People v. Fields

109 A.D.3d 553, 970 N.Y.S.2d 469

This text of 109 A.D.3d 553 (People v. Fields) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Fields, 109 A.D.3d 553, 970 N.Y.S.2d 469 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme [554]*554Court, Kings County (Del Giudice, J.), rendered June 8, 2010, convicting him of attempted murder in the second degree and attempted robbery in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Contrary to the defendant’s contention, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]), the evidence was legally sufficient to establish his guilt of attempted robbery in the first degree under an accomplice theory of liability beyond a reasonable doubt (see Penal Law §§ 20.00, 110.00, 160.15 [2]; People v Witherspoon, 300 AD2d 605 [2002]; People v Mejia, 297 AD2d 755 [2002]; People v Davis, 260 AD2d 726, 728 [1999]). Moreover, upon our independent review pursuant to CPL 470.15 (5), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to attempted robbery in the first degree was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]).

The defendant was not deprived of the right to a fair trial by the trial court’s Sandoval ruling (see People v Sandoval, 34 NY2d 371 [1974]; People v Brightly, 91 AD3d 667 [2012]; People v Washington, 81 AD3d 991, 993 [2011]; People v Taylor, 18 AD3d 783, 784 [2005]; People v Footman, 233 AD2d 405 [1996]).

“The right to effective assistance of counsel is guaranteed by the Federal and State Constitutions” (People v Rivera, 71 NY2d 705, 708 [1988]; see US Const Sixth Amend; NY Const, art I, § 6; People v Collado, 90 AD3d 672, 672 [2011]). Here, the defendant was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel under the New York Constitution because, viewing defense counsel’s performance in totality, counsel provided meaningful representation (see People v Benevento, 91 NY2d 708, 712 [1998]; People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137, 147 [1981]; People v Collado, 90 AD3d at 673). Further, the defendant was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel under the United States Constitution (see Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668 [1984]).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]). Dillon, J.E, Balkin, Austin and Sgroi, JJ., concur.

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Related

Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
People v. Benevento
697 N.E.2d 584 (New York Court of Appeals, 1998)
People v. Romero
859 N.E.2d 902 (New York Court of Appeals, 2006)
People v. Sandoval
314 N.E.2d 413 (New York Court of Appeals, 1974)
People v. Baldi
429 N.E.2d 400 (New York Court of Appeals, 1981)
People v. Contes
454 N.E.2d 932 (New York Court of Appeals, 1983)
People v. Rivera
525 N.E.2d 698 (New York Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Taylor
18 A.D.3d 783 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2005)
People v. Washington
81 A.D.3d 991 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2011)
People v. Collado
90 A.D.3d 672 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2011)
People v. Brightly
91 A.D.3d 667 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2012)
People v. Suitte
90 A.D.2d 80 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1982)
People v. Footman
233 A.D.2d 405 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1996)
People v. Davis
260 A.D.2d 726 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1999)
People v. Mejia
297 A.D.2d 755 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2002)
People v. Witherspoon
300 A.D.2d 605 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2002)

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Bluebook (online)
109 A.D.3d 553, 970 N.Y.S.2d 469, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-fields-nyappdiv-2013.