Title: The People v. Raheem Mayo

State: new-york

Issuer: New York Appellate Court

Document:

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This memorandum is uncorrected and subject to revision before
publication in the New York Reports.
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No. 191  SSM 24
The People &c.,
            Respondent,
        v.
Raheem Mayo,
            Appellant.
Submitted by Robert S. Dean, for appellant.
Submitted by Justin K. Wechsler, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed. 
The evidence presented to the grand jury was legally sufficient
to establish that defendant constructively possessed 96 glassine
bags containing crack/cocaine recovered from underneath clothing
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SSM No. 24
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on an apartment's bedroom floor.  Specifically, there was
evidence that when the police unexpectedly arrived at the
apartment, defendant was getting dressed in the apartment's small
8' by 10' bedroom; that his 18-month-old child was present in the
apartment; that a plastic bag containing 47 small glassine bags
containing crack/cocaine was in plain view on the bedroom
dresser; that the additional 96 glassine bags containing
crack/cocaine recovered from the bedroom floor were packaged
similarly to the drugs recovered from the dresser; and that
defendant was in close proximity to the drugs on both the dresser
and the floor.  Further, the grand jury could have reasonably
inferred that the drugs did not belong to the apartment's lessee
by virtue of the fact that she volunteered the location of the
additional drugs in a manner that prevented the defendant and his
accomplice from overhearing.  This evidence, considered together,
made out a prima facie case that defendant exercised dominion and
control over the contraband (People v Manini, 79 NY2d 561, 573-
575 [1992]).  
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On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules,
order affirmed, in a memorandum.  Chief Judge Lippman and Judges
Ciparick, Graffeo, Read, Smith, Pigott and Jones concur.
Decided September 15, 2009