People v. Haggins

276 A.D.2d 714, 718 N.Y.S.2d 597, 2000 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10889

This text of 276 A.D.2d 714 (People v. Haggins) 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. Haggins, 276 A.D.2d 714, 718 N.Y.S.2d 597, 2000 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10889 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

Appeal by the defendant from two judgments of the County Court, Rockland [715]*715County (Kelly, J.), both rendered October 8, 1997, convicting him of attempted murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and assault in the second degree (three qounts) under Indictment No. 96-00418, and bribing a witness (two counts) under Indictment No. 97-00267, upon jury verdicts, and imposing sentences.

Ordered that the judgments are affirmed.

The defendant was indicted, inter alia, for attempted murder in the second degree for participating in an attack on two men. Shortly before his trial, while out on bail, the defendant offered the complainants money in exchange for testifying falsely that he and his accomplices were not involved in the incident. One complainant accepted a partial payment from the defendant, and then contacted the office of the District Attorney. At his subsequent meeting with the defendant, that complainant wore an electronic transmitter. A detective recorded the defendant saying that he had deposited more money in that complainant’s account. The defendant was then rearrested and charged with bribing a witness.

The defendant’s post-indictment statements, which gave rise to the bribery charges, were not obtained in violation of his right to counsel (see, People v Bell, 73 NY2d 153; People v Middleton, 54 NY2d 474; cf., Massiah v United States, 377 US 201; Beatty v United States, 389 US 45). The statements were properly admitted at the consolidated trial (see, CPL 200.20 [2] [b]; People v Jenkins, 146 AD2d 804; People v Gomezgil, 135 AD2d 561). In any event, in light of the overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt, any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt (see, People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230). Nor was defense counsel ineffective for failing to move to suppress the statements (see, People v Rivera, 71 NY2d 705; People v Trent, 193 AD2d 637; People v Checo, 235 AD2d 242).

The defendant’s remaining contentions are without merit. Bracken, J. P., Santucci, Thompson and Sullivan, JJ., concur.

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Related

Massiah v. United States
377 U.S. 201 (Supreme Court, 1964)
Beatty v. United States
389 U.S. 45 (Supreme Court, 1967)
People v. Crimmins
326 N.E.2d 787 (New York Court of Appeals, 1975)
People v. Middleton
430 N.E.2d 1264 (New York Court of Appeals, 1981)
People v. Rivera
525 N.E.2d 698 (New York Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Bell
535 N.E.2d 1294 (New York Court of Appeals, 1989)
People v. Gomezgil
135 A.D.2d 561 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1987)
People v. Jenkins
146 A.D.2d 804 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1989)
People v. Trent
193 A.D.2d 637 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1993)
People v. Checo
235 A.D.2d 242 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
276 A.D.2d 714, 718 N.Y.S.2d 597, 2000 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10889, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-haggins-nyappdiv-2000.