People v Anderson
Annotate this CaseDecided on September 20, 2005
Supreme Court, Kings County
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Plaintiff,
against
Tyrone Anderson, Defendant.
5005/2004
For the People:
Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Kings County
350 Jay Street, Renaissance Plaza
Brooklyn, New York 11201
By: Ephraim Shaban, Esq.
Joseph T. Tillman, Esq.
(718) 250-2000
For the Defendant:
Office of Steven Banks, Esq.
The Legal Aid Society
111 Livingston Street, 9th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
By: Adrian Lesher, Esq.
(718) 243-6219
James G. Starkey, J.
Defendant was indicted on September 7, 2004 for Robbery in the First Degree and related
crimes and was convicted of Robbery in the Third Degree after a jury trial on May 5, 2005.
While sentence was pending and approximately seven weeks after the verdict, defendant moved
to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the indictment was based upon perjured testimony.
On August 10, 2005, the motion was denied based upon the following facts and conclusions of
law.
DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS
Defendant urges that the indictment was based on perjured Grand Jury testimony of the
arresting officer, Police Officer Robert Rodriguez to the effect that: 1) defendant was in
possession of certain property at the time of his arrest and 2) the weapon employed by defendant
was a switchblade knife.
THE FACTS
On August 3, 2004, defendant entered a store located at 5010 Avenue D, Brooklyn and
encountered one Susan Osaglede, an employee of the store and Eki Omdregle, her visiting
niece. Defendant ordered Ms. Osgalede to open the store's cash register and she complied. He
displayed a metal object, which he said was a weapon, and proceeded to take some U.S.
currency, Metro cards and pre-paid phone cards. Defendant placed these items in a white plastic
bag and fled the store followed by the two women.
Police Officer Rodriguez was nearby, observed defendant running out of the store and was
informed by complainants of the robbery. He immediately gave chase and pursued defendant for
a short distance before apprehending and arresting him. In the course of the pursuit defendant
discarded the white plastic bag which was recovered by Officer Rodriguez and found to contain
U.S. currency, Metro cards, pre-paid phone cards and a knife. While in police custody,
defendant was identified by Ms. Osaglede as the culprit.
On August 6, 2004, Ms. Osaglede, Ms. Omdregle and Officer Rodriguez testified before the
Grand Jury. Ms. Osaglede and Ms. Omdregle described the robbery and Ms. Osaglede also
testified concerning her post-arrest identification of defendant. Officer Rodriguez testified that
he chased and arrested defendant and that, at the time of his arrest, defendant was in possession
of a white plastic bag containing U.S. currency, Metro cards, pre-paid phone cards and a knife.
When asked if defendant had anything in his possession at the time he caught up to
him, Officer Rodriguez answered, "He had a white plastic bag containing several Metro
cards, United States currency and several pre-paid phone cards."
When asked what kind of knife was in the bag, Officer Rodriguez answered, "A
switchblade knife type. One that you have to open it. It flips open."
Regarding the white plastic bag, Officer Rodriguez testified to the following effect:
Q.Officer Rodriguez, you previously testified that when you apprehended [*2]Mr. Anderson, he was in the possession of a bag containing a number of items?
A.Yes.
On August 11, 2004, Officer Rodriguez again testified before the Grand Jury to the
following effect:
Q.Officer, you've previously testified that you had you (sic) recovered a bag from Tyrone Anderson that contained some items, and among the items inside the bag was U.S. currency; is that correct?
A.Yes.
Q. Can you tell the members of the Grand Jury, specifically, how much United States currency was inside that bag.
A.$ 1001, $ 1001 U.S. currency.
At a suppression hearing held on April 27, 2005, Officer Rodriguez testified that while he
was in immediate pursuit, defendant discarded various items in his possession including his hat,
sunglasses and the white plastic bag which, when recovered, was found to contain U.S. currency,
pre-paid phone cards, Metro cards and a knife. The officer also stated that the knife was a "sort
of box cutter knife."
At defendant's trial, which began on April 28, 2005, Officer Rodriguez, on cross-
examination answered questions posed by defense counsel on inconsistencies in his testimony.
Regarding the white plastic bag, he testified as follows:
[*3]
Q. Now Officer, you said that you saw the defendant drop a plastic bag full of items, is that correct?
A.Yes.
Q.You said that this happened at the corner of Clarendon Road, is
that — and Utica Avenue, is that correct?
A.Not at the corner of, maybe —
Q.In front of one of the houses and you're approaching —
A.Yes.
Q. — Utica Avenue? Now isn't it true that in the past, you've said something different?
A.No.
Q.Well, you testified in the grand jury in this matter, isn't that correct?
A.Yes.
Q.Now, when you testified in the grand jury, do you remember a point where ADA Tillman asked you this question —
. . . .
. . . .
Q."Officer Rodriguez, you previously testified that when you approached Mr. Anderson he was in possession of a bag containing a number of items." Do you remember that question?
A.Yes.
Q. And do you remember that you gave this answer: "Yes."
A.I could not recall that.
Q.Would it refresh your recollection if I showed you the grand jury minutes?
A.Yes.
. . . . [*4]
Q.Toward the top.
A.Okay.
Q.And is that what you said?
A.Yes.
Q.Now, in that same testimony, on August 6th, — , withdrawn. Now Officer on a different day of testimony in front of that same Grand Jury, do you remember this set of questions — this is page 17 of August 6th.
ADA SHABAN:That would be August 11th.
Q.Now ADA Tillman asked you and said: "Did there come a point when you caught up with Mr. Anderson?" And you answered: "Yes."
Do you remember that?
A. Yes.
Q.And then Mr. Tillman asked you, and I'm quoting: "What if anything, did Mr. Anderson have in his possession?" Do you remember that question?
A.Yes.
Q.And you answered: "He had a white bag — plastic bag containing several Metro cards, United States currency and several pre-paid phone cards."
A.Yes.
Later, during the same cross-examination, the testimony was as follows:
Q.Now Officer, you claim that you recovered $1001 in a plastic bag from the defendant, is that right?
A. Yes.
Q.Not from the defendant, but from a bag you found on the ground, right?
A.Yes.
Regarding the knife, during the same cross-examination, he testified as follows: [*5]
Q.Now, Officer Rodriguez, the only knife you recovered is this instrument
that you previously identified, is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q.And that's basically some sort of utility knife; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Now isn't it true —, withdrawn. Now Officer, I'm going to direct — you remember — again, you remember testifying in the Grand Jury, isn't that correct?
A.Yes.
Q.I'm going to direct you to Page 25 of your testimony in front of that Grand Jury. And isn't it true that in that Grand Jury testimony that your referred to — referred to this knife as a switchblade knife?
A.Yes.
Q.Now —
ADA SHABAN:Continue, please.
Q.And then you again call it a box cutter knife?
ADA SHABAN:No, your Honor, he said, "One that you have to open. It flips open."
On redirect examination the following testimony took place regarding the knife:
Q. Now lets get to the knife, if we may. Now you listed that as a — how
does that knife open Officer Rodriguez?
A.Flips open.
Q.So you listed that as a switchblade knife?
A.Yes.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
A motion to dismiss an indictment must normally be made within forty-five days after
arraignment. See CPL § 255.20 (1). A motion to dismiss an indictment made after the forty-five
day period may be summarily denied, but the court, in the interest of justice and for good cause
shown, may in its discretion, entertain and dispose of the motion on the merits prior to the
imposition of sentence. See CPL § 255.20 (3).
In this case, though based upon alleged perjured testimony discovered at a pre-trial
suppression hearing, defendant's motion was made almost seven weeks after the jury verdict,
and eight weeks after the defense became aware of the claimed perjury. No explanation has
been given for the delay and no good cause shown for a favorable exercise of the court's
discretion. People v. Davidson, 98 NY2d 738, (2002); People v. Bones, 17 AD3d 689,
(2d Dep't 2005); People v. Field, 161 AD2d 660, ( 2d Dep't 1990). Accordingly, defendant's
motion to dismiss the indictment is summarily denied.
In any event, even if the court were to consider defendant's motion substantively, the
motion would be denied as defendant's contentions are without merit. Regarding the description
of the knife, and the possession of the white plastic bag, the inconsistencies in the testimony of
Officer Rodriguez before the Grand Jury at the suppression hearing and at trial are not
substantial, do not warrant the conclusion that perjury was committed, and were brought
to the attention of the trial jury. People v. Kitchen, 162 AD2d 178, ( 1st Dep't 1990), lv denied
76 NY2d 941. See also People v. Fisher, 244 AD2d 191, (1st Dep't 1997); People v. Smith,
248 AD2d 148, (1st Dep't 1998).
[*6]
Lastly, defendant's reliance on People v. Pelchat, 62 NY2d 97, (1984) is misplaced.
That case involved a conviction after a guilty plea and not, as here, to a conviction after a jury
trial. Once a defendant has been convicted after a trial, defendant is precluded from raising on
appeal a claim that the evidence before the Grand Jury was not legally sufficient.
C.P.L. § 210.30(6) and 210.20(b). In such a case, "the sufficiency of the evidence to convict
following trial is manifest from the record." People v. Pelchat, supra at 109. The principle has
been applied even when it has been alleged that a witness — who had recanted —had perjured
himself before the Grand Jury. See People v. Bryant, 234 AD2d 605 (2d Dep't 1996). See
also People v. Young, 296 AD2d 588, 589 (3d Dep't 2002) (DNA evidence later excluded
defendant as source of blood found at the scene, contrary to prosecution's theory before Grand
Jury); People v. Bey, 179 AD2d 905, 907 (3d Dep't 1992) (claim grand jury witness perjured
himself).
In light of the above, defendant's motion was denied in all respects. The clerk is directed to
send copies of this decision to defense counsel and to the District Attorney.
James G. Starkey
J. S. C.
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