People v. Sease

216 N.Y.S.3d 52

229 A.D.3d 810

The PEOPLE, etc., respondent,

v.William SEASE, appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Argued—April 25, 2024

July 31, 2024

Patricia Pazner, New York, NY (Melissa S. Horlick and Russ Altman–Merino of counsel), for appellant.

Melinda Katz, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, NY (Johnnette Traill, Christopher J. Blira–Koessler, and Jacob Bentley of counsel), for respondent.

BETSY BARROS, J.P., LINDA CHRISTOPHER, BARRY E. WARHIT, CARL J. LANDICINO, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Ronald D. Hollie, J.), rendered February 13, 2019, convicting him of criminal contempt in the first degree (two counts) and aggravated harassment in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant was convicted, after a jury trial, of two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree and one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree after he threatened the complainant in contravention of an order of protection. During a phone call, the defendant stated that he would come after the complainant and the complainant’s daughter. He also stated, "remember what happened last time it can happen again."

[1, 2] The defendant’s contention that he was deprived of a fair trial due to the Supreme Court’s admission into evidence of testimony, pursuant to People v. Molineux, 168 N.Y. 264, 61 N.E. 286, about an incident that led to the issuance of an order of protection against the defendant and in favor of the complainant is without merit. "Evidence of a crime or bad act may be admissible as evidence in the People’s case-in-chief in the trial of another crime when it tends to establish a defendant’s (1) intent, (2) motive, (3) knowledge, (4) common scheme or plan, or (5) identity" (People v. Blackwell, 219 A.D.3d 619, 621, 195 N.Y.S.3d 47 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see People v. Molineux, 168 N.Y. 264, 61 N.E. 286; People v. Espinal–Ramos, 225 A.D.3d 621, 621–622, 206 N.Y.S.3d 388), or to provide a complete "narrative of the events charged in the indictment" as well as "necessary background information" (People v. Jones, 206 A.D.3d 671, 673, 168 N.Y.S.3d 532 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see People v. Bonich, 208 A.D.3d 679, 680, 171 N.Y.S.3d 910; People v. Martinez, 201 A.D.3d 658, 659, 159 N.Y.S.3d 140). "If the evidence has substantial probative value and is directly relevant to the purpose—other than to show criminal propensity—for which it is offered, the probative value of the evidence outweighs the danger of prejudice and the court may admit the evidence" (People v. Blackwell, 219 A.D.3d at 621, 195 N.Y.S.3d 47 [internal quotation marks omitted]).

[3] On a count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, the People were required to prove, inter alia, that the defendant "kn[e]w[ ] or reasonably should [have known]" that the telephone call would have caused the complainant "to reasonably fear harm to [her] physical safety" (Penal Law § 240.30[1][b]). On a count of criminal contempt in the first degree, the People were required to prove, among other things, that, in violation of a court order, the defendant threatened certain physical harm to the complainant "with intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm a person for whose protection such order was issued" (id. § 215.51[b][v]). Here, the challenged testimony was probative of the defendant’s intent and knowledge and was necessary to complete the narrative, and any potential prejudice was outweighed by the probative value of the evidence (see People v. Blackwell, 219 A.D.3d at 621, 195 N.Y.S.3d 47; People v. Jones, 206 A.D.3d at 673, 168 N.Y.S.3d 532). Potential prejudice was otherwise offset by the Supreme Court’s multiple limiting instructions, which emphasized that the evidence was not to be considered for proof of the defendant’s propensity to commit any of the charged crimes but rather with respect to the issues of the defendant’s intent and knowledge and to complete the narrative (see People v. Blackwell, 219 A.D.3d at 621, 195 N.Y.S.3d 47; People v. Jones, 206 A.D.3d at 673, 168 N.Y.S.3d 532).

[4] The defendant’s contention that certain remarks made by the prosecutor during her opening statement were improper and deprived him of a fair trial is unpreserved for appellate review, since the defendant failed to object to the remarks he now challenges, as he made only a general one-word...