Opinion
KA 01-01883
November 15, 2002.
Appeal from a judgment of Onondaga County Court (Aloi, J.), entered June 21, 2001, convicting defendant after a jury trial of, inter alia, burglary in the second degree.
FRANK H. HISCOCK LEGAL AID SOCIETY, SYRACUSE (PHILIP ROTHSCHILD OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
WILLIAM J. FITZPATRICK, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SYRACUSE (DAVID A. ROTHSCHILD OF COUNSEL), FOR PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: PIGOTT, JR., P.J., GREEN, SCUDDER, BURNS, AND GORSKI, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum:
On appeal from a judgment convicting him after a jury trial of burglary in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.25) and petit larceny (§ 155.25), defendant contends that the conviction is not supported by legally sufficient evidence and that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. We disagree. Although there were inconsistencies in the testimony of the People's witnesses, they were not such as to render their testimony incredible as a matter of law ( see People v. Drake, 247 A.D.2d 855, 856, lv denied 92 N.Y.2d 851). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People ( see People v. Thompson, 72 N.Y.2d 410, 413, rearg denied 73 N.Y.2d 870), we conclude that it is legally sufficient to support the conviction. Nor can we conclude "that the jurors, `whose credibility determinations are accorded great deference' ( People v. Clark, 292 A.D.2d 816, 816-817, lv denied 98 N.Y.2d 650), failed to give the evidence the weight it should be accorded" ( People v. Locke, 295 A.D.2d 991, 991; see People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495).
Contrary to defendant's contention, County Court conducted "a sufficient inquiry to ensure that defendant was aware of the dangers and disadvantages of representing himself" ( People v. Duffy, 275 A.D.2d 1006, 1007; see People v. Smith, 92 N.Y.2d 516, 520). Defendant contends that he committed various errors during trial that prejudiced his case. A defendant who, after sufficient inquiry, is permitted to represent himself may not be heard to complain on appeal that he was denied effective assistance of counsel ( see People v. Woolnough, 180 A.D.2d 837, 839, lv denied 79 N.Y.2d 1056). Even in a case in which a defendant "is harming himself by insisting on conducting his own defense, respect for individual autonomy requires that he be allowed to go to jail under his own banner if he so desires and if he makes the choice `with eyes open'" ( United States ex rel. Maldonado v. Denno, 348 F.2d 12, 15, cert denied 384 U.S. 1007).