People v. Daugherty

Judgment unanimously modified as a matter of discretion in the interest *1030of justice and as modified affirmed in accordance with the following Memorandum: We reject the contention of defendant that his absence from two pretrial conferences deprived him of the right to be present at a material stage of the trial. Defendant concedes that the pretrial conferences were held to discuss a possible plea bargain, and thus his presence was not required (see, People v Harris, 222 AD2d 522, 523, lv denied 87 NY2d 1020, 88 NY2d 936; People v Woodrich, 212 AD2d 998, lv denied 85 NY2d 945; People v DeLong,…