THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. TIMOTHY SMITH DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2015)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law, a new trial is granted on the second and third counts of the indictment, and the fourth count of the indictment is dismissed.

Memorandum:  Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Penal Law § 220.16[1] ), the fifth degree (§ 220.06[5] ), and the seventh degree (§ 220.03).  The charges arose from the seizure of a baggie containing crack cocaine from a vehicle in which defendant was a passenger.  Contrary to defendant's contention, we conclude that County Court properly refused to suppress tangible property, including the crack cocaine, as the product of an allegedly illegal search.  The evidence at the suppression hearing supports the court's determination that the conduct of the police “was justified in its inception and at every subsequent stage of the encounter” (People v. Nicodemus, 247 A.D.2d 833, 835, lv denied 92 N.Y.2d 858;  see People v. De Bour, 40 N.Y.2d 210, 215).  The police officer had an objective, credible reason to approach the parked vehicle and request information from its occupants (see People v. Ocasio, 85 N.Y.2d 982, 985;  People v. Witt, 129 AD3d 1449, 1450, lv denied 26 NY3d 937).  After the officer observed defendant and another passenger acting suspiciously, the officer was justified in opening the door and ordering the occupants out of the vehicle (see People v. Carter, 60 AD3d 1103, 1105, lv denied 12 NY3d 924).  The officer then observed the baggie containing crack cocaine, which provided probable cause to seize the cocaine and arrest defendant (see People v. Robinson, 38 AD3d 572, 573).

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 verdict, based on the applicability of the automobile presumption ․, is not against the weight of the evidence” (People v. Campbell, 109 AD3d 1142, 1142, lv denied 22 NY3d 1039).  We reject defendant's contention that the court erred in denying his request for substitution of counsel, inasmuch as defendant did not explicitly request new counsel (see People v. Singletary, 63 AD3d 1654, 1654, lv denied 13 NY3d 839), nor did his general complaints concerning counsel constitute a showing of good cause for such substitution (see People v. Watkins, 77 AD3d 1403, 1404, lv denied 15 NY3d 956).

We agree with defendant, however, that the judgment of conviction should be reversed and a new trial granted because the court erred in summarily denying, as untimely, his request to proceed pro se (see generally People v. McIntyre, 36 N.Y.2d 10, 14).  “Although requests [to proceed pro se] on the eve of trial are discouraged, the Court of Appeals has found that a request may be considered timely when it is ‘interposed prior to the prosecution's opening statement,’ as here” (People v. Atkinson, 111 AD3d 1061, 1062, quoting McIntyre, 36 N.Y.2d at 18).

Finally, as the People correctly concede, the count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree should be dismissed as a inclusory concurrent count of either of the remaining charges (see CPL 300.30[4];  300.40[3][b];  People v. Lee, 39 N.Y.2d 388, 390–391).

In view of our decision, we do not address the remaining contentions in defendant's main and pro se supplemental briefs.

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court