PEOPLE v. DOHERTY (2007)

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Schenectady County (Giardino, J.), rendered October 2, 2003, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crimes of grand larceny in the third degree and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree (12 counts).

Following a jury trial, defendant was found guilty of grand larceny in the third degree and 12 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 1 1/313 to 4 years on each count.

On this appeal, defendant contends that he was denied a fair and impartial jury.   During voir dire, a prospective juror advised the prosecuting attorney that he needed to hear both sides of the case before he could make a considered decision.   Thereafter, defense counsel asked each prospective juror whether he or she would need to hear “both sides” before rendering a decision.   When 14 of the prospective jurors answered in the affirmative, defendant moved for a mistrial or, in the alternative, challenged the entire panel.   County Court denied both applications.

 We find no abuse of discretion in County Court's denial of defendant's motion for a mistrial.   The record reveals no error or defect in the proceedings that was prejudicial to defendant so as to deprive him of a fair trial (see CPL 280.10[1];  People v. Wright, 5 A.D.3d 873, 875, 773 N.Y.S.2d 486 [2004], lv. denied 3 N.Y.3d 651, 782 N.Y.S.2d 422, 816 N.E.2d 212 [2004] ).   Insofar as defendant's challenge to the entire panel may be construed as a challenge for cause as to each of the jurors who indicated they would like to hear “both sides” of the case, we note that the “erroneous denial of a challenge for cause ‘does not constitute reversible error unless the defendant has exhausted his peremptory challenges at the time or, if he has not, he peremptorily challenges such prospective juror and his peremptory challenges are exhausted before the selection of the jury is complete’ ” (People v. Lynch, 95 N.Y.2d 243, 248, 715 N.Y.S.2d 691, 738 N.E.2d 1172 [2000], quoting CPL 270.20[2];  see People v. Russell, 288 A.D.2d 759, 760, 733 N.Y.S.2d 292 [2001] ).   Because defendant did not exhaust his peremptory challenges before jury selection was complete, his argument is unavailing.

 Defendant also contends that Heather Vincent, one of the People's chief witnesses, lacked credibility due to her own criminal history, and if her testimony is discounted the verdict is against the weight of the evidence.   We note that issues of credibility and the weight accorded to evidence are matters to be resolved by the jury (see People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 [1987];  People v. Hargett, 11 A.D.3d 812, 814, 784 N.Y.S.2d 197 [2004], lv. denied 4 N.Y.3d 744, 790 N.Y.S.2d 657, 824 N.E.2d 58 [2004];  People v. Brockway, 277 A.D.2d 482, 484-485, 715 N.Y.S.2d 476 [2000] ).   Upon our own independent review of the record, and according due deference to the jury's credibility determinations, we find that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Bleakley, supra at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).

We have considered defendant's remaining contentions, including those contained in his pro se brief, and find them unavailing.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

CARDONA, P.J.

MERCURE, SPAIN, MUGGLIN and LAHTINEN, JJ., concur.