PEOPLE v. LITTLE (2000)

 Supreme Court properly permitted an undercover officer to testify that he had met with defendant on a prior occasion;  that testimony was relevant with respect to the limited issue of identification (see, People v. Ventimiglia, 52 N.Y.2d 350, 359, 438 N.Y.S.2d 261, 420 N.E.2d 59).   We agree with defendant, however, that the court erred in permitting the officer to testify concerning the purpose of the prior meeting.   That testimony was not relevant to the issue of identification and was highly prejudicial (see, People v. Pena-Martinez, 206 A.D.2d 858, 614 N.Y.S.2d 850, lv. denied 84 N.Y.2d 938, 621 N.Y.S.2d 535, 645 N.E.2d 1235).   The admission of the officer's testimony concerning the purpose of the prior meeting is harmless error, however, because the evidence of defendant's guilt is overwhelming and there is no significant probability that defendant otherwise would have been acquitted (see, People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241-242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787).

Judgment unanimously affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: