Aaron Bright was charged with the criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and the criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds.
After his conviction, the New York County Supreme Court sentenced him, as a second felony offender, to concurrent terms of 6 years. Bright then appealed to the Appellate Division, First Department, claiming the outcome wasn't supported by the evidence. He also objected to the court's refusal to allow his brother's testimony and to the closing of the courtroom.
According to the AD1, there was a sufficient basis for the courtroom's closure (during an undercover cop's testimony) and for excluding testimony from Bright's brother, who had prior drug convictions -- including one for an incident which occurred right across the street from where Bright purportedly engaged in his illicit transaction.
It seems like the AD1 found Bright's arguments rather dim.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: People v. Bright