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People v. Velez

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 30, 1995
220 A.D.2d 786 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

October 30, 1995

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Goldstein, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant argues that reversal is warranted on the basis of the trial court's charge which characterized the defendant's statements, if believed, as a confession. The defendant's challenge to the charge is unpreserved for appellate review (see, CPL 470.05; People v. King, 158 A.D.2d 471, 472). In any event, a person is criminally liable as an accomplice to robbery when (1) he intends that property be forcibly stolen, and (2) he solicits, requests, commands, importunes, or intentionally aids another person to forcibly steal property (see, Penal Law § 20.00, 160.00 Penal). Consistent with this Court's definition of a confession, the defendant's statements read together constituted a voluntary and express acknowledgement that he engaged in the robbery (see, People v. Edwards, 147 A.D.2d 586, 587). This case is unlike People v. Greenwaldt ( 72 A.D.2d 836), relied upon by the defendant, because in that case the defendant's statement to a police officer that "I want to make a deal with you" did not clearly refer to the crime he was charged with committing. In this case, the defendant's statements clearly inculpated him for the crime of robbery.

The defendant's remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review or without merit. Balletta, J.P., O'Brien, Copertino and Pizzuto, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Velez

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Oct 30, 1995
220 A.D.2d 786 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

People v. Velez

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ROBERT VELEZ, Appellant

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

Date published: Oct 30, 1995

Citations

220 A.D.2d 786 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
633 N.Y.S.2d 333

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