People v Frank Valencia
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People v Frank Valencia 2018 NY Slip Op 33744(U) April 30, 2018 County Court, Westchester County Docket Number: Ind. No. 17-1068-02 Judge: George E. Fufidio Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. [* 1] '( COuNTY COURT: STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER ------------------------------------------------------------------)( THE PEOPLE OF THE STA TE OF NEW YORK -against- FI LE FRANK VALENCIA and JERRY REYES DECISION & ORDER Oindictment No. 17-1068-02 r,1AY - 1 2018 Defendant. ------------------------------------------------------------------Xl\~OTHY C. IDON I FUFIDIO, J. C CC'Llf\ITY CLERK ::>HY C·F WESTCHESTER Defendant, JERRY REYES, having been indicted on or about December 18, 2017 on one count of acting in concert with co-defendant Frank Valencia of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Penal Law§ 265.03[3] and one count of unlawful possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device (Penal Law§ 265.36) has filed an omnibus motion which consists of a Notice of Motion, an Affirmation in Support and a Memorandum of Law. In response, the People have filed an Affirmation in Opposition together with a Memorandum of Law. Upon consideration of these papers, the stenographic transcript of the grand jury minutes and the Consent Discovery Order entered in this case, this Court disposes of this motion as follows: A. & B. MOTION TO INSPECT, DISMISS AND/OR REDUCE The court grants the defendant's motion to the limited extent that the court has conducted, with the consent of the People, an in camera inspection of the stenographic transcription of the grand jury proceedings. Upon such review, the court finds no basis upon which to grant defendant's application to dismiss or reduce the indictment. The grand jury was properly instructed (see People v Ca/bud, 49 NY2d 389 [1980]; People v Valles, 62 NY2d 36 [1984]; People v Burch, 108 AD3d 679 [2d Dept 2013]) and the minutes reveal a quorum of the grand jurors was present during the presentation of evidence. The Assistant District Attorney properly instructed the grand jury on the law, and only permitted those grand jurors who heard all the evidence to vote the matter. With respect to the evidence that was actually presented to the grand jury, the Court has taken a very careful look at the evidence underpinning the Defendant's two charges. At this stage of the proceedings, this Court is constrained in its inquiry and is required by law to make an evaluation as to whether the evidence presented, if accepted as true, is legally sufficient to establish every element of each offense charged (CPL 210.30[2]). "Courts assessing the sufficiency of the evidence before a grand jury must evaluate whether the evidence, viewed most favorably to the People, if unexplained and uncontradicted--and deferring all questions as to the weight or quality of the evidence--would warrant conviction" (People v Mills, 1 NY3d 269, 274-275 [2002]). Legally sufficient evidence means competent evidence which, if accepted as true, would establish every element of an offense charged and the defendant's commission thereof(CPL 70.10[1]; see People v Flowers, 138 AD3d 1138, 1139 [2d Dept 2016]). "In the context of a Grand Jury proceeding, legal sufficiency means prima facie proof of [* 2] the crimes charged, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt" (People v Jessup, 90 AD3d 782, 783 [2d Dept 2011]). "The reviewing court's inquiry is limited to whether the facts, if proven, and the inferences that logically flow from those facts supply proof of every element of the charged crimes, and whether the Grand Jury could rationally have drawn the guilty inference. That other, innocent inferences could possibly be drawn from those facts is irrelevant to the sufficiency inquiry as long as the Grand Jury could rationally have drawn the guilty inference" (People v Bello, 92 NY2d 523, 526 [1998]). Upon its review of the evidence, in the light most favorable to the People and construing all inferences in favor of the People, the Court is compelled to find that the People have met their burden at this stage of the case. Based upon the in camera review, since this court does not find release of the grand jury minutes or any portion thereof necessary to assist it in making any determinations and as the defendant has not set forth a compelling or particularized need for the production of the grand jury minutes, defendant's application for a copy of the grand jury minutes is denied (People v Jang, 17 AD3d 693 [2d Dept 2005]; CPL 190.25[4][a]). Furthermore, the portion of the defendant's motion requesting dismissal of the indictment for facial insufficiency under CPL 200.50(7)(a) is also denied. The indictment contains a plain and concise factual statement in each count which, without allegations of an evidentiary nature, asserts facts supporting every element of the offense charged and the defendant's commission thereof with sufficient precision as to clearly apprise the defendant of the conduct which is the subject of the indictment (CPL 200.50). In reading the language of the indictment on its own and in conjunction with the bill of particulars given to the defendant in consent discovery, it is clear that the indictment charges each and every element of the crimes and further meets the requirement that the defendant be given notice of the charges against him with respect to the time, place and manner in which the People allege the crimes were committed (People v Albanese, 45 AD3d 691 [2d Dept 2007], People v Iannone, 45 NY2d 589 [1978]). C. MOTION TO STRIKE STA TEMENT NOTICES CPL ARTICLE 710 The motion to strike is denied. Said notices are in conformity with the statutory requirements of CPL 710.30. D. MOTION TO SUPPRESS NOTICED STA TEMENTS This branch of the Defendant's motion seeking to suppress statements on the grounds that they were unconstitutionally obtained is granted to the extent that a Huntley hearing shall be held prior to trial to determine whether any statements allegedly made by the Defendant, which have been noticed by the People pursuant to CPL 710.30 (l)(a) were involuntarily made by the Defendant within the meaning of CPL 60.45 (see CPL 710.20 (3); CPL 710.60 [3][b]; People v Weaver, 49 NY2d 1012 [1980]), obtained in violation of Defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel, and/or obtained in violation of the Defendant's Fourth Amendment rights (see Dunaway v New York, 442 US 200 [1979]). E. MOTION for DISCOVERY. DISCLOSURE and INSPECTION CPL ARTICLE 240 2 [* 3] ( The parties have entered into a stipulation by way of a Consent Discovery Order consenting to the enumerated discovery in this case. The Defendant's motion for discovery is granted to the extent provided for in Criminal Procedure Law Article 240. If there any further items discoverable pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law Article 240 which have not been provided to the Defendant pursuant to the Consent Discovery Order, they are to be provided forthwith. As to the Defendant's demand for exculpatory material, the People have acknowledged their continuing duty to disclose exculpatory material at the earliest possible date upon its discovery (see Brady v Maryland, 373 US 83 [1963]; Giglio v United States, 405 US 150 [1972]). The People have also acknowledged their duty to comply with People v Rosario, (9 NY2d 286 [1961]). In the event that the People are or become aware of any material which is arguably exculpatory and they are not willing to consent to its disclosure to the Defendant, they are directed to immediately disclose such material to the Court to permit an in camera inspection and determination as to whether such must be disclosed to the Defendant. Except to the extent that the Defendant's application has been specifically granted herein, it is otherwise denied as seeking material or information beyond the scope of discovery (see People v Colavito, 87 NY2d 423 [1996]; Matter of Brown v Grosso, 285 AD2d 642 [2d Dept 2001]; Matter of Brown v Appelman, 241AD2d279 [2d Dept 1998]; Matter a/Catterson vJones, 229 AD2d 435 [2d Dept 1996]; Matter a/Catterson v Rohl, 202 AD2d 420 [2d Dept 1994]). F. MOTION FOR SEVERANCE The defendant moves for a severance from his co-defendant. The defendant and his co-defendant, who are alleged to have acted in concert, are properly joined in the same indictment (see, CPL §200.40 [ 1]). Where the proof against defendants is supplied by the same evidence, "only the most cogent reasons warrant a severance." (see, People v. Bomholdt, 33 NY2d 75, 87, cert. denied 416 US 95; see also, People v. Kevin Watts, 159 AD2d 740). Further, public policy strongly" favors joinder, because it expedites the judicial process, reduces court congestion, and avoids the necessity of recalling witness ... " (People v. Mahboubian, 74 NY2d 174, 183). Nevertheless, for good cause shown, such as the fact that a defendant will be "unduly prejudiced by a joint trial", a defendant may be entitled to a severance from his co-defendant (see, CPL §200.40 [ 1]). In order to fairly evaluate whether the defendant will or will not be unduly prejudiced by a joint trial, decisions must first be rendered regarding the admissibility of any statement by the defendant's codefendant as well as, if admissible, whether any such statement can be redacted. Further, consideration must be given as to whether the co-defendant intends to testify and whether the co-defendant's defense is antagonistic to the that of the within defendant. Accordingly, as the court is yet to reach and resolve the above addressed matters, the defendant's motion for a severance is denied as premature with leave to renew and for the defendant to demonstrate, after the above matters have been resolved, that a joint trial will result in unfair prejudice to him and substantially impair his defense. G. MOTION TO SUPPRESS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE This branch of the defendant's motion is granted to the extent of conducting a Mapp hearing prior to trial to determine the propriety of any search resulting in the seizure of property (see Mapp v Ohio, 367 US 643 [ 1961]. The hearing will also address whether any evidence was obtained in violation 3 [* 4] ( of the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights (see Dunaway v New York, 442 US 200 [1979]). In addition, two search warrants were executed in this case. One was executed on September 26, 2017 on a black 2004 Volvo XC7 Wagon VIN YV 1SZ59H84117l528 located at Marshall Road and Ridge Drive in Yonkers, New York and the other on September 27, 2018 at Co-Defendant Frank Valencia's apartment at 43 Crestview Place in New Rochelle, New York. Defendant moves to controvert these search warrants. Upon review of the four comers of the search warrant affidavit and order, the court finds that the warrants were adequately supported by probable cause (see People v. Keves, 291 AD2d 571 [2d Dept 2002]; see generally People v. Badilla, 130 AD3d 744 [2d Dept 2015]; People v. Elysee, 49 AD 3d 33 [2d Dept 2007]). The warrant affidavits in support provided information that demonstrated probable cause to believe that evidence at the location could tend to show that the offense was committed. The defendant has failed to demonstrate that the warrant was based upon an affidavit containing false statements made knowingly or intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth (People v. McGeahy, 74 AD3d 989 [2d Dept 2010]). To be addressed at this hearing is whether the defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in either location that was searched pursuant to the warrants so as to constitute standing to challenge the seizure of any physical evidence (see Rakas v. Illinois, 439 US 128 [1978]; People v. Ramirez-Portoreal, 88 NY2d 99 [1996]; People v. Ponder, 54 NY2d 10 [1981]; People v. White, 153 AD3d 1369 [2d Dept 2017]; People v. Hawkins, 262 AD2d 423 [2d Dept 1999]. Ifit is determined that the defendant had standing then a Mapp/Dunaway hearing will be conducted prior to trial to determine the propriety of the search resulting in the seizure of property (Mapp v Ohio, 367 US 643 [1961]). H. MOTION FOR SANDOVAL AND VENTIMIGLIA HEARINGS Defendant has moved for a pre-trial hearing to permit the trial court to determine the extent, if at all, to which the People may inquire into the defendant's prior criminal convictions, prior uncharged criminal act, and vicious or immoral conduct (see, People v Sandoval, 34 NY2d 371 [1974]). The People have consented to, and it is now ordered that immediately prior to trial the court will conduct a Sandoval hearing. At the hearing, the People are required to notify the defendant of all specific instances of his criminal, prior uncharged criminal acts and vicious or immoral conduct of which they have knowledge and which they intend to use in an attempt to impeach the defendant's credibility if he elects to testify at trial (CPL 240.43). The defendant shall then bear the burden of identifying any instances of his prior misconduct that he submits the People should not be permitted to use to impeach his credibility. The defendant shall be required to identify the basis of his belief that each event or incident may be unduly prejudicial to him should he decide testify as a witness on his own behalf and thereby prevent him from exercising this right (see, People v Matthews, 68 NY2d 118 [ 1986]; People v Malphurs, 111 AD2d 266 [2d Dept 1985]). Defendant's application for a Ventimiglia hearing is denied as premature, because the People have not indicated an intention to use any evidence of prior bad act or uncharged crimes of the defendant in its case in chief (see, People v Molineaux, 168 NY2d 264 [ 1901]; People v Ventimiglia, 52 NY2d 3 50 [ 1981 ]). The People have stated that if they do intend to use any Molineaux evidence that 4 [* 5] '.. ' . ·~ they will inform the defense and the court of their intention and at that point the defendant may renew this aspect of his motion. I. MOTION RESERVING MORE TIME FOR FILING ADDITIONAL MOTIONS Defendant's motion to reserve additional time to make additional motions in denied. The Defendant may make further motions upon the showing of good cause as to why they were not made here initially (CPL 255.20[3]; People v Davidson, 98 NY2d 738 [2002]). The foregoing constitutes the opinion, decision and Dated: ~rder of this Court. White Plains, New York April 30 , 2018 Honorable Georg Westchester Coun -To: HON. ANTHONY A. SCARPINO, JR. District Attorney, Westchester County 111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard White Plains, New York 10601 BY: KEVIN JONES, ESQ Assistant District Attorney MARIA I. WAGER, ESQ. Assistant District Attorney ANTHONY MA TTESI, ESQ. 240 N9rth A venue, Suite 208 New Rochelle, New York 10803 5
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