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People v. Benitez

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Nov 15, 1995
221 A.D.2d 965 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

November 15, 1995

Appeal from the Monroe County Court, Connell, J.

Present — Pine, J.P., Fallon, Callahan, Doerr and Davis, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, following a jury trial, of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. There is no merit to the contention of defendant that County Court erred in admitting identification testimony of a police officer who observed him sell heroin to an undercover officer during a "buy-bust" operation because the People failed to serve a CPL 710.30 notice advising defendant of such testimony. The court properly found that the officer's identification of defendant at the prearranged meeting place a short time after the "buy-bust" occurred was merely confirmatory and, therefore, not subject to CPL 710.30 requirements (see, People v Rodriguez, 79 N.Y.2d 445, 449; People v Wharton, 74 N.Y.2d 921, 922-923; People v Reed, 197 A.D.2d 866, lv denied 82 N.Y.2d 901; People v Guzman, 197 A.D.2d 705, lv denied 82 N.Y.2d 896). Thus, no Wade hearing was required (see, People v Wharton, supra; People v Polanco, 179 A.D.2d 531, 532-533, affd 80 N.Y.2d 1012).

We agree with defendant that the People's failure to disclose the tape recording in a more timely manner was improper. The People's delay in complying with the provisions of CPL 240.20 constitutes reversible error, however, only when the delay substantially prejudices defendant (see, People v Watson, 213 A.D.2d 996; People v Herrera, 136 A.D.2d 567, 568, lv denied 70 N.Y.2d 1007). The fact that the tape recording was not disclosed until approximately 10 days before trial, standing alone, does not establish that defendant was prejudiced in his defense (see, People v Watson, supra). Thus, the court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to impose any sanctions.


Summaries of

People v. Benitez

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Nov 15, 1995
221 A.D.2d 965 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

People v. Benitez

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. JOSE BENITEZ, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department

Date published: Nov 15, 1995

Citations

221 A.D.2d 965 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
634 N.Y.S.2d 328

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