Court Opinion

ID: 4085937
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-08 00:04:10.513313+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:05.004391
License: Public Domain

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
                  Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

150
KA 11-00148
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, SCONIERS, GORSKI, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT,

                    V                                     MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

DARNELL CARTER, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

DAVID J. FARRUGIA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LOCKPORT (MARY-JEAN BOWMAN OF
COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

MICHAEL J. VIOLANTE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LOCKPORT (THOMAS H. BRANDT OF
COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.

     Appeal from a judgment of the Niagara County Court (Sara S.
Sperrazza, J.), rendered June 17, 2010. The judgment convicted
defendant, upon a jury verdict, of murder in the second degree (two
counts), robbery in the first degree (two counts), criminal use of a
firearm in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the
second degree.

     It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is
modified on the law by directing that all sentences imposed shall run
concurrently and as modified the judgment is affirmed.

     Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury
verdict of, inter alia, two counts of murder in the second degree
(Penal Law § 125.25 [1], [3]) and one count of criminal possession of
a weapon in the second degree (§ 265.03 [3]), defendant contends that
the evidence is legally insufficient to establish his guilt either as
a principal or as an accomplice. We reject that contention.
“Accessorial liability requires only that defendant, acting with the
mental culpability required for the commission of the crime,
intentionally aid another in the conduct constituting the offense”
(People v Chapman, 30 AD3d 1000, 1001, lv denied 7 NY3d 811 [internal
quotation marks omitted]; see § 20.00). Here, the People presented
video evidence that defendant and others met in a mini-mart, where
defendant pantomimed the firing of a handgun. Other video evidence
establishes that, shortly thereafter, defendant and a group of young
men exited the mini-mart, and defendant pulled his scarf over his face
and walked quickly in the direction of the victim. The People also
presented witnesses who testified that the group of men, with
defendant in the lead and firing a handgun, chased the victim down the
street. The victim’s body was found the next morning, but his jewelry
was missing and his pockets were turned out. The Medical Examiner
testified that he died from a gunshot wound. Two of defendant’s
accomplices sold the jewelry at a pawn shop. In addition, defendant
                                 -2-                           150
                                                         KA 11-00148

told a Niagara Falls Police Captain that he knew the other men planned
to rob the victim and that he accompanied them in the event that a
fight would occur. Consequently, there was evidence from which the
jury could have reasonably inferred that defendant and his accomplices
shared “a common purpose and a collective objective” (People v Cabey,
85 NY2d 417, 422), and that “defendant either shot the victim or
shared in the intention of the [accomplices] to do so” (People v
Morris, 229 AD2d 451, lv denied 88 NY2d 990). Furthermore, viewing
the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as charged to the
jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349), we reject defendant’s
further contention that the verdict is against the weight of the
evidence (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495).

     In addition, defendant contends that County Court erred in
permitting the People to impeach their own witness. Even assuming,
arguendo, that the court erred in permitting the impeachment, we
conclude that any error is harmless (see generally People v Crimmins,
36 NY2d 230, 241-242). The evidence of guilt is overwhelming, and
there is no significant probability that defendant otherwise would
have been acquitted (see People v Saez, 69 NY2d 802, 804; People v
Cartledge, 50 AD3d 1555, lv denied 10 NY3d 957; People v Rodriquez, 24
AD3d 1321, lv denied 6 NY3d 817). Defendant’s contention regarding
the court’s refusal to suppress evidence seized from his house
pursuant to a search warrant is moot because the People did not seek
to introduce any such evidence at trial (see generally People v
Wegman, 2 AD3d 1333, 1335, lv denied 2 NY3d 747; People v Burnett, 306
AD2d 947, 948; People v Falcon, 281 AD2d 368, 368-369, lv denied 96
NY2d 901).

     We conclude, however, that the sentence is illegal insofar as the
court directed that the sentence imposed for criminal possession of a
weapon in the second degree shall run consecutively to the concurrent
sentences imposed for the two counts of murder in the second degree
(see People v Ramsey, 59 AD3d 1046, 1048, lv denied 12 NY3d 858;
People v Fuentes, 52 AD3d 1297, 1300-1301, lv denied 11 NY3d 736).
We therefore modify the judgment accordingly. “ ‘Although this issue
was not raised before the [sentencing] court or on appeal, we cannot
allow an [illegal] sentence to stand’ ” (People v Davis, 37 AD3d 1179,
1180, lv denied 8 NY3d 983). As relevant here, the sentence is
illegal because, “[p]ursuant to Penal Law § 70.25 (2), ‘[w]hen more
than one sentence of imprisonment is imposed on a person for two or
more offenses committed through a single act or omission, . . .’ the
sentences, with an exception not relevant here, must run concurrently.
Based on the evidence presented at trial, . . . ‘the court has no
discretion; concurrent sentences are mandated’ ” (People v Roundtree,
75 AD3d 1136, 1138, lv denied 15 NY3d 855, quoting People v Hamilton,
4 NY3d 654, 658; see People v Cromwell, 71 AD3d 414, 415, lv denied 15
NY3d 803; People v Mercer, 66 AD3d 1368, 1370, lv denied 13 NY3d 940).
Here, “[t]here was no evidence of intended use of the weapon against
another apart from its use in the killing of the murder victim”
(People v Boyer, 31 AD3d 1136, 1139, lv denied 7 NY3d 865, amended on
other grounds 87 AD3d 1413; see People v Wright, ___ NY3d ___, ___
[June 5, 2012]). As modified, the sentence is not unduly harsh or
                                  -3-                          150
                                                         KA 11-00148

severe.

     We have considered defendant’s remaining contention and conclude
that it is without merit.

     All concur except GORSKI, J., who is not participating.

Entered:   June 15, 2012                        Frances E. Cafarell
                                                Clerk of the Court