PEOPLE v. ATTFIELD (2006)

 Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of burglary in the third degree (Penal Law § 140.20), petit larceny (§ 155.25) and criminal mischief in the fourth degree (§ 145.00[1] ).   Contrary to defendant's contention, the conviction of burglary is supported by legally sufficient evidence (see generally People v. Thompson, 72 N.Y.2d 410, 413, 534 N.Y.S.2d 132, 530 N.E.2d 839, rearg. denied 73 N.Y.2d 870, 537 N.Y.S.2d 489, 534 N.E.2d 327;  People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).  “The crime of burglary requires only a knowing unlawful entry with intent to commit a crime therein ․, and such intent may be inferred from the circumstances of the entry” (People v. Mainella, 2 A.D.3d 1330, 1330, 769 N.Y.S.2d 802, lv. denied 2 N.Y.3d 742, 778 N.Y.S.2d 468, 810 N.E.2d 921, 3 N.Y.3d 660, 782 N.Y.S.2d 702, 816 N.E.2d 575).   Here, the People presented evidence establishing that defendant entered the subject premises by removing a ceiling tile and removed property, thus supporting the inference of an intent to commit the crime of burglary (see People v. Barnes, 50 N.Y.2d 375, 381, 429 N.Y.S.2d 178, 406 N.E.2d 1071;  People v. Gates, 170 A.D.2d 971, 566 N.Y.S.2d 137, lv. denied 78 N.Y.2d 922, 573 N.Y.S.2d 475, 577 N.E.2d 1067;  People v. Boyd, 161 A.D.2d 1145, 555 N.Y.S.2d 506, lv. denied 76 N.Y.2d 785, 559 N.Y.S.2d 990, 559 N.E.2d 684).   Contrary to defendant's further contentions, the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672), and 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: