PEOPLE v. CRAVEN (2008)

 Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of three counts each of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree (Penal Law § 170.30) and petit larceny (§ 155.25).   We reject defendant's contention that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence (see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).   The People presented evidence that defendant passed counterfeit $20 bills at two different retail stores in three separate transactions, and the jury was entitled to reject the testimony of defendant that he was unaware that the bills were counterfeit (see People v. Cotton, 197 A.D.2d 897, 602 N.Y.S.2d 252, lv. denied 82 N.Y.2d 893, 610 N.Y.S.2d 160, 632 N.E.2d 470).   County Court properly admitted in evidence, over defendant's objection, those parts of the surveillance videotapes from the first store.   Although those parts of the videotapes showed defendant engaging in a fourth uncharged transaction, they nevertheless were admissible based upon their relevance to the issue of defendant's intent (see People v. Brand, 135 A.D.2d 1125, 523 N.Y.S.2d 277, lv. denied 70 N.Y.2d 1004, 526 N.Y.S.2d 939, 521 N.E.2d 1082), as well as defendant's modus operandi (see People v. Nuness, 192 A.D.2d 960, 961-962, 596 N.Y.S.2d 941, lv. denied 82 N.Y.2d 723, 602 N.Y.S.2d 821, 622 N.E.2d 322).   Any violation of the best evidence rule that may have occurred as the result of the admission in evidence of the edited surveillance videotapes “was not at all prejudicial to the defendant and did not affect the fairness of his trial” (People v. Fondal, 154 A.D.2d 476, 477, 546 N.Y.S.2d 26, lv. denied 75 N.Y.2d 770, 551 N.Y.S.2d 912, 551 N.E.2d 113).   Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that the People failed to establish an adequate foundation for the admission of the videotapes or the still photographs derived therefrom (see People v. Bunting, 134 A.D.2d 646, 648, 521 N.Y.S.2d 330, lv. denied 70 N.Y.2d 1004, 526 N.Y.S.2d 939, 521 N.E.2d 1082), and we decline to exercise our power to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ).

 Defendant further contends that the evidence with respect to the first transaction is legally insufficient to support his conviction of criminal possession of a forged instrument and petit larceny under counts one and two of the indictment because there were breaks in the chain of custody of the counterfeit bill used in that transaction.   We reject that contention (see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).   The People were not required to establish an unbroken chain of custody for the counterfeit bill while it was in the possession of store personnel (see People v. Taylor, 206 A.D.2d 904, 905, 616 N.Y.S.2d 116, lv. denied 84 N.Y.2d 940, 621 N.Y.S.2d 537, 645 N.E.2d 1237) and, in any event, the breaks in the chain of custody affect only the weight to be given to that evidence (see generally People v. Nicholson, 231 A.D.2d 533, 648 N.Y.S.2d 33, lv. denied 89 N.Y.2d 927, 654 N.Y.S.2d 729, 677 N.E.2d 301).

We reject the further contention of defendant, raised in the main brief and pro se supplemental brief, that he was denied effective assistance of counsel (see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400).   To the extent that his contention is based upon matters outside the record, it must be raised in a CPL article 440 proceeding (see People v. Hoeft, 42 A.D.3d 968, 969-970, 838 N.Y.S.2d 842, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 962, 848 N.Y.S.2d 30, 878 N.E.2d 614).   Defendant does not challenge the court's determination that the photo array shown to the cashier at the second store in which defendant conducted a transaction with counterfeit bills was not unduly suggestive and, thus, there is no need to consider his challenge to the court's alternative determination that the cashier had an independent basis for his in-court identification (see People v. Chipp, 75 N.Y.2d 327, 335, 553 N.Y.S.2d 72, 552 N.E.2d 608, cert. denied 498 U.S. 833, 111 S.Ct. 99, 112 L.Ed.2d 70;  see also People v. Jones, 215 A.D.2d 244, 627 N.Y.S.2d 2, lv. denied 86 N.Y.2d 796, 632 N.Y.S.2d 510, 656 N.E.2d 609).

 In view of the circumstances of this case, however, we agree with defendant that the sentence imposed for each count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree is unduly harsh and severe.   Thus, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][b] ), we modify the judgment by reducing those sentences to indeterminate terms of incarceration of two to six years.   We have examined defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in the pro se supplemental brief, and conclude that none requires reversal or further modification of the judgment.

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice by reducing the sentence imposed for each count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree to an indeterminate term of incarceration of two to six years and as modified the judgment is affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: