People v. Gibbs

Aug 6, 2014
2012-00483
Versions:120 A.D.3d 510
989 N.Y.S.2d 904

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

There is no merit to the defendant‘s contention that he was deprived of a fair trial by the Supreme Court‘s grant of the People‘s request to hold an independent source hearing after jury selection. Although the defendant had a right to a determination of a pretrial motion prior to the commencement of trial (see CPL 710.40 [3]), he waived this right by consenting to the court‘s deviation from the statutory procedure (see People v Yousef, 236 AD2d 868, 869 [1997]; People v Ramirez, 229 AD2d 452, 452 [1996]; People v Orkabi, 160 AD2d 644, 645 [1990]).

Upon our independent review of the evidence pursuant to CPL 470.15 (5), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]).

Contrary to the defendant‘s contention, the Supreme Court did not improperly sentence him based on the offenses of which his codefendant was convicted (see People v McGrath, 20 AD3d 574, 575 [2005]; see also People v Forde, 120 AD3d 509 [2014] [decided herewith]). Moreover, the sentence imposed was not improper merely because it exceeded a pretrial plea offer (see People v Johnson, 76 AD3d 1103, 1104-1105 [2010]), and the sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]). Hall, J.P., Roman, Duffy and LaSalle, JJ., concur.