McCullough v. Bennett
Petitioner Robert McCullough filed a pro se federal habeas corpus petition challenging his New York state conviction for burglary, assault, and weapon possession. He alleged prosecutorial misconduct during the execution of a material witness order and ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel, including the failure to object to a C.P.L. § 710.30 notice. The court denied his motion for a stay, deeming unexhausted claims procedurally defaulted or not cognizable. On the merits, the court found no prosecutorial misconduct and, despite trial counsel's error regarding C.P.L. § 710.30 notice, no constitutional prejudice resulted as the statement was spontaneous and admissible. All other ineffective assistance claims were also rejected. Consequently, the court denied McCullough's petition and dismissed the case.