Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant's contention that he was denied effective assistance of counsel is without merit (see, People v. LaConte, 172 A.D.2d 775; see also, People v. Rivera, 71 N.Y.2d 705; People v Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137). Bracken, J.P., Kunzeman, Eiber, Balletta and Ritter, JJ., concur.