Majority
—Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Marrus, J.), rendered April 10, 1997, convicting him of conspiracy in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
During the trial, a juror became “unable to continue serving by reason of illness” (CPL 270.35 [2] [a]). Contrary to the defendant’s contention, the Supreme Court conducted “a reasonably thorough inquiry and recit[ed] on the record * * * the facts and reasons” for discharging the juror (People v Page, 72 NY2d 69 , 73; see, People v O’Connor, 222 AD2d 705 ).
The defendant’s contentions that the Supreme Court committed reversible error when it referred a witness’s accomplice status to the jury for resolution as a question of fact, and that the prosecution failed to present sufficient nonaccomplice testimony to corroborate that witness’s testimony, are unpreserved for appellate review (see, CPL 470.05 [2]). In any event, the defendant’s contentions are without merit. “[W]here different inferences can be reasonably drawn from the evidence produced at trial, the question of whether a particular person is an accomplice is a question of fact for the jury” (People v Jeffries, 122 AD2d 281 , 282; see, People v Cobos, 57 NY2d 798 ; People v Tusa, 137 AD2d 151 ). The Supreme Court properly charged the jury on that issue, and the witness’s testimony was sufficiently corroborated (see, People v Daniels, 37 NY2d 624 ).
After consulting with the defendant, the defense counsel effectively waived the defendant’s right to a public trial by consenting, in his presence, to the closure of the courtroom during the testimony of two undercover officers (see, People v Miller, 257 NY 54 ; People v Sevencan, 258 AD2d 485 ; People v Daughtry, 242 AD2d 731 ; People v Espejo, 237 AD2d 458 ).
The sentence imposed was not excessive (see, People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 ).
Cases cited
- People v. Page 72 NY2d 69 at 73 p. 417
- People v. O'Connor 222 AD2d 705 p. 417
- People v. Cobos 57 NY2d 798 p. 417
- People v. Tusa 137 AD2d 151 p. 417
- People v. Daniels 37 NY2d 624 p. 417
- People v. Miller 257 NY 54 p. 417
- People v. Daughtry 242 AD2d 731 p. 417
- People v. Suitte 90 AD2d 80 p. 417