Opinion
721 KA 18-01086
10-07-2022
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Larry G. SAUNDERS, Defendant-Appellant.
CHRISTY L. COOPER, BUFFALO, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. BRIAN D. SEAMAN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LOCKPORT (LAURA T. JORDAN OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
CHRISTY L. COOPER, BUFFALO, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
BRIAN D. SEAMAN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LOCKPORT (LAURA T. JORDAN OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: PERADOTTO, J.P., LINDLEY, CURRAN, WINSLOW, AND BANNISTER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of one count each of criminal sexual act in the first degree ( Penal Law § 130.50 [1] ), rape in the first degree (§ 130.35 [1]), and predatory sexual assault (§ 130.95 [2]), and three counts of strangulation in the second degree (§ 121.12). Defendant's conviction arose from separate incidents in which he strangled and raped or sexually assaulted two female victims. Defendant contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel on the ground that his attorney failed to retain an expert witness to question one of the victims about her bipolar disorder. We reject that contention. Defendant failed to demonstrate that defense counsel had no strategic reason or other legitimate explanation for failing to retain such an expert witness (see generally People v. Hernandez , 192 A.D.3d 1528, 1530-1531, 145 N.Y.S.3d 224 [4th Dept. 2021], lv denied 37 N.Y.3d 957, 147 N.Y.S.3d 529, 170 N.E.3d 403 [2021] ). Further, defendant failed to establish that expert testimony on the victim's mental health condition was available (see People v. Jones , 147 A.D.3d 1521, 1521, 47 N.Y.S.3d 621 [4th Dept. 2017], lv denied 29 N.Y.3d 1033, 62 N.Y.S.3d 302, 84 N.E.3d 974 [2017]), that such expert testimony would have assisted the jury, or that he was prejudiced by its absence (see People v. West , 118 A.D.3d 1450, 1451, 988 N.Y.S.2d 792 [4th Dept. 2014], lv denied 24 N.Y.3d 1048, 998 N.Y.S.2d 318, 23 N.E.3d 161 [2014] ).
We also reject defendant's contention that defense counsel was ineffective in failing to recall one of the victims to question her regarding whether she had previously engaged in rough sex with defendant. Defendant failed to demonstrate the absence of a strategic explanation for defense counsel's failure to recall that victim for that purpose (see generally People v. Spencer , 262 A.D.2d 1062, 1062, 692 N.Y.S.2d 281 [4th Dept. 1999], lv denied 94 N.Y.2d 829, 702 N.Y.S.2d 600, 724 N.E.2d 392 [1999] ). Indeed, defense counsel may have wanted to avoid the possibility of the victim contradicting defendant's later testimony that the victim enjoyed rough sex (see generally People v. Rivera , 71 N.Y.2d 705, 708-709, 530 N.Y.S.2d 52, 525 N.E.2d 698 [1988] ). " ‘[A] simple disagreement with strategies, tactics or the scope of possible cross-examination, weighed long after the trial,’ " does not rise to the level of ineffective assistance ( People v. Biro , 85 A.D.3d 1570, 1571, 925 N.Y.S.2d 285 [4th Dept. 2011] ; see People v. Healy , 182 A.D.3d 1014, 1015, 123 N.Y.S.3d 324 [4th Dept. 2020], lv denied 35 N.Y.3d 1045, 127 N.Y.S.3d 844, 151 N.E.3d 525 [2020] ).
Defendant's contention that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to inform him about the Rape Shield Law at the time he rejected the plea offer involves matters outside the record on appeal and must be raised by way of a CPL article 440 motion (see People v. Defio , 200 A.D.3d 1672, 1674, 159 N.Y.S.3d 600 [4th Dept. 2021], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 949, 165 N.Y.S.3d 465, 185 N.E.3d 986 [2022] ; People v. Timmons , 151 A.D.3d 1682, 1684, 56 N.Y.S.3d 729 [4th Dept. 2017], lv denied 30 N.Y.3d 984, 67 N.Y.S.3d 586, 89 N.E.3d 1266 [2017] ).
We reject defendant's remaining allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel. Viewing defense counsel's representation as a whole and as of the time of the representation, we conclude that defendant "was afforded meaningful representation" ( People v. Bynum , 125 A.D.3d 1278, 1279, 1 N.Y.S.3d 724 [4th Dept. 2015], lv denied 26 N.Y.3d 927, 17 N.Y.S.3d 89, 38 N.E.3d 835 [2015] ).
Finally, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v. Danielson , 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 [2007] ), we conclude that, contrary to defendant's contention, the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally People v. Bleakley , 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 [1987] ; People v. Muscarella , 132 A.D.3d 1288, 1289, 17 N.Y.S.3d 229 [4th Dept. 2015], lv denied 26 N.Y.3d 1147, 32 N.Y.S.3d 61, 51 N.E.3d 572 [2016] ).