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Concurrent Inclusory Counts Dismissed and Sentences Vacated—Defense Counsel’s Failure to Request that the Greater and Lesser Counts Be Submitted to the Jury in the Alternative, Although a Clear-Cut Error, Did Not Deprive the Defendant of Meaningful Representation

The Third Department determined defendant was entitled to dismissal of the inclusory concurrent counts and the vacation of the sentences imposed thereon, but was not entitled to reversal based upon defense counsel’s failure to request the that the inclusory concurrent counts be presented to the jury in the alternative (conviction on the greater count is deemed a dismissal of every lesser count).  Although the omission was clear-cut error on defense counsel’s part, the error did not deprive defendant of effective assistance:

…. [T]he two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree are inclusory concurrent counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree … . “When inclusory counts are submitted for consideration, they must be submitted in the alternative since a conviction on the greater count is deemed a dismissal of every lesser count” … . Therefore, defendant’s misdemeanor convictions of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree must be reversed and the concurrent, one-year sentences vacated … .

We are not persuaded, however, that defense counsel’s failure to request an alternative charge on these counts “elevates this case to the level of one of those rare cases where a single lapse can constitute ineffective assistance of counsel” … . Although counsel erred on a clear-cut issue …, such an error must be viewed in the context of the entire representation, particularly in light of the other charges that defendant faced. Most importantly here, counsel’s error appears to arise from his failure to properly consider the misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. While defendant was certainly entitled to representation on those charges, defendant had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense and faced felony charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. Given the vastly disparate potential outcomes related to the felony and misdemeanor offenses with which defendant was charged, particularly in light of his prior felony drug conviction …, and absent any proof that counsel’s failure was greater than that of failing to properly attend to the misdemeanor charges, we do not find that defendant was deprived of meaningful representation … . People v Vanguilder, 2015 NY Slip Op 06175, 3rd Dept 7-16-15

 

Concurrent Inclusory Counts Dismissed Despite Lack of Preservation

The Fourth Department determined the lesser inclusory counts of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree must be dismissed, despite lack of preservation:

… [C]ounts four, five and seven must be dismissed as lesser inclusory counts of count three, vehicular manslaughter in the first degree. Initially, we note that defendant’s failure to preserve the issue for our review is of no moment because preservation is not required … . With respect to the merits, “concurrent counts are inclusory when the offense charged in one is greater than that charged in the other and when the latter is a lesser offense included within the greater” … . Thus, where, as here, “it is impossible to commit a particular crime without concomitantly committing, by the same conduct, []other offense[s] of lesser grade or degree, the latter [are], with respect to the former, . . . lesser included offense[s]” … . Because it is impossible to commit the crime of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree under Penal Law § 125.13 (4), without concomitantly committing the crime of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree under Penal Law § 125.12, or without concomitantly committing the crime of, inter alia, driving while ability impaired by drugs under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192 (4), the latter two crimes are inclusory concurrent counts of the former crime. We therefore modify the judgment by dismissing the three counts of the indictment charging the latter two crimes. People v Bank, 2015 NY Slip Op 04954, 4th Dept 6-12-15

 

Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree Is Not a Lesser Inclusory Concurrent Count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree

The Fourth Department determined that criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree is not a lesser inclusory concurrent count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree:

“[A] comparative examination of the statutes defining the two crimes, in the abstract” (People v Glover, 57 NY2d 61, 64), demonstrates that it is possible to commit criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree without by the same conduct committing criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (compare § 265.02 [1] with § 265.03 [3]). For example, a defendant in possession of a loaded gun outside of his or her home or business who had not previously been convicted of any crime would be committing only the second-degree but not the third-degree offense. Because it is possible to commit the greater offense without committing the lesser one, the two counts are ” non-inclusory concurrent counts’ ” … . To the extent that the prior decision of this Court in People v Wilkins (104 AD3d 1156, lv denied 21 NY3d 1011) was based on an incorrect concession by the People and suggests a rule to the contrary, we conclude that Wilkins should no longer be followed. People v Puryear, 2015 NY Slip Op 00093, 4th Dept 1-2-15

 

Assault Counts Should Have Been Dismissed As Inclusory Concurrent Counts of the Counts Charging Assault in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony

The Fourth Department determined that counts of an indictment should have been dismissed as inclusory concurrent counts:

We agree with defendant … that the fourth and sixth counts of the indictment, each charging him with assault in the first degree, must be reversed and dismissed pursuant to CPL 300.30 (4) as inclusory concurrent counts of counts five and seven, each charging him with assault in the first degree as a sexually motivated felony. We therefore modify the judgment accordingly. CPL 300.30 (4) provides in pertinent part that “[c]oncurrent counts are inclusory’ when the offense charged in one is greater than any of those charged in the others and when the latter are all lesser offenses included within the greater.” A crime is a lesser included offense of another where “it is theoretically impossible to commit the greater crime without at the same time committing the lesser . . . [, as] determined by a comparative examination of the statutes defining the two crimes, in the abstract” … . Here, “defendant could only commit the sexually motivated felon[ies] if it was proven that he had committed the underlying [assaults] and that the [assaults were] committed for his own sexual gratification” … . Thus, the underlying assault counts charging assault in the first degree should have been dismissed as inclusory concurrent counts of the counts charging assault in the first degree as a sexually motivated felony upon defendant’s conviction of the latter crime… .  People v Dallas, 2014 NY Slip Op 05083, 4th Dept 7-3-14

 

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