Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, v. FREDDIE O. COLLINS, DEFENDANT–APPELLANT.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Penal Law § 265.03[1][b]; [3] ) and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (§ 265.02[1] ). Contrary to defendant's contention, County Court properly instructed the jury on counts one through three of the indictment with respect to the automobile presumption (see § 265.15[3] ). Those counts concerned the sawed-off shotgun recovered from the vehicle in which defendant was a passenger and, in this case, there was no “clearcut” evidence at trial that the shotgun was found in the possession of a specified passenger in the vehicle other than defendant (People v. Lemmons, 40 N.Y.2d 505, 511). In such circumstances, the “[automobile] presumption's applicability is properly left to the trier of fact under an appropriate charge” (id. at 512).
We reject defendant's further contention that the suppression court erred in determining that the traffic stop was permissible. It is well established that the police may lawfully stop a vehicle for a traffic infraction of excessively tinted windows (see People v. McGriff, 219 A.D.2d 829, 830). In this case, the testimony adduced at the suppression hearing established that the police officers' traffic stop was supported by the requisite probable cause to believe that there had been a violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375 (12–a) (b) (see People v. Estrella, 48 AD3d 1283, 1285, affd 10 NY3d 945, cert denied 555 U.S. 1032; see also People v. Binion, 100 AD3d 1514, 1515). Specifically, one of the officers testified that the vehicle had “dark tinted windows” and that he could “just barely see that there was an occupant in the driver's seat.”
As defendant correctly concedes, he failed to preserve for our review his contention that the court erred by instructing the jury with respect to constructive possession (see People v. Carr, 59 AD3d 945, 946, affd 14 NY3d 808), and we decline to exercise our power to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ). We further conclude that defendant was not denied effective assistance of counsel based on defense counsel's failure to object to the charge (see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147).
Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: KA 10–00251
Decided: April 26, 2013
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)