PEOPLE v. BURKS

Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: We reject the contention that defendant's absence from a Sandoval and Ventimiglia conference warrants reversal. Subsequent proceedings held in open court in defendant's presence constituted a de novo Sandoval and Ventimiglia hearing (see, People v Vargas, 201 A.D.2d 963, lv denied 83 N.Y.2d 859; People v Russell, 191 A.D.2d 1001, lv denied 81 N.Y.2d 1019; People v Berger, 188 A.D.2d 1073, 1074, lv denied 81 N.Y.2d 881).