter, we note that defendant failed to object to all but one of the instances of alleged misconduct (see CPL 470.05[2] ; People v. Gonzalez, 81 A.D.3d 1374, 1374, 916 N.Y.S.2d 860 [4th Dept.2011] ), and we decline to exercise our power to review those unpreserved instances as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ). We nevertheless take this opportunity to admonish the prosecutor "and remind him that prosecutors have ‘special responsibilities ... to safeguard the integrity of criminal proceedings and fairness in the criminal process' " ( People v. Huntsman, 96 A.D.3d 1387, 1388, 946 N.Y.S.2d 327 [4th Dept.2012], lv. denied 20 N.Y.3d 1099, 965 N.Y.S.2d 795, 988 N.E.2d 533 [2013], quoting People v. Santorelli, 95 N.Y.2d 412, 421, 718 N.Y.S.2d 696, 741 N.E.2d 493 [2000] ).
With respect to the one preserved instance of alleged misconduct, we conclude that defendant's contention is without merit. Contrary to defendant's contention, the prosecutor did not call him a "liar" during summation; rather, the prosecutor argued that defendant "lie[d] to the police about his alcohol consumption" prior to operating his motor vehicle at the time and place at issue. We conclude that the prosecutor's remark was fair comment on the evidence (see generally People v. Rivera, 133 A.D.3d 1255, 1256, 18 N.Y.S.3d 813 [4th Dept.2015], lv. denied 27 N.Y.3d 1154, 39 N.Y.S.3d 388, 62 N.E.3d 128 [2016] ). Contrary to defendant's further contention, "examin[ing] the trial as a whole," we conclude that defendant was afforded meaningful representation ( People v. Schulz, 4 N.Y.3d 521, 530, 797 N.Y.S.2d 24, 829 N.E.2d 1192 [2005] ; see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400 [1981] ).
The People correctly concede, however, that counts two and three, charging driving while intoxicated, must be dismissed as lesser inclusory counts of count one, charging vehicular manslaughter in the first degree (see People v. Bank, 129 A.D.3d 1445, 1448, 12 N.Y.S.3d 673 [4th Dept.2015], affd. 28 N.Y.3d 131, 42 N.Y.S.3d 651, 65 N.E.3d 680 [2016] ), and we therefore modify the judgment accordingly. Defendant's failure to preserve the issue for our review is of no moment because preservation is not required (see People v. Moore, 41 A.D.3d 1149, 1152, 837 N.Y.S.2d 480 [4th Dept.2007], lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 879, 842 N.Y.S.2d 791, 874 N.E.2d 758 [2007], reconsideration denied 9 N.Y.3d 992, 848 N.Y.S.2d 609, 878 N.E.2d 1025 [2007] ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by reversing those parts convicting defendant of two counts of driving while intoxicated and dismissing counts two and three of the indictment, and as modified the judgment is affirmed.