People v. Larrabee

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York

People v. Larrabee

107 A.D.3d 1575, 966 N.Y.S.2d 712

CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York

DecidedJune 14, 2013

StatusPublished

This text of 107 A.D.3d 1575 (People v. Larrabee) 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.

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People v. Larrabee, 107 A.D.3d 1575, 966 N.Y.S.2d 712 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2013).

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Opinion

Appeal from a judgment of the Oneida County Court (Barry M. Donalty, J.), rendered August 19, 2010. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of burglary in the second degree and possession of burglar’s tools.

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

Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of burglary in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.25 [2]) and possession of burglar’s tools (§ 140.35). Defendant failed to preserve for our review his challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence inasmuch as he made only a general motion for a trial order of dismissal (see People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10, 19 [1995]), and he failed to renew that motion after presenting evidence (see People v Hines, 97 NY2d 56, 61 [2001], rearg denied 97 NY2d 678 [2001]). In any event, that contention lacks merit (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we further conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 NY2d at 495). “[Resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury” (People v Witherspoon, 66 AD3d 1456, 1457 [2009], lv denied 13 NY3d 942 [2010] [internal quotation marks omitted]).

We agree with defendant that County Court erred in admitting evidence with respect to modifications made to the victim’s home after the burglary and as to the effect of the burglary on the children who resided in that home (see People v Kelly, 71 [1576]*1576AD3d 1520, 1521 [2010], lv denied 15 NY3d 775 [2010]; see generally People v Scarola, 71 NY2d 769, 777 [1988]). We note that, even assuming, arguendo, that defendant’s contention is unpreserved for our review, we would nevertheless exercise our power to review it as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15 [6] [a]). We conclude, however, that the error is harmless inasmuch as the evidence of defendant’s guilt is overwhelming, and there is no significant probability that defendant would have been acquitted but for the admission of that testimony (see generally People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230, 241-242 [1975]). Present — Centra, J.P., Fahey, Carni and Sconiers, JJ.

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Appeal from a judgment of the Oneida County Court (Barry M. Donalty, J.), rendered August 19, 2010. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of burglary in the second degree and possession of burglar’s tools.

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

Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of burglary in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.25 [2]) and possession of burglar’s tools (§ 140.35). Defendant failed to preserve for our review his challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence inasmuch as he made only a general motion for a trial order of dismissal (see People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10, 19 [1995]), and he failed to renew that motion after presenting evidence (see People v Hines, 97 NY2d 56, 61 [2001], rearg denied 97 NY2d 678 [2001]). In any event, that contention lacks merit (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we further conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 NY2d at 495). “[Resolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be determined by the jury” (People v Witherspoon, 66 AD3d 1456, 1457 [2009], lv denied 13 NY3d 942 [2010] [internal quotation marks omitted]).

We agree with defendant that County Court erred in admitting evidence with respect to modifications made to the victim’s home after the burglary and as to the effect of the burglary on the children who resided in that home (see People v Kelly, 71 [1576]*1576AD3d 1520, 1521 [2010], lv denied 15 NY3d 775 [2010]; see generally People v Scarola, 71 NY2d 769, 777 [1988]). We note that, even assuming, arguendo, that defendant’s contention is unpreserved for our review, we would nevertheless exercise our power to review it as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15 [6] [a]). We conclude, however, that the error is harmless inasmuch as the evidence of defendant’s guilt is overwhelming, and there is no significant probability that defendant would have been acquitted but for the admission of that testimony (see generally People v Crimmins, 36 NY2d 230, 241-242 [1975]). Present — Centra, J.P., Fahey, Carni and Sconiers, JJ.

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107 A.D.3d 1575, 966 N.Y.S.2d 712, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-larrabee-nyappdiv-2013.

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