THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. TRAMELL BURTON DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2015)

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, inter alia, two counts of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15[2], [4] ).   The charges arose from defendant striking the victim on the head with a handgun, and defendant and codefendant taking several of the victim's possessions.

We reject defendant's contention that, because there is only circumstantial evidence supporting the fact that he was a perpetrator, the evidence is legally insufficient to support the conviction.   Viewing the circumstantial evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see People v. Hines, 97 N.Y.2d 56, 62, rearg. denied 97 N.Y.2d 678), we conclude that there is a valid line of reasoning and permissible inferences that could lead a reasonable jury to conclude that defendant struck the victim on the head with a handgun, and took the victim's possessions (see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495).   Contrary to defendant's further contention, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the jury (see People v. Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349), we conclude that “the jury could properly have inferred that defendant was one of the perpetrators” (People v. Goree, 309 A.D.2d 1204, 1204;  see generally People v. Dukes, 160 A.D.2d 332, 332, lv denied 76 N.Y.2d 847;  People v. Ngor Yip, 118 A.D.2d 472, 474).   Defendant was found in both spatial and temporal proximity to the crime scene, and in possession of the items stolen from the victim (see Goree, 309 A.D.2d at 1204).   We therefore conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495).

We reject defendant's further contentions that the People deprived him of his right to present a defense by failing to secure a purported surveillance video from the bar outside of which the robbery occurred, and that County Court erred in denying his request for an adverse inference instruction with respect to that failure.   We note that defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that he was denied the right to present a defense because “[he] did not raise th[at] constitutional claim[ ] in the trial court” (People v. Lane, 7 NY3d 888, 889;  see People v. Norcutt, 115 AD3d 1306, 1309, lv denied 23 NY3d 966), and we decline to exercise our power to review defendant's contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15[6][a] ).   We conclude that the court properly denied defendant's request for an adverse inference instruction with respect to the purported surveillance video.   Although the People would have a duty to protect such a video from being destroyed if it were in their possession (see generally People v. Handy, 20 NY3d 663, 668–669), the record fails to establish that either the police or the People had possession of any such video (see generally People v. Nelson, 90 AD3d 954, 954, lv denied 18 NY3d 996).   Moreover, the People have no duty to seek evidence for defendant's benefit or to protect evidence prior to their possession of it (see People v. Hayes, 17 NY3d 46, 51, cert denied _ U.S. _, 132 S Ct 844;  People v. James, 93 N.Y.2d 620, 644;  People v. Hernandez, 107 AD3d 504, 505, lv denied 22 NY3d 1199).

We reject defendant's further contention in his pro se supplemental brief that the court erred in denying his request for a missing witness charge with respect to the People's failure to call the codefendant in this case.   Defendant made a prima facie showing that he was entitled to a missing witness charge (see generally People v. Hall, 18 NY3d 122, 131;  People v. Savinon, 100 N.Y.2d 192, 196–197;  People v. Gonzalez, 68 N.Y.2d 424, 427).   The burden then shifted to the People to show that the charge was inappropriate, and we conclude that they met that burden (see generally People v. Keen, 94 N.Y.2d 533, 539).   Although the codefendant was available to the People inasmuch as he pleaded guilty in connection with this case and entered into a cooperation agreement with the People to assist in other unrelated criminal matters, the People established that he was not in their control for purposes of defendant's prosecution (see generally Gonzalez, 68 N.Y.2d at 428–429;  People v. Onyia, 70 AD3d 1202, 1205;  People v. Hilts, 191 A.D.2d 779, 780–781, lv denied 81 N.Y.2d 1074).   Moreover, there is no guarantee that the codefendant would have provided testimony favorable to the People and, indeed, we conclude that the codefendant's testimony would have been “presumptively suspect ․ or subject to impeachment detrimental to the People's case” (People v. Parton, 26 AD3d 868, 869, lv denied 7 NY3d 760 [internal quotation marks omitted];  see People v. McLaurin, 27 AD3d 1117, 1118, lv denied 7 NY3d 759).

Finally, defendant's sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court