Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Pablo Santos, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1996-10-15
Citations: 232 A.D.2d 508
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Pablo Santos, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 232
Pages: 508–508

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Pablo Santos, Respondent.
[648 NYS2d 660]

Opinion:
—Appeal by the People from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Lipp, J.), dated November 13, 1995, which granted the defendant's motion pursuant to CPL 440.10 to vacate the defendant's judgment of conviction under Indictment No. 812/ 79.
Ordered that the order is reversed, on the law, the motion is denied, and the judgment of conviction under Indictment No. 812/79 is reinstated.
The Supreme Court erred in vacating the defendant's judgment of conviction based on the People's failure to disclose the criminal record of their key witness. The witness's criminal history included a 1978 conviction for disorderly conduct and a 1963 conviction for an unknown misdemeanor, both of which apparently resulted from arrests for gambling. Testimony regarding the witness's regular participation in illegal gambling activity and his unlawful possession of a loaded weapon was elicited during cross-examination at the defendant's trial. Under the circumstances, there is no reasonable possibility that the failure to disclose the witness's criminal record contributed to the verdict (see, People v Vilardi, 76 NY2d 67, 77). Joy, J. P., Altman, Friedmann and Krausman, JJ., concur.