PEOPLE v. GANT (1999)

Judgments, Supreme Court, New York County (Roger Hayes, J.), rendered November 20 and October 18, 1996, convicting defendants, after a jury trial, of robbery in the second degree, and sentencing defendant Gant, as a second felony offender, to a term of 61/212 to 13 years, and sentencing defendant Wright, as a second felony offender, to a term of 6 to 12 years, unanimously affirmed.

The court properly denied defendants' challenge for cause to a prospective juror who was familiar with the area where the complainants identified defendants.   The record establishes that the prospective juror could render an impartial verdict based solely on the evidence adduced at trial (see, People v. Griffin, 173 A.D.2d 216, 569 N.Y.S.2d 97, lv. denied 78 N.Y.2d 1076, 577 N.Y.S.2d 239, 583 N.E.2d 951;  see also, People v. Ortega, 245 A.D.2d 213, 666 N.Y.S.2d 634, lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 1011, 676 N.Y.S.2d 139, 698 N.E.2d 968).

We perceive no abuse of sentencing discretion.

MEMORANDUM DECISION.