Title: People v Smalling

State: new-york

Issuer: New York Appellate Court

Document:

People v Smalling

2017 NY Slip Op 03442

Decided on May 2, 2017

Court of Appeals

Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.

This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.


Decided on May 2, 2017

No. 43 

[*1]The People & c., Respondent,
vOmar A. Smalling, Appellant.


Jenin Younes, for appellant.
Jill A. Gross-Marks, for respondent.


MEMORANDUM:
The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and a new trial ordered.
Although we reject defendant's contention that the evidence presented at trial did not support a charge of constructive possession, we nevertheless conclude that defendant is entitled to a new trial. The trial court erred in that it agreed to the People's request at the charge [*2]conference not to charge the jury on constructive possession, but then ultimately provided a constructive possession charge to the jury, resulting in prejudice to defendant (see CPL 300.10 [4]; People v Greene, 75 NY2d 875, 876-877 [1990]). Under the unique circumstances of this case, the error is not harmless (cf. People v Nevins, 16 AD3d 1046, 1047 [4th Dept 2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 889 [2005], cert denied 548 US 911 [2006]).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Order reversed and a new trial ordered, in a memorandum. Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Stein, Fahey, Garcia and Wilson concur.
Decided May 2, 2017