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People v. Mejias

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jul 30, 2002
296 A.D.2d 583 (N.Y. App. Div. 2002)

Opinion

1999-02058

Argued June 10, 2002

July 30, 2002.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Ruchelsman, J.), rendered February 26, 1999, convicting him of burglary in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, possession of burglar's tools, and petit larceny, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Lynn W. L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Sarah J. Berger of counsel), for appellant, and appellant pro se.

Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Michael Gore of counsel), for respondent.

Before: FRED T. SANTUCCI, J.P., SONDRA MILLER, GLORIA GOLDSTEIN, SANDRA L. TOWNES, JJ.


DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes of burglary in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and petit larceny under an accomplice theory of liability (see Penal Law §§ 160.15; 20.00). The evidence was also legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of the crime of possession of burglar's tools. Moreover, resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses (see People v. Gaimari, 176 N.Y. 84, 94). Upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15).

The trial court, having read verbatim Penal Law § 20.00 defining criminal liability for the conduct of another, and having instructed the jury on the elements of burglary in the second degree and the remaining counts, correctly instructed the jury with respect to the issue of intent (see People v. Kaplan, 76 N.Y.2d 140; People v. Accely, 272 A.D.2d 337; People v. Latchman, 251 A.D.2d 683).

The defendant's arguments regarding alleged prosecutorial misconduct during summation are largely unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05; People v. Dien, 77 N.Y.2d 885; People v. Nuccie, 57 N.Y.2d 818). In any event, the comments alleged to be inflammatory and prejudicial were either fair comment on the evidence (see People v. Ashwal, 39 N.Y.2d 105) or responsive to arguments presented in the defense counsel's summation (see People v. Galloway, 54 N.Y.2d 396).

The defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his supplemental pro se brief, are either unpreserved for appellate review or without merit.

SANTUCCI, J.P., S. MILLER, GOLDSTEIN and TOWNES, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Mejias

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Jul 30, 2002
296 A.D.2d 583 (N.Y. App. Div. 2002)
Case details for

People v. Mejias

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. BRANDON MEJIAS, appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Jul 30, 2002

Citations

296 A.D.2d 583 (N.Y. App. Div. 2002)
745 N.Y.S.2d 726

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