PEOPLE v. PEGUES (2009)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Sullivan, J.), rendered January 26, 2007, convicting him of murder in the second degree, burglary in the second degree (two counts), tampering with physical evidence (two counts), and petit larceny (three counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.   The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing (Kase, J.), 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.

 The defendant's contention that the People failed to disprove his defense of justification beyond a reasonable doubt is unpreserved for appellate review since he never moved in the trial court for dismissal on this ground (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919;  People v. Clinton, 268 A.D.2d 531, 701 N.Y.S.2d 647;  People v. Vella, 247 A.D.2d 642, 669 N.Y.S.2d 236).   In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to disprove his defense of justification and establish his guilt of murder in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt.   In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5];  People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053, cert. denied 542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828;  People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).   Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

 Contrary to the defendant's contention, his statements to law enforcement officials were properly admitted into evidence.   There is sufficient evidence to support the hearing court's conclusion that the defendant was not in police custody when he voluntarily accompanied police personnel to the police station (see People v. Yukl, 25 N.Y.2d 585, 589, 307 N.Y.S.2d 857, 256 N.E.2d 172, cert. denied 400 U.S. 851, 91 S.Ct. 78, 27 L.Ed.2d 89;  People v. Jordan, 21 A.D.3d 385, 800 N.Y.S.2d 33;  People v. Leggio, 305 A.D.2d 518, 761 N.Y.S.2d 74;  People v. Centano, 153 A.D.2d 494, 545 N.Y.S.2d 131, affd. 76 N.Y.2d 837, 838, 560 N.Y.S.2d 121, 559 N.E.2d 1280;  People v. Bailey, 140 A.D.2d 356, 527 N.Y.S.2d 845).   Additionally, after the defendant was advised of, and waived, his Miranda rights (see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694), additional warnings were not necessary, as he remained in continuous custody (see People v. Glinsman, 107 A.D.2d 710, 484 N.Y.S.2d 64, cert. denied 472 U.S. 1021, 105 S.Ct. 3487, 87 L.Ed.2d 621).   Furthermore, based on the totality of the circumstances (see People v. Anderson, 42 N.Y.2d 35, 396 N.Y.S.2d 625, 364 N.E.2d 1318), including the duration and conditions of detention, the conduct and demeanor of the police toward the defendant, and the age, physical state, and mental state of the defendant (see People v. Baker, 208 A.D.2d 758, 617 N.Y.S.2d 798;  People v. McAvoy, 142 A.D.2d 605, 530 N.Y.S.2d 259;  People v. Ross, 134 A.D.2d 298, 299, 520 N.Y.S.2d 625), the defendant's post-Miranda statements were voluntarily given.

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