People v Smalling

People v Smalling 2017 NY Slip Op 03442 Decided on May 2, 2017 Court of Appeals Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided on May 2, 2017
No. 43

[*1]The People & c., Respondent,

v

Omar A. Smalling, Appellant.

Jenin Younes, for appellant.

Jill A. Gross-Marks, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM:

The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and a new trial ordered.

Although we reject defendant's contention that the evidence presented at trial did not support a charge of constructive possession, we nevertheless conclude that defendant is entitled to a new trial. The trial court erred in that it agreed to the People's request at the charge [*2]conference not to charge the jury on constructive possession, but then ultimately provided a constructive possession charge to the jury, resulting in prejudice to defendant (see CPL 300.10 [4]; People v Greene, 75 NY2d 875, 876-877 [1990]). Under the unique circumstances of this case, the error is not harmless (cf. People v Nevins, 16 AD3d 1046, 1047 [4th Dept 2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 889 [2005], cert denied 548 US 911 [2006]).

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Order reversed and a new trial ordered, in a memorandum. Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Stein, Fahey, Garcia and Wilson concur.

Decided May 2, 2017