People v. Haymon

—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: County Court properly admitted in evidence the redacted statement of defendant’s nontestifying accomplice as a declaration against penal interest. The People established that the accomplice invoked his constitutional privilege against self-incrimination and thus was unavailable as a witness; he was aware when he made the statement that it was contrary to his penal interest; he had competent knowledge of the underlying facts; and there was sufficient competent evidence independent of the declaration to assure its trustworthiness and reliability (see,…