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People v. Smith

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Dec 6, 2001
289 A.D.2d 42 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)

Opinion

5508

December 6, 2001.

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Brenda Soloff, J. on summary denial of Dunaway motion; William Leibovitz, J. at jury trial and sentence), rendered April 5, 2000, convicting defendant of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of 6 to 12 years, unanimously affirmed.

Before: Tom, J.P., Andrias, Rubin, Buckley, Friedman, JJ.


Viewed in context, the prosecutor's summation comment to the effect that the defense had not provided any motive for the undercover officer to falsely incriminate defendant was proper. Defendant's summation included, inter alia, attacks on the officer's credibility, and the prosecutor was entitled to comment on the lack of evidence supporting defendant's arguments (see, People v. Gathers, 207 A.D.2d 751, lv denied 84 N.Y.2d 1031). We find that there was no attempt by the prosecutor to shift the burden of proof. By failing to object or by making generalized objections, defendant failed to preserve his remaining challenges to the prosecutor's summation and we decline to review them in the interest of justice. Were we to review these claims, we would find that the challenged remarks were fair comment on the evidence in response to defendant's summation (see, People v. Overlee, 236 A.D.2d 133, lv denied 91 N.Y.2d 976).

The court's summary denial of defendant's Dunaway motion was proper. Defendant's factual allegations, which did not address the People's claim that defendant had sold drugs to an undercover officer or offer any other basis for suppression, were insufficient to warrant a hearing (see,People v. Jones, 95 N.Y.2d 721; People v. Mendoza, 82 N.Y.2d 415). The record clearly establishes that the People opposed defendant's motion on this basis.

We perceive no basis for reduction of sentence.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.


Summaries of

People v. Smith

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Dec 6, 2001
289 A.D.2d 42 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
Case details for

People v. Smith

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, PRISCILLA STEWARD v…

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

Date published: Dec 6, 2001

Citations

289 A.D.2d 42 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
733 N.Y.S.2d 862