Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Herman Riley, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1986-01-24
Citations: 116 A.D.2d 1028
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Herman Riley, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 116
Pages: 1028–1029

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Herman Riley, Appellant.

Opinion:
Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: During defendant's trial on an indictment alleging a criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, the trial court erroneously charged criminal possession in the sixth degree and eighth degree as lesser included offenses. "[I]t is not necessary to possess a controlled substance in order to offer or agree to sell it Accordingly, possession offenses relating to controlled substances are not lesser included offenses of those crimes prohibiting their sale" (People v Cogle, 94 AD2d 158, 159; see, People v Glover, 57 NY2d 61, 63). However, the error is harmless and does not require reversal since the jury found defendant guilty of the higher crime and never considered the lesser offenses (People v Scarincio, 95 AD2d 967, 969).
Our examination of the record reflects that defendant was represented by reasonably competent counsel and was not denied a fair trial (see, People v Módica, 64 NY2d 828, 829). Defendant's other claims of error have been examined and found to be without merit. (Appeal from judgment of Monroe County Court, Cornelius, J. — criminal sale of controlled substance, third degree.) Present — Doerr, J. P., Boomer, Green, O'Donnell and Schnepp, JJ.