People v. Blume
Opinion of the Court
With respect to the corroboration issue, the crux of defendant’s argument on this point is that County Court erred in failing to charge the jury that BiLauro and Rivera were accomplices as a matter of law. In response to a request made by Pagan’s counsel, County Court charged the jury that Thomas was an accomplice as a matter of law and submitted for the jury’s consideration whether BiLauro and Rivera were accomplices as a matter of fact. A review of the transcript reveals that defendant neither objected to the proposed charge, requested an alternative charge, filed an exception to the charge ultimately given nor made an additional request to charge. Accordingly, defendant failed to preserve this issue for our review (see People v Wright, 81 AD3d 1161, 1162 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 803 [2011]; People v Kennedy, 78 AD3d 1233, 1236 [2010], lv denied 16 NY3d 896 [2011]; People v Tabb, 12 AD3d 951, 953 [2004], lv denied 4 NY3d 768 [2005]; People v Hill, 236 AD2d 799, 800 [1997], lv denied 89 NY2d 1036 [1997]; People v Woodham, 158 AD2d 494, 495 [1990]). To the extent that defendant’s submissions may be read as challenging the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the verdict, we need note only that defendant did not move to dismiss the indictment until after the jury rendered its verdict, thereby failing to preserve this issue for our review (see People v Doyle, 48 AD3d 961, 962 [2008], lv denied 10 NY3d 862 [2008]; People v Gathers, 47 AD3d 959, 959 [2008], lv denied 10 NY3d 863 [2008]; compare People v Lee, 80 AD3d 877, 878 n 1 [2011] [specific motion to dismiss made at the close of the People’s case and renewed after the defendant presented evidence], Iv denied 16 NY3d 833 [2011]).
Finally, given the violent nature of the attack upon the victim, we reject defendant’s assertion that the sentence imposed is harsh or excessive. Moreover, we note that defendant’s reliance upon Penal Law § 70.25 (3) is misplaced, as that provision deals with alternative definite sentences imposed under Penal Law § 70.00 (4) for class D and E felonies, not — as is the case here— determinate sentences imposed under Penal Law § 70.02 (b) for class C violent felonies. Defendant’s remaining contentions, including his claimed Brady violation, have been examined and found to be lacking in merit.
Peters, J.B, Malone Jr., Stein and Garry, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
. Although defense counsel admittedly “reserve[d]” on the motion for a trial order of dismissal with County Court’s blessing (and arguably at its behest), neither the parties nor the trial court may fashion or acquiesce to a procedure that effectively contravenes the preservation requirement or otherwise undermines the rationale therefor (see generally People v Gray, 86
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.