People v. Pritchard

—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: There is no merit to the contention of defendant that he was deprived of his right to be *938present at a material stage of the trial because side-bar questioning of prospective jurors was conducted in his absence. Because the prospective jurors were excused following those side-bar conferences, reversal on that ground is not required (see, People v Hines, 205 AD2d 468, lv denied 84 NY2d 868; People v Castro-Garcia, 203 AD2d 899, lv denied 83 NY2d 965; People v Rodriguez, 203 AD2d 92, lv granted 84 NY2d 832; People v Arnold, 201 AD2d 965, lv denied 83…