Court Opinion

ID: 5493414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:43:01.14795+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:46.065414
License: Public Domain

OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and a new trial ordered.
Although we reject defendant’s contention that the evidence presented at trial did not support a charge of constructive possession, we nevertheless conclude that defendant is entitled to a new trial. The trial court erred in that it agreed to the People’s request at the charge conference not to charge the jury on constructive possession, but then ultimately provided a constructive possession charge to the jury, resulting in prejudice to defendant (see CPL 300.10 [4]; People v Greene, 75 NY2d 875, 876-877 [1990]). Under the unique circumstances of this case, the error is not harmless (cf. People v Nevins, 16 AD3d 1046, 1047 [4th Dept 2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 889 [2005], cert denied 548 US 911 [2006]).
Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Stein, Fahey, Garcia and Wilson concur.
Order reversed and a new trial ordered, in a memorandum.