Opinion
2014-07-2
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Philip NARAN, appellant.
Ostrer & Associates, Chester, N.Y. (Marissa C. Tuohy of counsel), for appellant. David M. Hoovler, District Attorney, Goshen, N.Y. (Robert H. Middlemiss of counsel), for respondent.
Ostrer & Associates, Chester, N.Y. (Marissa C. Tuohy of counsel), for appellant. David M. Hoovler, District Attorney, Goshen, N.Y. (Robert H. Middlemiss of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Orange County (De Rosa, J.) rendered April 30, 2012, convicting him of possessing a sexual performance by a child (52 counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered.
The trial court erred in denying the defendant's motion to compel the People to provide the defendant with the opportunity to inspect the laptop computer that was seized from his home and for an adjournment of the trial, in order to permit the defense to examine that computer ( seeCPL 240.20[1][f]; People v. DaGata, 86 N.Y.2d 40, 44–45, 629 N.Y.S.2d 186, 652 N.E.2d 932;People v. Dudley, 268 A.D.2d 442, 703 N.Y.S.2d 489;see also People v. Davis, 52 A.D.3d 1205, 1206–1207, 859 N.Y.S.2d 804). The defendant was entitled to inspect the laptop computer, pursuant to CPL 240.20(1)(f), and the defendant made a timely demand to inspect the laptop computer ( seeCPL 240.20[1][f]; see People v. Metivier, 210 A.D.2d 260, 261, 619 N.Y.S.2d 731).
Further, the laptop computer was central to the People's case against the defendant; the People's expert witness testified, at length, as to his examination of the laptop computer, the evidence that was extracted from that computer, and the basis for his conclusion that such evidence was accessed from or uploaded to the internet by the defendant. Additionally, the prosecution provided no reason for its failure to provide the computer to the defense. Under these circumstances, this error warrants reversal ( see People v. Davis, 52 A.D.3d at 1206–1207, 859 N.Y.S.2d 804;People v. Dudley, 268 A.D.2d 442, 703 N.Y.S.2d 489).
In light of our determination, we need not reach the defendant's remaining contentions. DILLON, J.P., HALL, SGROI and BARROS, JJ., concur.