The People, etc., respondent, v. Eric Corse, also known as Erik Corse, appellant. (2010)

Submitted-April 15, 2010

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Honoroff, J.), rendered June 30, 2008, convicting him of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree (two counts), attempted criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, hindering prosecution in the third degree, and criminal facilitation in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.   The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing, of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress statements he made to an informant.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The County Court properly denied, after a Massiah hearing (see Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201), that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress statements he made to an informant while in jail.   The fact that the informant had a prior cooperation agreement with the People and had provided information in other cases did not automatically make him an agent of the prosecution with regard to this case (see People v. Cardona, 41 N.Y.2d 333;  People v. Fernandez, 23 AD3d 317, 318;  People v. Tam, 260 A.D.2d 242).   The informant acted independently and on his own initiative.   The prosecution was a passive recipient of the information (see People v. Cardona, 41 N.Y.2d at 335).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621), we find that it was legally sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.   Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5];  People v. Danielson, 9 NY3d 342), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410, cert denied 542 U.S. 946;  People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495).   Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 NY3d 633).   Contrary to the defendant's contention, the jury could reasonably find that the testimony of certain witnesses was not incredible or unreliable.

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80).

RIVERA, J.P., FISHER, FLORIO and AUSTIN, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court