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People v. Griffin

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 3, 1989
147 A.D.2d 897 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)

Opinion

February 3, 1989

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Monroe County, Doyle, J.

Present — Dillon, P.J., Doerr, Green, Pine and Davis, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant contends that his conviction for burglary in the second degree is based upon legally insufficient evidence. He asserts that because the complainant permitted his entry into her apartment, the evidence failed to establish that he entered or remained unlawfully as required by statute (see, Penal Law § 140.00; § 140.25). The argument is without merit.

Defendant was admitted into the apartment by the 15-year-old complainant after he falsely told the complainant that he represented "Action for a Better Community" and that he was there to interview her for a summer modeling job. A person is not licensed or privileged to gain entry into a building or apartment by means of deception or misrepresentation. "`The intruder who breaches the barrier with a lie or deception * * * is no less dangerous than his more stealthy cohorts, and nothing in the statute suggests an intent to exempt him from liability'" (People v Thompson, 116 A.D.2d 377, 380; see also, People v Hutchinson, 124 Misc.2d 487, affd 121 A.D.2d 849, lv denied 68 N.Y.2d 770). Accordingly, defendant's entry into the apartment was unlawful and the evidence was sufficient to support the burglary conviction.

We also find that evidence of a similar uncharged crime was properly received on the issue of defendant's intent (see, People v Alvino, 71 N.Y.2d 233; People v Molineux, 168 N.Y. 264). The court properly instructed the jury on that subject when the evidence was admitted and did so again in its charge.

We have reviewed the remaining issues raised by defendant and find them to be without merit.


Summaries of

People v. Griffin

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 3, 1989
147 A.D.2d 897 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
Case details for

People v. Griffin

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. CURTIS BENJAMIN…

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

Date published: Feb 3, 1989

Citations

147 A.D.2d 897 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
537 N.Y.S.2d 357

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