THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. DAYMOND HARRIS DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2017)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by reversing that part convicting defendant of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and dismissing count three of the indictment with respect to defendant, and as modified the judgment is affirmed.

Memorandum:  Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 220.09[1] ), and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (§ 220.03).  To the extent that defendant may be deemed to challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we conclude that his challenge lacks merit (see People v. Torres, 68 N.Y.2d 677, 678–679;  see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495).  Additionally, contrary to defendant's 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 verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495).

Defendant did not object to the introduction of evidence that he was on parole at the time of the incident and thus failed to preserve for our review his contention that County Court erred in permitting the prosecutor to present that evidence (see People v. Johnson, 45 AD3d 606, 606, lv denied 9 NY3d 1035;  see also People v. Ricks, 49 AD3d 1265, 1266, lv denied 10 NY3d 869, reconsideration denied 11 NY3d 740).  In any event, we reject defendant's contention.  Defendant's parole officer testified that defendant resided at the residence in which the cocaine was found, and that he had previously observed defendant sleeping in the bedroom in which the drugs were discovered by the police.  That evidence was highly relevant to the issues at trial, including, in this constructive possession case, whether defendant exercised dominion and control over the bedroom in which the drugs were found.  Evidence that a defendant is on parole is admissible where, as here, it is relevant to the issues at trial and its probative value exceeds its prejudicial effect (see generally People v. Scarver, 121 AD3d 1539, 1540, lv denied 24 NY3d 1123;  People v. Johnson, 94 AD3d 1144, 1145, lv denied 19 NY3d 997;  People v. Pryor, 48 AD3d 1217, 1217–1218, lv denied 10 NY3d 868).  In addition, the court minimized any prejudice to defendant by refusing to admit any evidence detailing the specific crime of which defendant was convicted (cf.  People v. Dowdell, 133 AD3d 1345, 1345–1346), and by giving prompt cautionary instructions to the jury (see Johnson, 45 AD3d at 606;  People v. Jones, 276 A.D.2d 292, 292, lv denied 95 N.Y.2d 965;  see generally People v. Kims, 24 NY3d 422, 439).

Defendant further contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by a series of purported errors by his trial attorney.  We reject that contention.  With respect to defendant's contention that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the testimony of defendant's parole officer, it is well settled that “[a] defendant is not denied effective assistance of trial counsel merely because counsel does not make a motion or argument that has little or no chance of success” (People v. Stultz, 2 NY3d 277, 287, rearg. denied 3 NY3d 702;  see People v. Gray, 27 NY3d 78, 88;  People v. Caban, 5 NY3d 143, 152).  For the reasons discussed above, the court properly admitted the parole officer's testimony, and defense counsel therefore was not ineffective in failing to object to its introduction.  Similarly without merit is defendant's contention that counsel was ineffective in failing to request a circumstantial evidence charge.  “Defendant's proximity to the cocaine, which was in plain view, constitutes direct evidence of defendant's possession of the cocaine found in the apartment” (People v. Wilson, 284 A.D.2d 958, 958, lv denied 96 N.Y.2d 943;  see People v. Goodrum, 72 AD3d 1639, 1639, lv denied 15 NY3d 773).  Because this case involved both direct and circumstantial evidence of guilt, a circumstantial evidence charge was not warranted, and the failure to request such a charge “cannot be said to have constituted ineffective assistance of counsel” (People v. Jones, 138 AD3d 1144, 1145, lv denied 28 NY3d 932;  see People v. Way, 115 AD3d 558, 558–559, lv denied 24 NY3d 1048;  see also People v. Johnson, 303 A.D.2d 830, 836–837, lv denied 99 N.Y.2d 655, reconsideration denied 100 N.Y.2d 583).

Furthermore, “ ‘it is incumbent on defendant to demonstrate the absence of strategic or other legitimate explanations' for defense counsel's allegedly deficient conduct” (People v. Atkins, 107 AD3d 1465, 1465, lv denied 21 NY3d 1040, quoting People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705, 709;  see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 712;  People v. Hutchings, 142 AD3d 1292, 1295), and defendant failed to meet that burden with respect to the remainder of the purported failures of counsel raised on appeal.  Viewing the evidence, the law and the circumstances of this case, in totality and as of the time of the representation, and noting in particular that defendant was acquitted of the most serious charge in the indictment (see People v. Adsit, 125 AD3d 1430, 1431–1432, lv denied 25 NY3d 1068), we conclude that defendant received meaningful representation (see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147).

Finally, we agree with defendant that the third count of the indictment, charging him with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, must be dismissed as an inclusory concurrent count of the remaining charge of which defendant was convicted (see CPL 300.30[4];  300.40[3][b];  People v. Lee, 39 N.Y.2d 388, 390;  People v. Smith, 134 AD3d 1568, 1569).  We therefore modify the judgment accordingly.

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court