The People, etc., respondent, v. Orlando Masaguilar, appellant. (2011)

Submitted—May 5, 2011

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Sullivan, J.), rendered January 9, 2009, convicting him of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, menacing in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

Although the Supreme Court should have granted the defendant's motion to sever the count charging criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree from the remaining counts (see CPL 200.20[2][a], [b];  People v. Singson, 40 AD3d 1015, 1016;  People v. Communiello, 180 A.D.2d 809, 809–810;  People v. Connors, 83 A.D.2d 640, 640–641), the error was harmless, as the evidence of the defendant's guilt was overwhelming, and there is no significant probability that the error contributed to the defendant's convictions (see People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241–242;  People v. Singson, 40 AD3d at 1016).

The defendant's challenges to the alleged instances of prosecutorial misconduct at trial and in summation are unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Muniz, 44 AD3d 1074;  People v. Jenkins, 38 AD3d 566, 567).   In any event, although some of the prosecutor's questions and comments on cross-examination of the defendant and in summation were improper, they constituted harmless error (see People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d at 241–242;  People v. Ortiz, 46 AD3d 580, 581).

The defendant was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel.   Considering the totality of the evidence, the law, and the circumstances of the case, trial counsel provided meaningful representation (see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 712).

COVELLO, J.P., CHAMBERS, LOTT and MILLER, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Matthew G. Kiernan

Clerk of the Court