Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York October 4, 2011 (People v. Vetrano)

In its Sandoval ruling (see People v Sandoval, 34 NY2d 371 [1974]), the Supreme Court ruled that if the defendant chose to take the stand, the People could inquire into nine of his 17 prior convictions, including convictions for possession of burglar’s tools, trespass, and attempted burglary. The defendant did not take the stand.