PEOPLE v. FOX (2009)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Richmond County (Rooney, J.), rendered December 21, 2005, convicting him of murder in the second degree (two counts), robbery in the first degree (two counts), arson in the third degree, grand larceny in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.   The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress his statements to law enforcement officials.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 Contrary to the defendant's contention, the hearing court properly denied that branch of his omnibus motion which was to suppress his statements to law enforcement officials, as the statements were made after the knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of his Miranda rights (see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694), and were not the product of coercion (see People v. Booker, 49 A.D.3d 658, 854 N.Y.S.2d 430;   People v. Miles, 276 A.D.2d 566, 567, 714 N.Y.S.2d 714).

 The defendant's contention that he was denied a fair trial when the prosecutor questioned him regarding his failure to provide police officers with certain exculpatory information at the time of arrest is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ).   In any event, the contention is without merit.   Generally, a defendant's post-arrest silence cannot be used for impeachment purposes (see People v. Conyers, 52 N.Y.2d 454, 459, 438 N.Y.S.2d 741, 420 N.E.2d 933).   Where, as here, however, a defendant speaks to the police and omits exculpatory information which he presents for the first time at trial, the defendant's credibility may be impeached with the omission (see People v. Savage, 50 N.Y.2d 673, 676, 679, 431 N.Y.S.2d 382, 409 N.E.2d 858, cert. denied 449 U.S. 1016, 101 S.Ct. 577, 66 L.Ed.2d 475;  People v. Prashad, 46 A.D.3d 844, 848 N.Y.S.2d 279;  People v. Blacks, 221 A.D.2d 351, 633 N.Y.S.2d 793;  People v. Spinelli, 214 A.D.2d 135, 139-141, 631 N.Y.S.2d 863;  People v. West, 212 A.D.2d 651, 652, 622 N.Y.S.2d 572;  People v. Harrison, 149 A.D.2d 434, 434-435, 539 N.Y.S.2d 779).

The defendant was not denied the effective assistance of counsel (see People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400;  People v. Turner, 46 A.D.3d 847, 848, 848 N.Y.S.2d 275;  People v. Seaton, 45 A.D.3d 875, 847 N.Y.S.2d 116).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675).

The defendant's remaining contention is unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, is without merit.