PEOPLE v. VEGA (2024)

Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Steven L. Barrett, J., at second request for new counsel;  Albert Lorenzo, J., at motion to controvert search warrant, first request for new counsel, plea, and sentencing), rendered May 24, 2022, convicting defendant of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of two years, followed by two years of postrelease supervision, unanimously modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, to the extent of vacating the surcharge and fees imposed on defendant at sentencing, and otherwise affirmed.

Defendant made a valid waiver of his right to appeal (see People v. Thomas, 34 N.Y.3d 545, 122 N.Y.S.3d 226, 144 N.E.3d 970 [2019], cert denied 589 U.S. ––––, 140 S.Ct. 2634, 206 L.Ed.2d 512 [2020]), which forecloses review of his Second Amendment claim (see People v. Johnson, 225 A.D.3d 453, 206 N.Y.S.3d 584 [1st Dept. 2024]).  Moreover, defendant's claim is unpreserved (see People v. Cabrera, 41 N.Y.3d 35, 42–51, 207 N.Y.S.3d 18, 230 N.E.3d 1082 [2023]), and we decline to consider it in the interest of justice.  As an alternative holding, we find that on the present record, defendant has not demonstrated that he has standing to challenge New York's gun licensing scheme, or that his conviction is unconstitutional under New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1, 142 S.Ct. 2111, 213 L.Ed.2d 387 (2022) (see People v. Castillo, 226 A.D.3d 573, 575, 207 N.Y.S.3d 525 [1st Dept. 2024];  Johnson, 225 A.D.3d at 455, 206 N.Y.S.3d 584).

Defendant's valid waiver of his right to appeal also forecloses review of his challenges to the denials of his requests for new counsel, denial of his motion to controvert the warrant, and the excessiveness of his sentence.  In any event, we reject the claims on the merits.  The court properly summarily denied defendant's requests for new counsel, as defendant's conclusory allegations of dissatisfaction with counsel's performance and an alleged breakdown in communication did not amount to “specific factual allegations” of serious complaints that triggered the court's duty to conduct a “minimal inquiry” (People v. Porto, 16 N.Y.3d 93, 99–100, 917 N.Y.S.2d 74, 942 N.E.2d 283 [2010]).  Upon our in camera review of the warrant materials, including the unredacted search warrant and supporting affidavit, we find that there was probable cause for the issuance of the warrant to search defendant's car (see Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637 [1969];  Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108, 84 S.Ct. 1509, 12 L.Ed.2d 723 [1964]).  We perceive no basis for reducing defendant's sentence, including the two-year term of postrelease supervision.

Based on our own interest of justice powers, we vacate the surcharge and fees imposed on defendant at sentencing (see People v. Chirinos, 190 A.D.3d 434, 135 N.Y.S.3d 641 [1st Dept. 2021]). We note that the People do not oppose this relief.