PEOPLE v. BALDE (1999)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Gary, J.), rendered July 23, 1996, convicting him of unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his claim that his conviction for unlawful imprisonment should merge into the attempted robbery and assault counts for which he was acquitted because the defendant failed to challenge the jury's verdict on this basis before the trial court (see, People v. Chronis, 209 A.D.2d 712, 619 N.Y.S.2d 156).   In any event, the complainant's abduction in the defendant's cab constituted the discrete crime of unlawful imprisonment, which was completed in all of its elements before any assault or attempted robbery had occurred.   There is no evidence to support the conclusion that, at the time the unlawful imprisonment was completed, the defendant intended to assault or rob the complainant (see, People v. Sceravino, 193 A.D.2d 824, 598 N.Y.S.2d 296).   Additionally, the restraint was not a minimal intrusion necessary and integral to the assault or attempted robbery scheme since the defendant could have effectuated an assault or robbery without detaining the complainant.   As such, the unlawful imprisonment here is an act independent of the attempted robbery and assault charges and the doctrine of merger is inapplicable (see, People v. Gonzalez, 80 N.Y.2d 146, 589 N.Y.S.2d 833, 603 N.E.2d 938).

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.