PEOPLE v. ABRON (2007)

 Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him after a jury trial of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law § 265.02 [former (4) ] ), menacing in the second degree (§ 120.14 [1] ), and resisting arrest (§ 205.30).   Contrary to defendant's contentions, the evidence is legally sufficient to support the conviction, and the verdict is not 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).   Contrary to defendant's further contention, County Court's Sandoval ruling “does not constitute an abuse of discretion inasmuch as the court properly balanced the probative value of the evidence of prior crimes committed by defendant against the danger of undue prejudice to him” (People v. Taylor, 19 A.D.3d 1100, 1100, 796 N.Y.S.2d 213, lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 810, 803 N.Y.S.2d 39, 836 N.E.2d 1162).   The contention of defendant that the indictment should be dismissed because he appeared before the grand jury in shackles is not preserved for our review because defendant did not object to appearing before the grand jury in that manner or request cautionary instructions with respect to that appearance (see generally People v. Winfield, 267 A.D.2d 486, 487, 700 N.Y.S.2d 843, lv. denied 94 N.Y.2d 927, 708 N.Y.S.2d 366, 729 N.E.2d 1165, 95 N.Y.2d 806, 711 N.Y.S.2d 175, 733 N.E.2d 247;  People v. Fields, 262 A.D.2d 793, 794-795, 692 N.Y.S.2d 241, lv. denied 93 N.Y.2d 1017, 697 N.Y.S.2d 576, 719 N.E.2d 937).   Defendant also failed to preserve for our review his contention that the verdict is repugnant inasmuch as he took a contrary position before the trial court.   Any error in the court's admission of the hearsay testimony of a police officer is harmless (see generally People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 240-241, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787).

Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: