Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Obdulis Cruz, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2008-03-18
Citations: 49 A.D.3d 391
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Obdulis Cruz, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 49
Pages: 391–391

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v Obdulis Cruz, Respondent.
[852 NYS2d 837]

Opinion:
Defendant failed to establish at the hearing that he had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the basement area of the apartment building. Accordingly, he lacked standing to move to suppress the drugs and paraphernalia found in that basement (see People v Rodriguez, 69 NY2d 159 [1987]; People v Jose, 252 AD2d 401 [1998], affd 94 NY2d 844 [1999]). There was no evidence that this basement was the residence of defendant or anyone else, or that it was anything but a drug factory. Defendant's connection with the premises was either based solely on his illegal activity therein, or, as he claimed, was that of an occasional legitimate worker; neither was sufficient to establish standing. Concur—Lippman, P.J, Gonzalez, Sweeny and Catterson, JJ.