People v. Colucci
Opinion of the Court
—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him of rape in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, defendant contends that he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to a jury trial. That contention lacks merit (see, People v Burnett, 136 AD2d 888, lv denied 70 NY2d 1004; see also, People v Simmons, 182 AD2d 1018; People v Watson, 162 AD2d 360, 361). Defendant is not entitled to reconstruction of the Sandoval hearing (see, People v Sandoval, 34 NY2d 371). Even assuming that a Sandoval hearing was conducted, which the record does not disclose, defendant’s presence would have been "wholly superfluous”; because defendant testified at trial and there was no cross-examination with respect to any prior convictions or bad acts, "it cannot reasonably be said that there was any potential for additional meaningful input by defendant” (People v Smith, 82 NY2d 254, 268; see, People v Knowlin, 198 AD2d 873 [decided herewith]). The verdict with respect to rape in the first degree and assault in the second degree was not against the weight of the evidence (see, People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495). The court did not improperly
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.