PEOPLE v. BULLOCK (2001)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Rotker, J.), rendered October 29, 1999, convicting him of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third degree, after a nonjury trial, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

To establish the defendant's guilt of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, the People were obligated to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, inter alia, that the defendant knew that the complainant's automobile, which he was driving, was stolen (see, Penal Law § 165.45;  People v. Cintron, 95 N.Y.2d 329, 717 N.Y.S.2d 72, 740 N.E.2d 217;  People v. Von Werne, 41 N.Y.2d 584, 394 N.Y.S.2d 183, 362 N.E.2d 982;  People v. Steisi, 257 A.D.2d 582, 683 N.Y.S.2d 578).   Although the ignition lock on the vehicle was intact and a key was in the ignition at the time the defendant was apprehended, when viewed 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), there was legally sufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (see, People v. Zorcik, 67 N.Y.2d 670, 499 N.Y.S.2d 674, 490 N.E.2d 541;  People v. Galbo, 218 N.Y. 283, 112 N.E. 1041).   The defendant had exclusive possession of the stolen automobile and offered an implausible explanation that a friend he could not name and whose address he could not identify had given him the vehicle to fill with gas even though he had no money or means to purchase the gas.

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.