PEOPLE v. FLORES (2007)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Doyle, J.), rendered October 28, 2004, convicting him of assault in the second degree (two counts), menacing in the second degree, aggravated criminal contempt, and criminal contempt in the first degree, after a nonjury trial, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 The defendant's contention that the trial court committed a Sandstrom error (see Sandstrom v. Montana, 442 U.S. 510, 522, 99 S.Ct. 2450, 61 L.Ed.2d 39) by asking the defense expert whether he agreed with “the proposition that man intends the natural consequences of his acts” is unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Thomas, 50 N.Y.2d 467, 471, 429 N.Y.S.2d 584, 407 N.E.2d 430;  People v. Tate, 200 A.D.2d 602, 602-603, 608 N.Y.S.2d 846).   In any event, there was no improper burden-shifting on the issue of intent tantamount to a Sandstrom error (see generally People v. McKenzie, 67 N.Y.2d 695, 697, 499 N.Y.S.2d 923, 490 N.E.2d 842;  People v. Smith, 32 A.D.3d 1318, 1319-1320, 821 N.Y.S.2d 723;  People v. Jordan, 138 A.D.2d 407, 525 N.Y.S.2d 690).

 Contrary to the defendant's contention, the trial court properly permitted the People to introduce evidence of the defendant's prior criminal contempt convictions, which were based on violations of orders of protection issued in favor of the complainant, his former girlfriend, since such evidence bore directly upon the material issue of the defendant's intent to commit the crimes charged (see People v. Hanson, 30 A.D.3d 537, 538-539, 818 N.Y.S.2d 128;   People v. Ramsey, 1 A.D.3d 538, 767 N.Y.S.2d 264;  People v. Wright, 288 A.D.2d 409, 733 N.Y.S.2d 225;  People v. Harvey, 5 Misc.3d 751, 756, 781 N.Y.S.2d 838).

 The defendant's specific challenge to the trial court's issuance of a subpoena for his medical records is unpreserved for appellate review.   In any event, the defendant waived his physician-patient privilege by raising an intoxication defense (see People v. O'Connor, 290 A.D.2d 519, 520, 738 N.Y.S.2d 55;  People v. Gonzalez, 239 A.D.2d 931, 932, 659 N.Y.S.2d 591;  People v. Feldmann, 110 A.D.2d 906, 488 N.Y.S.2d 455).

 The defendant's contention that the People failed to prove his guilt by legally sufficient evidence because his intoxication rendered him incapable of forming the requisite criminal intent (see Penal Law § 15.25) is unpreserved for appellate review because the defendant did not raise this claim with specificity in his motion for a trial order of dismissal (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 20-21, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919;  People v. Mannarino, 35 A.D.3d 631, 829 N.Y.S.2d 122;  People v. LaGuerre, 29 A.D.3d 820, 821, 815 N.Y.S.2d 211).   In any event, an intoxicated person can form the requisite criminal intent to commit a crime, and it is for the trier of fact to decide if the extent of the intoxication acted to negate the element of intent (see People v. LaGuerre, supra at 822, 815 N.Y.S.2d 211;  People v. Gonzalez, 6 A.D.3d 457, 773 N.Y.S.2d 889).   Any conflict in the expert testimony created a credibility issue for the trier of fact to resolve (see People v. Gaimari, 176 N.Y. 84, 94, 68 N.E. 112;  People v. LaGuerre, supra;  People v. Taylor, 245 A.D.2d 399, 666 N.Y.S.2d 445).   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 establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crimes charged with the requisite criminal intent.   Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power (see CPL 470.15[5] ), 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 speedy-trial rights were not violated (see People v. Clark, 11 A.D.3d 706, 784 N.Y.S.2d 563;  People v. Brown, 5 A.D.3d 789, 773 N.Y.S.2d 585;  People v. Suarez, 259 A.D.2d 640, 687 N.Y.S.2d 650;  People v. Rodriguez, 192 A.D.2d 465, 466, 597 N.Y.S.2d 18;  People v. Scarpinito, 186 A.D.2d 160, 587 N.Y.S.2d 703;  People v. Melendez, 182 A.D.2d 644, 582 N.Y.S.2d 944;  CPL 30.30[4][b] ).

 The defendant's challenge to his adjudication and sentence as a second-felony offender is unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Cruz, 28 A.D.3d 675, 813 N.Y.S.2d 222;  People v. Csoke, 11 A.D.3d 631, 782 N.Y.S.2d 657;  People v. Alston, 289 A.D.2d 339, 734 N.Y.S.2d 583;  People v. Hickman, 276 A.D.2d 563, 714 N.Y.S.2d 508).   In any event, the court's failure to specifically ask the defendant if he wished to controvert the allegations in the predicate felony statement was harmless, as the defendant admitted he was the person convicted of the prior felony, there is no indication that the defendant intended to claim that his prior conviction was unconstitutionally obtained, and he has not alleged any grounds to controvert the predicate felony statement (see People v. Alston, supra;  People v. Hickman, supra at 564, 714 N.Y.S.2d 508;  People v. Mann, 258 A.D.2d 738, 686 N.Y.S.2d 122).

The defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his supplemental pro se brief, that the indictment was defective, that he was maliciously prosecuted, and that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel, are without merit.