People v. Walters
Opinion of the Court
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a nonjury verdict of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Penal Law § 220.16 [1]), criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (§ 220.09 [1]), criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree (§ 220.50 [2]), and unlawful possession of marihuana (§ 221.05). Defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention that a certain individual at the house where defendant and the contraband were found did not have authority to consent to the warrantless search there (see generally People v Price, 112 AD3d 1345, 1345-1346 [2013]; People v Caballero, 23 AD3d 1031, 1032 [2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 846 [2006]), and we decline to exercise our power to address it as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15 [6] [a]). Contrary to defendant’s further contention, County Court (DeMarco, J.) properly concluded that the individual voluntarily consented to the police entry into the house (see People v Gonzalez, 39 NY2d 122, 127-128 [1976]; People v McCray, 96 AD3d 1480, 1481 [2012], lv denied 19 NY3d 1104 [2012]). Defendant’s contention that the evidence subsequently obtained pursuant to the search warrant should be suppressed as fruit of the poisonous tree thus lacks merit (see generally Wong Sun v United States, 371 US 471, 484-485 [1963]).
Contrary to defendant’s further contention, the court properly considered the “drug factory” presumption (Penal Law § 220.25 [2]) with respect to the counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third and fourth degrees (see e.g. People v Pressley, 294 AD2d 886, 887 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 712 [2002]; People v Riddick, 159 AD2d 596, 597 [1990], lv denied 76 NY2d 741 [1990]; cf. People v Kims, 24 NY3d 422 [2014]). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), we conclude that it is legally sufficient to support the conviction (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes in this nonjury trial (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we also
We reject defendant’s further contention that the Molineux court (Castro, A.J.) abused its discretion in permitting the People to present evidence that defendant was present at a location where the police previously made an undercover purchase of narcotics (see People v Whitfield, 115 AD3d 1181, 1182 [2014], lv denied 23 NY3d 1044 [2014]; People v Ray, 63 AD3d 1705, 1706 [2009], lv denied 13 NY3d 838 [2009]; People v Lowman, 49 AD3d 1262, 1263 [2008], lv denied 10 NY3d 936 [2008]). Defendant’s contention that reversal is required based upon a Rosario violation is also meritless. “Reversal based upon a Rosario violation is necessary only when a defendant demonstrates that he has been substantially prejudiced” (People v Turner, 216 AD2d 931, 932 [1995], lv denied 86 NY2d 804 [1995]; see People v Comfort, 60 AD3d 1298, 1300 [2009], lv denied 12 NY3d 924 [2009]) and, here, defendant has not made the necessary showing of substantial prejudice (see People v Gardner, 26 AD3d 741, 741 [2006], lv denied 6 NY3d 848 [2006]; People v Goston, 9 AD3d 905, 906-907 [2004], lv denied 3 NY3d 706 [2004]).
Viewing the evidence, the law and the circumstances of this case, in totality and as of the time of representation, we conclude that defendant received meaningful representation (see generally People v Baldi, 54 NY2d 137, 147 [1981]). Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.