PEOPLE v. ARGUINZONI (2008)

 Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon a jury verdict, of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15 [4] ), robbery in the second degree (§ 160.10[1] ), and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (former § 265.03[2] ) arising from his participation in the robbery of a gas station as the driver of the getaway vehicle.   Contrary to the contention of defendant, County Court properly allowed the People to introduce evidence with respect to his prior bad acts, including his threat to one of the People's witnesses and his involvement as an accomplice in an uncharged burglary.   The evidence of defendant's threat was admissible on the issue of consciousness of guilt (see People v. Hendricks [Appeal No. 1], 4 A.D.3d 798, 771 N.Y.S.2d 440, lv. denied 2 N.Y.3d 800, 781 N.Y.S.2d 299, 814 N.E.2d 471;  People v. Pugh, 236 A.D.2d 810, 812, 653 N.Y.S.2d 994, lv. denied 89 N.Y.2d 1099, 660 N.Y.S.2d 393, 682 N.E.2d 994), and the evidence of defendant's involvement in the uncharged burglary was properly admitted under the intent exception to the Molineux rule (see People v. Molineux, 168 N.Y. 264, 293-294, 61 N.E. 286).   Indeed, defendant placed his intent and state of mind in issue at trial based on the theory of his defense, i.e., that he did not know that his accomplice intended to commit the crimes with which defendant was charged (see People v. Ingram, 71 N.Y.2d 474, 479, 527 N.Y.S.2d 363, 522 N.E.2d 439).

 Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that the court's Sandoval ruling constituted an abuse of discretion (see People v. Englert, 285 A.D.2d 987, 727 N.Y.S.2d 680, lv. denied 97 N.Y.2d 655, 737 N.Y.S.2d 56, 762 N.E.2d 934) and, in any event, that contention lacks merit.   The court properly exercised its discretion in permitting the People to cross-examine defendant with respect to his 2004 conviction of attempted robbery in the second degree.   Despite the similarity between the prior conviction and the instant charges, “[p]roof of willingness to steal has been specifically recognized as very material proof of lack of credibility ․ and crimes of individual dishonesty should usually be admitted on trial of another similar charge, notwithstanding the risk of possible prejudice, because the very issue on which the offer is made is that of the veracity of the defendant as a witness in the case” (People v. Freeney, 291 A.D.2d 913, 914, 737 N.Y.S.2d 751, lv. denied 98 N.Y.2d 637, 744 N.Y.S.2d 766, 771 N.E.2d 839 [internal quotation marks omitted];  see People v. Nichols, 302 A.D.2d 953, 755 N.Y.S.2d 545, lv. denied 99 N.Y.2d 657, 760 N.Y.S.2d 121, 790 N.E.2d 295;   People v. Willis, 282 A.D.2d 882, 883, 725 N.Y.S.2d 415, lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 869, 730 N.Y.S.2d 44, 754 N.E.2d 1127).   Defendant also failed to preserve for our review his contention that the police lacked reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle that he was driving following the robbery (see People v. Sanders, 224 A.D.2d 956, 637 N.Y.S.2d 859, lv. denied 88 N.Y.2d 885, 645 N.Y.S.2d 459, 668 N.E.2d 430) and, in any event, that contention lacks merit.   The vehicle that defendant was driving matched the description of the vehicle observed leaving the scene of the robbery, defendant was driving in the vicinity of the robbery, and the vehicle's license plate was obstructed by packed snow (see People v. Hicks, 116 A.D.2d 150, 154, 500 N.Y.S.2d 449, affd. 68 N.Y.2d 234, 508 N.Y.S.2d 163, 500 N.E.2d 861;  People v. Sanchez, 216 A.D.2d 207, 208, 629 N.Y.S.2d 215, lv. denied 87 N.Y.2d 850, 638 N.Y.S.2d 609, 661 N.E.2d 1391).

 The court properly denied defendant's challenge for cause to a prospective juror based on the prospective juror's inability to read and write.   The Judiciary Law requires in relevant part that a juror must “[b]e able to understand and communicate in the English language” (Judiciary Law § 510[4];  see CPL 270.20[1][a] ), but there is no requirement for reading and writing skills.   Even assuming, arguendo, that the court erred in denying defendant's challenge for cause, we conclude that the error does not require reversal because defendant had not exhausted his peremptory challenges and did not peremptorily challenge that prospective juror (see CPL 270.20[2] ).   Defendant further contends that the court erred in allowing other jurors to author notes for the prospective juror in question, who was designated as the jury foreperson pursuant to CPL 270.15(3).   We reject that contention.   The record establishes that the notes were initialed by the foreperson, and it cannot be said that defendant was prejudiced by that procedure inasmuch as “the law recognizes no special function for a foreperson other than acting as the jury's spokesperson” (People v. Burgess, 280 A.D.2d 264, 265, 719 N.Y.S.2d 649, lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 798, 726 N.Y.S.2d 375, 750 N.E.2d 77).

 Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the conviction (see People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 19, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919).   Contrary to defendant's further contention, the court properly gave an Allen charge after the jury had deliberated for a total of five hours over a period of two days and had sent a note to the court asking whether its inability to reach a unanimous verdict on one of the charges rendered it a deadlocked jury (see People v. Garner, 272 A.D.2d 873, 708 N.Y.S.2d 526, lv. denied 95 N.Y.2d 852, 714 N.Y.S.2d 3, 736 N.E.2d 864;  see also People v. Phong T. Le, 277 A.D.2d 1036, 1036-1037, 716 N.Y.S.2d 189, lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 762, 725 N.Y.S.2d 289, 748 N.E.2d 1085).   Also contrary to defendant's contention, the court's Allen charge, which tracked the language of CJI2d (N.Y.) Deadlocked Jury, did not compel or coerce the jury to reach a verdict and sufficiently apprised the jury of its option not to reach a unanimous verdict (see People v. Baker, 21 A.D.3d 1435, 1436, 801 N.Y.S.2d 684, lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 773, 811 N.Y.S.2d 340, 844 N.E.2d 795;  Phong T. Le, 277 A.D.2d at 1037, 716 N.Y.S.2d 189;  People v. Samuels, 251 A.D.2d 1038, 673 N.Y.S.2d 348, lv. denied 92 N.Y.2d 905, 680 N.Y.S.2d 69, 702 N.E.2d 854).   The sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.

We have reviewed defendant's remaining contentions and conclude that they are without merit.

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

MEMORANDUM: