People v. Arias

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Edward McLaughlin, J., at suppression hearing and sentence; John A.K. Bradley, J., at plea) rendered September 13, 1989, convicting defendant of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of imprisonment of three years to life, unanimously affirmed.

Defendant, who concedes that his vehicle was properly stopped, contends that the discovery of contraband in the car was patently tailored to overcome constitutional objections. The contraband was discovered after a police officer, using his flashlight,…