Majority
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Erie County (M. William Boiler, A.J.), rendered January 4, 2011. The judgment convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting
We reject defendant’s further contention that Supreme Court erred in refusing to suppress the weapon found in his vehicle and his statements to the police, which he alleges were the fruit of an illegal stop and search of his vehicle. The police had reasonable suspicion to stop defendant’s vehicle (see People v Caponigro, 76 AD3d 913 , 913-914 [2010], lv denied 15 NY3d 952 [2010]; People v Velez, 59 AD3d 572 , 575 [2009], lv denied 12 NY3d 860 [2009]), and the incremental series of investigative steps taken thereafter were lawful (see generally People v Torres, 74 NY2d 224 , 231 n 4 [1989]). Finally, to the extent that defendant’s contention that he was denied effective assistance of counsel survives his plea of guilty (see People v Hawkins, 94 AD3d 1439 , 1441 [2012]), we conclude that it lacks merit (see generally People v Ford, 86 NY2d 397 , 404 [1995]). Present— Centra, J.P., Peradotto, Carni, Lindley and Sconiers, JJ.
Cases cited
- People v. Mack 89 AD3d 864 at 866 p. 1638
- People v. Alexander 48 AD3d 1225 at 1226 p. 1638
- People v. Torres 74 NY2d 224 at 231 p. 1638
- People v. Ford 86 NY2d 397 at 404 p. 1638