FLINN, GUNTHER J., PEOPLE v ( 2012 )

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
902
KA 10-00693
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, CARNI, LINDLEY, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
GUNTHER J. FLINN, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
MULDOON & GETZ, ROCHESTER (MARTIN P. MCCARTHY, II, OF COUNSEL), FOR
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
CINDY F. INTSCHERT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WATERTOWN (PATRICIA L. DZIUBA
OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Appeal from a judgment of the Jefferson County Court (Kim H.
Martusewicz, J.), rendered November 30, 2009. The judgment convicted
defendant, upon a jury verdict, of attempted murder in the second
degree, assault in the first degree, intimidating a victim or witness
in the first degree (two counts), assault in the second degree,
obstructing governmental administration in the second degree,
resisting arrest, harassment in the second degree and disorderly
conduct.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is
unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him following a
jury trial of, inter alia, attempted murder in the second degree
(Penal Law §§ 110.00, 125.25 [1]), defendant contends that he was
denied his right to be present at all material stages of the trial,
specifically, bench conferences involving defense counsel and
potential jurors during the jury selection process. The right to be
present during sidebar questioning of prospective jurors regarding
matters of bias or prejudice may be waived, provided that the waiver
is voluntary, knowing and intelligent (see People v Lucious, 269 AD2d
766, 767). Here, we conclude that defendant’s failure to attend
sidebar conferences after being fully informed of the right to do so
constitutes a valid waiver of that right (see People v Inskeep, 272
AD2d 966, 966, lv denied 95 NY2d 866).
Defendant contends that County Court committed reversible error
in refusing to charge as lesser included offenses the crime of
attempted assault in the first degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 120.10
[1]) and the crime of assault in the second degree that requires only
a reckless mental state (§ 120.05 [4]). We reject that contention
because there is no reasonable view of the evidence to support a
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KA 10-00693
finding that defendant committed those lesser offenses but not the
greater offense of assault in the first degree (see People v Van
Norstrand, 85 NY2d 131, 135). We note that, although at trial
defendant contended that certain other lesser included offenses should
be charged and he has summarized his requests with respect to those
offenses in a table in his brief on appeal, his contention on appeal
concerning lesser included offenses does not address those additional
requests. We thus conclude that defendant has abandoned his
contention with respect to those additional requests (see generally
People v Dombrowski, 94 AD3d 1416, 1417, lv denied 19 NY3d 959).
Defendant further contends that his conviction of attempted murder in
the second degree and assault in the first and second degrees is not
supported by legally sufficient evidence and that the verdict is
against the weight of the evidence with respect to those crimes.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see
People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621), and according the benefit of every
reasonable inference to the People (see People v Ford, 66 NY2d 428,
437), we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient with respect
to those crimes (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495).
In addition, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of those
crimes as charged to the jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342,
349), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the
evidence (see generally Bleakley, 69 NY2d at 495).
Defendant contends in addition that he was unconstitutionally
punished for exercising his right to a trial. It is well settled that
a sentence imposed after trial “may be more severe than a promised
sentence in connection with a plea agreement” (People v Chapero, 23
AD3d 492, 493, lv denied 6 NY3d 846). “The mere fact that a sentence
imposed after trial is greater than that offered in connection with
plea negotiations is not proof that defendant was punished for
asserting his right to [a] trial” (People v Simon, 180 AD2d 866, 867,
lv denied 80 NY2d 838; see People v Chappelle, 14 AD3d 728, 729, lv
denied 5 NY3d 786). Here, although defendant was sentenced following
the trial to a greater term of imprisonment than that offered during
plea negotiations, he did not raise his present contention at
sentencing and thus has failed to preserve his contention for our
review (see People v Motzer, 96 AD3d 1635, 1636). In any event, that
contention lacks merit because there is no evidence in the record that
the court was motivated by “retaliation or vindictiveness” in
sentencing defendant following the trial (People v Patterson, 106 AD2d
520, 521). Defendant’s sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
Finally, we have reviewed defendant’s remaining contention and
conclude that it does not require reversal or modification of the
judgment.
Entered: September 28, 2012 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court