Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Arthur Riles, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1999-06-03
Citations: 262 A.D.2d 16
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Arthur Riles, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 262
Pages: 16–17

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Arthur Riles, Appellant.
[690 NYS2d 582]

Opinion:
—Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Arlene Silverman, J.), rendered March 5, 1997, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of 4V2 to 9 years, unanimously affirmed.
The verdict was supported by legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence. The totality of the evidence permitted a reasonable conclusion that defendant's careful questioning of the undercover officer was part of the drug selling operation and that defendant was not merely assisting a stranger in locating a supplier of drugs, but could have been a screener or steerer. Also, the jury was free to reject defendant's agency defense which was properly charged without objection by defendant (see, People v Lam Lek Chong, 45 NY2d 64, 73-76).
We have considered and rejected defendant's remaining claims, including those contained in his pro se supplemental brief. Concur — Ellerin, P. J., Tom, Wallaeh and Friedman, JJ.