People v. Flinn

Sep 28, 2012
Versions:98 A.D.3d 1262
951 N.Y.S.2d 605

It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.

Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of, inter alia, attempted murder in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 125.25 [1]), defendant contends that he was denied his right to be present at all material stages of the trial, specifically, bench conferences involving defense counsel and potential jurors during the jury selection process. The right to be present during sidebar questioning of prospective jurors regarding matters of bias or prejudice may be waived, provided that the waiver is voluntary, knowing and intelligent (see People v Lucious, 269 AD2d 766, 767 [2000]). Here, we conclude that defendant‘s failure to attend sidebar conferences after being fully informed of the right to do so constitutes a valid waiver of that right (see People v Inskeep, 272 AD2d 966, 966 [2000], lv denied 95 NY2d 866 [2000]).

Defendant contends that County Court committed reversible error in refusing to charge as lesser included offenses the crime of attempted assault in the first degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 120.10 [1]) and the crime of assault in the second degree that requires only a reckless mental state (§ 120.05 [4]). We reject that contention because there is no reasonable view of the evidence to support a finding that defendant committed those lesser offenses but not the greater offense of assault in the first degree (see People v Van Norstrand, 85 NY2d 131, 135 [1995]). We note that, although at trial defendant contended that certain other lesser included offenses should be charged and he has summarized his requests with respect to those offenses in a table in his brief on appeal, his contention on appeal concerning lesser included offenses does not address those additional requests. We thus conclude that defendant has abandoned his contention with respect to those additional requests (see generally People v Dombrowski, 94 AD3d 1416, 1417 [2012], lv denied 19 NY3d 959 [2012]). Defendant further contends that his conviction of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first and second degrees is not supported by legally sufficient evidence and that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence with respect to those crimes. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), and according the benefit of every reasonable inference to the People (see People v Ford, 66 NY2d 428, 437 [1985]), we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient with respect to those crimes (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). In addition, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of those crimes as charged to the jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 NY2d at 495).

Defendant contends in addition that he was unconstitutionally punished for exercising his right to a trial. It is well settled that a sentence imposed after trial “may be more severe than a promised sentence in connection with a plea agreement” (People v Chapero, 23 AD3d 492, 493 [2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 846 [2006]). “The mere fact that a sentence imposed after trial is greater than that offered in connection with plea negotiations is not proof that defendant was punished for asserting his right to [a] trial” (People v Simon, 180 AD2d 866, 867 [1992], lv denied 80 NY2d 838 [1992]; see People v Chappelle, 14 AD3d 728, 729 [2005], lv denied 5 NY3d 786 [2005]). Here, although defendant was sentenced following the trial to a greater term of imprisonment than that offered during plea negotiations, he did not raise his present contention at sentencing and thus has failed to preserve his contention for our review (see People v Motzer, 96 AD3d 1635, 1636 [2012]). In any event, that contention lacks merit because there is no evidence in the record that the court was motivated by “retaliation or vindictiveness” in sentencing defendant following the trial (People v Patterson, 106 AD2d 520, 521 [1984]). Defendant‘s sentence is not unduly harsh or severe. Finally, we have reviewed defendant‘s remaining contention and conclude that it does not require reversal or modification of the judgment. Present—Smith, J.P., Peradotto, Carni, Lindley and Martoche, JJ.