PEOPLE v. JACKSON (2007)

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Madison County (DiStefano, J.), rendered February 16, 2006, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crimes of criminal trespass in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and menacing in the second degree.

In the early morning hours on May 14, 2005, defendant drove to a residence in the Town of Stockbridge, Madison County, where he had cohabited with his former girlfriend (hereinafter the victim) during the summer and fall of 2004.   Finding the front door locked, defendant gained entry by forcing a sliding door-in the rear of the premises-out of its track.   Upon discovering the victim in bed with another man, defendant took out a pocket knife, opened it and threatened the lives of both.   After permitting the man to dress and leave, defendant continued to accost the victim.   On this appeal, defendant contests only his convictions for criminal trespass in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, arguing that the evidence was legally insufficient to support either of these convictions.

 First, with respect to the conviction for criminal trespass in the second degree, we note that defendant's motion at the conclusion of the People's case did not address the legal sufficiency of the evidence with respect to this crime, rendering this issue unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 19, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919 [1995];  People v. Cole, 35 A.D.3d 911, 912, 826 N.Y.S.2d 473 [2006];  People v. Silvestri, 34 A.D.3d 986, 986-987, 823 N.Y.S.2d 791 [2006];  People v. Riddick, 34 A.D.3d 923, 924-925, 823 N.Y.S.2d 594 [2006] ).   In any event, by application of well-settled principles (see People v. Cabey, 85 N.Y.2d 417, 421, 626 N.Y.S.2d 20, 649 N.E.2d 1164 [1995];  People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 494, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 [1987];  People v. Johnson, 24 A.D.3d 967, 968, 805 N.Y.S.2d 696 [2005], lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 814, 812 N.Y.S.2d 454, 845 N.E.2d 1285 [2006] ), we find no merit to defendant's argument.   A prima facie case of criminal trespass in the second degree is established when the People produce evidence that a defendant “knowingly enter[ed] or remain[ed] unlawfully in a dwelling” (Penal Law §§ 140.15).   One knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling when he or she “is not licensed or privileged to do so” (Penal Law §§ 140.00[5] ).   An individual is licensed or privileged to enter a dwelling when “he [or she] has obtained the consent of the owner or another whose relationship to the premises gives him [or her] authority to issue such consent” (People v. Graves, 76 N.Y.2d 16, 20, 556 N.Y.S.2d 16, 555 N.E.2d 268 [1990];  see People v. Glanda, 5 A.D.3d 945, 950, 774 N.Y.S.2d 576 [2004], lv. denied 3 N.Y.3d 640, 782 N.Y.S.2d 412, 816 N.E.2d 202 [2004] ).   However, a person who “honestly believes that he is licensed or privileged to enter[ ] is not guilty of any degree of criminal trespass” (People v. Basch, 36 N.Y.2d 154, 159, 365 N.Y.S.2d 836, 325 N.E.2d 156 [1975] ).

 Here, the victim and both of her parents (the owners of the premises) testified that defendant had no permission to enter.   His claim of an honest belief in his privilege to enter was based on his personal belief that he still had an ongoing relationship with the victim (disputed by her), that he still had some personal belongings at the residence and that he helped the victim move a stove and couch into the residence several weeks prior to this occurrence.   Viewed in the light most favorable to the People, it is evident that a reasonable person could conclude, as did this jury, that defendant entered unlawfully.   A weight of the evidence analysis (see People v. Bleakley, supra at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672)-although not argued by defendant-after according deference to the jury's credibility determinations, yields no different result (see People v. Luck, 294 A.D.2d 618, 619, 742 N.Y.S.2d 678 [2002], lv. denied 98 N.Y.2d 699, 747 N.Y.S.2d 417, 776 N.E.2d 6 [2002] ).

 Defendant's argument that his conviction for criminal possession of a weapon is not supported by legally sufficient evidence is dependent on acceptance of his argument that his knife was not a “dangerous knife” within the meaning of the statute (see Penal Law §§ 265.01[2] ).   However, a knife “may be considered a ‘dangerous knife’ within the meaning of Penal Law §§ 265.01(2) when the circumstances of its possession, including the behavior of its possessor, demonstrate that the possessor himself considered it a weapon, even if the knife might not otherwise be defined as a ‘dangerous knife’ by reason of its inherent characteristics” (Matter of Sean R., 33 A.D.3d 925, 926, 824 N.Y.S.2d 302 [2006];  see Matter of Jamie D., 59 N.Y.2d 589, 591, 466 N.Y.S.2d 286, 453 N.E.2d 515 [1983] ).   Moreover, defendant's mere possession of the knife, while displaying it in an effort to instill fear, was itself presumptive evidence of his intent to use it unlawfully (see Matter of Sean R., supra at 926, 824 N.Y.S.2d 302;  Matter of Jesse QQ., 243 A.D.2d 788, 789, 662 N.Y.S.2d 851 [1997], lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 804, 668 N.Y.S.2d 559, 691 N.E.2d 631 [1997] ).   The testimony of the male victim that defendant gave him the choice of leaving or being killed, while he stood over him with the knife in his hand, amply supports the jury's determination.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

MUGGLIN, J.

MERCURE, J.P., CREW III, SPAIN and ROSE, JJ., concur.