PEOPLE v. VALLETUTTI (2008)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Hall, J.), rendered October 27, 2005, convicting him of criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant correctly contends that the New York City Police Department (hereinafter the police) improperly refused to execute an order issued by the trial court directing them to arrest a potential witness (see CPL 620.30[2] [b] ).  Furthermore, once the trial court was made aware of that failure, it should have admitted the statement made by that witness to the police (see generally People v. Geraci, 85 N.Y.2d 359, 366-368, 625 N.Y.S.2d 469, 649 N.E.2d 817).

However, under the circumstances of this case, the defendant was not prejudiced by the absence of that witnesses's testimony (see People v. Daly, 64 N.Y.2d 970, 971, 489 N.Y.S.2d 35, 478 N.E.2d 176;  People v. Cancel, 176 A.D.2d 748, 749, 575 N.Y.S.2d 92).   That witness's potential testimony bore only on the credibility of the defendant on a collateral matter.   The defendant's own trial testimony, even if completely believed, established his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.   Thus, any error was harmless, as there was overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt, and no significant probability that any error contributed to the defendant's convictions (see People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241-242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787;  People v. Kavazanjian, 16 A.D.3d 437, 790 N.Y.S.2d 400).

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 concerning alleged prosecutorial misconduct is unpreserved for appellate review.   In any event, any such misconduct did not deprive the defendant of a fair trial.