People v. Williams

Nov 15, 1995
Versions:221 A.D.2d 953
634 N.Y.S.2d 316
1995 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 13446

—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant contends that Supreme Court erred in denying his request for a Wade hearing. We conclude that the viewing of a photograph of defendant from the file by the officer who purchased cocaine from defendant on two separate occasions did not entitle defendant to a Wade hearing. If the undercover officer viewed the *954photograph before his first encounter with defendant, the People were not required to provide a notice of identification (see, CPL 710.30 [1]). If the officer viewed the photograph between the first and second encounters, any hint of suggestiveness was dissipated when the officer observed defendant during a second face-to-face drug transaction; that second encounter, along with several telephonic communications with defendant, establishes assurances of reliability obviating the need for a Wade hearing (see, People v Wharton, 74 NY2d 921, 923).

Given defendant’s extensive criminal history, we decline to exercise our power to modify defendant’s sentence as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see, CPL 470.15 [6] [b]). (Appeal from Judgment of Supreme Court, Monroe County, Bergin, J.—Criminal Sale Controlled Substance, 2nd Degree.) Present—Denman, P. J., Green, Wesley, Balio and Boehm, JJ.