People v. Cook

After a trial by jury, defendant was convicted of criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle. On this appeal we are asked to consider the propriety of disclosing defendant’s prior youthful offender adjudication during cross-examination.

The People’s case rested principally on the testimony of Patrolman Newton who testified that on the night of April 12, 1972 he and his partner discovered a stolen vehicle on a street in Queens County. As they were observing the car they noticed two youths entering it. When the police pulled up alongside the…