X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Leanne Lapp, Public Defender, Canandaigua (Gary Muldoon of Counsel), for Defendant-Appellant.James B. Ritts, District Attorney, Canandaigua (V. Christopher Eaggleston of Counsel), for Respondent.Appeal from a judgment of the Ontario County Court (Frederick G. Reed, A.J.), rendered December 16, 2015. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of robbery in the third degree, burglary in the third degree (four counts), grand larceny in the fourth degree (three counts) and attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree.It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of, inter alia, robbery in the third degree (Penal Law § 160.05), defendant contends that the grand jury proceeding was defective, and that County Court erred in refusing to grant his motion to dismiss the indictment on that ground. We reject that contention.Pursuant to CPL 210.35 (5), a grand jury proceeding is defective when “[t]he proceeding . . . fails to conform to the requirements of article one hundred ninety to such degree that the integrity thereof is impaired and prejudice to the defendant may result.” This provision “is the statutory equivalent of the common-law principle that an indictment issued by a legally constituted [g]rand [j]ury need not be dismissed because of a simple technical error if the accused was not prejudiced or the fundamental integrity of the process impaired” (People v. Williams, 73 NY2d 84, 90 [1989]). Consequently, “[d]ismissal under CPL 210.35 (5) is limited to instances of prosecutorial misconduct, fraud, or errors that potentially prejudice the grand jury’s ultimate decision” (People v. Morales, 160 AD3d 1414, 1418 [4th Dept 2018], lv denied 32 NY3d 939 [2018]; see People v. East, 78 AD3d 1680, 1680-1681 [4th Dept 2010]).Here, we reject defendant’s contention that the proceeding was  defective because the prosecutor gave perjury instructions regarding defendant’s grand jury testimony to the same grand jury that indicted him on the set of charges upon which he was convicted, and that the court therefore erred in refusing to dismiss the indictment (see generally CPL 210.20 [1] [c]). The record establishes that the grand jury voted to indict defendant on the first set of charges before the prosecutor gave the perjury instructions. Thus, the first set of charges could not have been impacted by those instructions. Furthermore, the court later dismissed the perjury charge, and thus defendant sustained no prejudice from that indictment.Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that the court erred in imposing a collection surcharge of 10% of the amount of restitution (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v. Rossborough, 160 AD3d 1486, 1487 [4th Dept 2018], lv denied 31 NY3d 1152 [2018]; People v. Kirkland, 105 AD3d 1337, 1338 [4th Dept 2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 1043 [2013]). We decline to exercise our power to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15 [3] [c]). The sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
September 05, 2024
New York, NY

The New York Law Journal honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.


Learn More
April 29, 2024 - May 01, 2024
Aurora, CO

The premier educational and networking event for employee benefits brokers and agents.


Learn More
May 15, 2024
Philadelphia, PA

The Legal Intelligencer honors lawyers leaving a mark on the legal community in Pennsylvania and Delaware.


Learn More

Shipman is seeking an associate to join our Labor & Employment practice in our Hartford, New Haven, or Stamford office. Candidates shou...


Apply Now ›

Evergreen Trading is a media investment firm headquartered in NYC. We help brands achieve their goals by leveraging their unwanted assets to...


Apply Now ›

Duane Morris seeks an associate with 3-4 years of experience to join its Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group in its Philadelp...


Apply Now ›
04/15/2024
Connecticut Law Tribune

MELICK & PORTER, LLP PROMOTES CONNECTICUT PARTNERS HOLLY ROGERS, STEVEN BANKS, and ALEXANDER AHRENS


View Announcement ›
04/11/2024
New Jersey Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
04/08/2024
Daily Report

Daily Report 1/2 Page Professional Announcement 60 Days


View Announcement ›