Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Luis Valentine, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2001-10-11
Citations: 287 A.D.2d 292
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Luis Valentine, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 287
Pages: 292–292

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Luis Valentine, Appellant.
[730 NYS2d 861]

Opinion:
—Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Efrain Alvarado, J.), rendered February 20, 1998, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (three counts) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to four concurrent terms of lxh to 15 years, unanimously affirmed.
The verdict was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence. There is no basis upon which to disturb the jury's determinations concerning credibility (see, People v Gaimari, 176 NY 84, 94).
The court's Sandoval ruling balanced the appropriate factors and was a proper exercise of discretion (see, People v Walker, 83 NY2d 455, 458-459; People v Mattiace, 77 NY2d 269, 275-276; People v Pavao, 59 NY2d 282, 292). The underlying facts of defendant's 1989 attempted drug sale conviction were highly relevant in view of defendant's testimony and the court prevented undue prejudice to defendant by precluding inquiry into the nature and underlying facts of other drug convictions.
We perceive no basis for reduction of sentence. Concur— Tom, J. P., Andrias, Wallach and Buckley, JJ.