People v. A. J. Rutledge
Opinion of the Court
—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant contends that Supreme Court erred in refusing to give an expanded circumstantial evidence charge. We disagree. Upon hearing a radio transmission that the proceeds of a burglary had been found in the trunk of his car, defendant stated that he had committed “a burglary.” That statement, “if interpreted by the fact finder as a relevant admission of guilt, distinguishes this case from those based exclusively on circumstantial evidence” (People v Rumble, 45 NY2d 879, 880), and thus an expanded circumstantial evidence charge was not required (see, People v Barnes, 162 AD2d 1039, 1040, lv denied 76 NY2d 890; People v Emery, 159 AD2d 992, lv denied 76 NY2d 787). Defendant further contends that reversal is required because the court refused to charge the jury that he could not be convicted without corroborative evidence (see, CPL 60.50). The record contains the requisite corroborative evidence and thus the court’s failure to give that charge does not require reversal (see, People v Pullman, 234 AD2d 955, lv denied 89 NY2d 1099). We reject defendant’s further contention that the court erred in failing to submit to the jury the issue of the voluntariness of defendant’s statements. Defendant failed to raise an issue of fact at trial concerning the voluntariness of his statements (see generally, People v Cefaro, 23 NY2d 283, 288-289).
Contrary to the contention of defendant, the prosecutor was entitled to question him concerning a prior felony conviction when he testified before the Grand Jury (see, People v Thomas, 213 AD2d 73, 76, affd 88 NY2d 821; People v Love, 272 AD2d
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.