Campbell v. Poole (555 F. Supp. 2d 345, 2008)

DECISION AND ORDER

VICTOR E. BIANCHINI, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. Introduction

Shannon Campbell (“Campbell” or “petitioner”) has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging his conviction following a jury trial in New York State County Court (Erie County) on sexual abuse charges. Campbell is currently incarcerated pursuant to this judgment of conviction. The parties have consented to disposition of this matter by a magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1).

II. Factual Background and Procedural History

A. Summary

The convictions here at issue were based on Campbell’s having sexually abused three young female victims — his daughter and two of his nieces. Campbell lived with his mother, Esther Campbell (“Mrs. Campbell”). Mrs. Campbell had a daughter, Esther Battiese, who had two daughters, Alicia Penn and Esther Penn. Alicia Penn’s children included two of the victims in this case, Shakia and Shamika. Campbell also had seven children of his own, two of which were involved either directly or peripherally in this case. His daughter, Shanna, was the other victim. Shanna’s older brother, Chezere, was the first person to whom Shanna and Shakia revealed the abuse. At the time of the incidents, Shanna and Shamika were eight years-old, and Shakia was six. Campbell was accused of raping and sodomizing his daughter, Shanna, and his niece, Shamika. He was alleged to have raped his six-year-old niece Shakia. Campbell was interviewed by the police on two occasions-April 14, 1999, and April 27, 1999. He consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing. T.181-82. He was arrested on April 14th based on the complaints filed by Shanna and Shamika. T.183.

Campbell was offered the opportunity to plead guilty to a reduced indictment with a sentence promise of fourteen (14) years determinate; the offer was to remain available only up and until the first complainant took the stand to testify. Prior to commencement of the prosecution’s case, trial counsel placed on the record that he had discussed the plea offer with his client and had advised him that if he choose to proceed to trial and was convicted, the judge had authority to impose consecutive sentences such that his potential sentence exposure was seventy-five (75) years. Trial counsel informed the court that his client maintained his innocence and wished to have a trial. Campbell confirmed that he understood the risks of going to trial and that he did not wish to accept the plea offer, which was revoked by the prosecutor at that time.

Following a trial in Erie County Court (Tills, J.), a jury convicted Campbell of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (N.Y. Penal Law (“P.L.”) § 130.65(3)), three counts each of Rape in the First Degree (P.L. § 130.35(3)), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Penal Law § 260.10(1)), Sodomy in the First Degree (Penal Law § 130.50(3)), and one count of Incest (Penal Law § 255.25). He was sentenced to consecutive terms of imprisonment aggregating seventy-five (75) years.

B. The Trial

1. The Prosecution’s Case

a. Shanna’s Testimony

Shanna, petitioner’s daughter, was eight years-old at the time of the alleged abuse. She was living with her father at 60 Huma-son in the city of Buffalo. T.37. Shanna testified with trepidation about what happened. She stated that her father touched her “privacy” with his “privacy,” and that “he put his in [hers].” T.37-38. Shanna stated that she used this “privacy” to “[p]ee.” T.37. Petitioner’s “privacy” or “thing” was not “sitting still” when it was inside her; “[i]t was moving.” T.39. Then her father put his “privacy” “[i]n [her] other privacy” which she used to “go ... [p]oo.” T.39. Shanna testified that “[i]t moved” when it was insider her other privacy and that it felt “[i]cky.” T.40. Shanna testified that before he put his privacy inside of her, he put Vaseline “[o]n [her] privacy” that she used to “pee.” T.40. Shanna stated that “[a] little” something “white” came out of petitioner’s “privacy” where he “pee[d]” and he “[w]iped it off.” T.40-41.

The sexual contact occurred while Shanna was in petitioner’s bedroom. When shown a photograph of petitioner’s bedroom, Shanna identified the “[g]rease” (hair relaxer) that he “put on [her] privacy.” Shanna also identified a condom in the photograph, which she called a “safety” and said that her father “had it [sic] a lot in the bag.” T.43-44, 45-46. He would “put them on ... [h]is privacy” before he put his “privacy” in her “privacy.” T.44. After petitioner did this to her, “he said don’t tell” or else she would get a “Mpank-ing.” T.44.

Shanna did “[n]ot really” remember when this happened; “[t]here wasn’t no snow on the ground” but it was cold outside and it was before she went to Florida with some family members. T.47.

The first person she told about what Campbell had done was her older brother (and petitioner’s son), Chezere, while they were in Florida. Shanna then told her grandmother, Esther Campbell. A “[Bit-tie” while later, the family returned to Buffalo. T.49.

Shanna testified that nobody else besides her father “ever touched [her] privacy.” T.49.

2. Shakia’s Testimony

Shakia, petitioner’s niece, was seven years-old at the time of the incident. She was staying at 60 Humason with her “Aunt Toot”, Esther Penn. With difficulty, she testified about the alleged abuse, stating that her “Uncle Shannon” did something to her that she “didn’t like.” T.114. Shakia indicated that Campbell put his “ding-a-ling” “on [her] crotch.” T.115. She said that “[fit moved” and that while it was “inside [her] crotch” it felt “[b]ig.” T.116. Before he put his “ding-a-ling” in her crotch, he put “[a] rubber” on. T.116-17. Shakia testified that petitioner also “touch[ed] the crotch that [she] go[es] poo out of’ with his “ding-a-ling” but that he only put his “ding-a-ling” inside the “crotch” that she “go[es] pee out of.” T.119-20,121. Shakia testified that he put Vaseline “[fin [her] crotch” before he put his “ding-a-ling” inside her.

Sometime after the incident with Campbell, Shakia’s nine-year-old cousin Quentin “toueh[ed][her] in [her] crotch” the same way. T.122.

3. Shamika’s Testimony

Shamika, Shakia’s older sister, testified that her Uncle Shannon touched her in a way that she “didn’t like” while she was staying at 60 Humason. One night, Sha-mika was in Campbell’s bedroom, sleeping. Campbell told her to wake up, but she “wouldn’t wake up.” T. 147. “[T]hen [Campbell] got on his hands and knees and told [her] please and he said ... ,[“]I’ll give you a dollar if you do.[”] T.147. Shamika again refused and Campbell said “please” and she “just flipped back to sleep.” ” T.147.

Then Campbell touched her on her “legs and [her] privacy” that she used to “[p]ee.” T.148. Campbell “rolled [his hands] around” on her privacy after putting “[l]otion” on her “privacy” and his “privacy.” T.148-49, 153. He then touched her “privacy” with his “privacy.” T.149. Campbell also put his “privacy” into her mouth and touched her “butt” with his “privacy.” His “privacy” “[m]oved around” when he did these things. T.165-66. When his “privacy” went “inside [her] butt” it felt “[b]ad.” T.151. Shamika testified that “[a] little” something “[w]hite” came out of her uncle’s “privac/’ and he wiped it off on her cousin’s “baby doll covers.” T.151.

Shamika testified that her uncle named “DC” also sexually abused her — he touched her with his “privacy” in her “privacy” that she went “pee out of’ and her “privacy” that she went “poo out of[.]” T.154. This occurred after the incident with Campbell. T.155,159-60.

4. The Prosecution’s Medical Expert

Dr. Jack Coyne testified that he performed physical examinations on the three girls on April 14, 1999, at the Child Advocacy Center in Buffalo. T.199. He explained that a physical examination of a patient includes four parts — the subjective reasons given by the patient as to why she was there, the objective findings by the doctor, the assessment, and the treatment plan. T.200-01. Without defense objection, Dr. Coyne testified from his report of Shakia’s examination that she said,

[M]y uncle he put his weiner [sic] inside my crotch. He did it about four times and he used a rubber except the last time when this white stuff all came out. This happened at my big grandma’s house two times and my little grandma’s house two times. It would hurt and I would cry.

T.203. Dr. Coyne testified that Shakia was a “toddler, not sexually developed” and that her “hymenal ring was irregular and there was in fact a gap from 5:30 to 7:30 and the posterior fourchet was intact.” T.204. Dr. Coyne explained that “from 5:30 to 7:30 there was a lack of hymenal tissue” which was “caused by some penetrating trauma of some kind.” T.205. In the rectal area there was a “tag at 12:00” which was “rather common and normal,” and did not state that such a finding was necessarily indicative of abuse. T.205. Based on the subjective and objective portions of the examination, Dr. Coyne concluded that his physical findings with regard to Shakia were “most consistent with the child’s history of abuse.” T.206.

Dr. Coyne also examined Shanna. Wfiien asked why she was there, Shanna replied, “[B]ecause my daddy hurt me, he put Vaseline on my private and then he put his thing inside me. Once I was bleeding. He said he was doing this because Vanessa was not here[.]” T.207. When examining Shanna, Dr. Coyne found that there was “positive erythema, ... meaning redness[.]” T.208. The hymen had an “irregular rim, and there was slight estrogen-ization and a cleft at 5:30[.]” T.208. Dr. Coyne testified that his physical findings were “most consistent with [Shanna’s] history” of having been sexually abused by her father. T.208. The most important physical finding, in addition to the irregular hymenal ring, was the “cleft ... at 5:30 that went down to the vaginal wall and that is ... acquired ... [b]y some penetrating trauma.” T.208.

Finally, Dr. Coyne examined Shamika, who said, “Uncle Shannon made me suck his thing and lick it. He also put his thing or dick inside of me ... He also puts cream and Vaseline on his dickT.210. In his physical examination of Shamika, Dr. Coyne found that her hymen had “mounds ... but [a] smooth rim, [and] positive scar tissue from 6:30 to 5:30 posterior to the hymen.” T.210. That indicated to him that the scar tissue of the posterior fourchet “was due to some trauma of some kind ... but ... there was not trauma of the hymenal tissue itself.” T.210, 211.

On cross-examination, Dr. Coyne admitted that he could not state, “to a degree of medical certainty that it was a male sexual organ that inflicted this damage on th[e] [hymenal] tissue” of Shakia and Shanna. T.223, 231. The rectal tag found on Sha-kia was “more commonly a normal finding” and was “not conclusive medical proof of any type of anal penetration.” T.226. Er-ythema is not necessarily associated with sexual abuse. Dr. Coyne admitted that the irregularity of Shanna’s hymenal tissue was less noticeable than it was on Shakia. T.227-28. He confirmed that he did not notice any gaps, openings or irregularities in the surface of Shamika’s hymenal tissue. T.228. He had no way of stating how old the scar tissue on Shamika was, except that the injury had not happened within the two or three days prior to his exam. T.229. Defense counsel elicited from Dr. Coyne that his objective physical findings alone were “consistent with some penetrating trauma to these two children but [he] couldn’t tell you from what.” T.233.

C. The Defense Case

The theory of the defense was that petitioner “was falsely accused, that these children have lied, told lies, made up stories regarding the sexual abuse.... ” Prior to beginning to present the defense case, trial counsel made an offer of proof regarding proposed witness, Esther Campbell (petitioner’s adoptive mother). Defense counsel stated that he sought to elicit from Campbell, as well as from Campbell’s mother, that in 1994 and 1995, the mother of Shamika and Shakia, Alicia Penn, “falsely accused not only ... Campbell of engaging in improper sexual behavior with Alicia Penn but also falsely accused ... [Campbell’s] mother of improper sexual conduct....” Trial counsel did not specify against whom the improper sexual conduct by Mrs. Campbell allegedly occurred. Counsel indicating that this matter “was addressed and litigated in a Family Court context,...” T.236. Further, defense counsel stated, the result was that custody was awarded to petitioner “because the courts found there was no merit to these false allegations of sexual abuse.” T.236. Counsel explained that since that time the family had been “divided into a faction [sic] in which Alicia Penn [Shakia and Shamika’s mother] and Esther Penn ... sided with [Campbell’s] estranged wife ... Stephanie Campbell [Shanna’s mother] who resides in Rochester.... ” T.236. According to trial counsel, the family was going to be relocating to Florida and the sexual abuse allegations were “the last gasp effort on the part of Alicia Penn and Esther Penn” to prevent the children from moving to Florida with Campbell and his mother. T.237.

The trial court noted that there had been no proof that Shanna’s biological mother, Stephanie Campbell, had any contact with her daughter before the incident to put her up to fabricating charges against petitioner, and no proof of contact between Stephanie Campbell and Alicia Penn, the biological mother of Shamika and Shakia. T.239. Thus, the trial court noted, there were “no facts” on which to base an allegation of wrongdoing. T.239-40, T.241. However, the trial court stated that he “would go on to allow [counsel] to, and will think about the relationships back and forth.... ” T.240. The trial court stated counsel’s argument was “only based upon well, [Campbell] got custody, therefore ... the judge must have found that they were lying ...” during the family court proceeding. T.240.

Trial counsel then moved, pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law (“C.P.L.”) § 290. 10, to dismiss counts three, four, and five of the indictment alleging first degree sodomy because there was “absolutely no testimony” from Shakia that petitioner “anally, orally or vaginally sodomized” her. T.241^12. The prosecutor conceded this, and those counts accordingly were dismissed. T.242-43.

1. Petitioner’s Testimony

Campbell testified that he was living at 60 Humason at the time in question with his adoptive mother and father, Esther and Tom Campbell. Campbell testified his mother, his daughter, and his niece Shakia left for Florida in the middle of January and returned on April 12th or April 13th. T.252-54. According to Campbell, he did not get along with his daughter’s biological mother, or with Alicia Penn or Esther Penn. Campbell testified that in January 1999, he moved out of his bedroom at 60 Humason so that Alicia Penn and her children could move in. T.258. He claimed on cross-examination that Shakia was not staying at 60 Humason until she came back from Florida in April. T.275. [Confronted with his statement to the police. T.276-77.] He testified that he did not reside in that upstairs bedroom room any time thereafter. T.258. Campbell stated that he did not recognize the condoms pictured in the photographs of the bedroom in question and stated they were not of the type he used. T.260-62, T.284-85. Campbell testified that during the time in question, he spent three to five nights a week with Janet Jenkins, with whom he had two children. At the time, he also was having a physical relationship with a woman named Vanessa Schrader who lived in Williamsville. T.263, 290-91. Campbell testified that he left his children with his mother while he was gone.

Campbell suggested, as he had done in his previous statements to the police, that the children had been manipulated by certain family members into accusing him of sexual abuse. According to Campbell, this was done in response to earlier custody proceedings that had been resolved in Campbell’s favor. See T.264-65. He categorically denied committing any of the acts described by the complainants. T.264-65.

2. Petitioner’s Sister’s Testimony

Esther Battiese (“Battiese”) was Esther Campbell’s biological daughter and petitioner’s adoptive sister. Battiese testified that she lived at 845 Prospect with her daughter, Esther Penn. She had another daughter named Alicia Penn. T.320. On January 11,1999, Battiese left the house at 60 Humason to go live in Jacksonville, Florida. T.321-22. She returned to Buffalo on April 13, 1999. T.322. According to Battiese, Shakia was in Florida during the time she (Battiese) was there. T.322.

3. Petitioner’s Adoptive Mother’s Testimony

Esther Campbell’s court-assigned attorney appeared in court and informed the parties that he had advised his client not to testify based on his understanding that she was “in fact a target of a criminal investigation in regards to certain aspects of this case.” T.325. Trial counsel then reiterated his proffer regarding her testimony — namely, that Shanna and Shakia were with her in Florida from January to April and that some of the items depicted in the photograph of the bedroom (e.g., the hair relaxer allegedly used as lubricant on the children) were actually purchased by her in Florida; and that Shanna slept in the same bed as her, not in the bedroom that Campbell used. T.326-27. Mrs. Campbell’s counsel stated that he would advise her to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights with regard to every question asked. T.328. Consequently, trial counsel declined to put her on the stand at all.

Counsel then asserted that he believed that the “allegations of [Mrs. Campbell’s] tampering with these witnesses [we]re false” and “a ploy on the part of the District Attorney’s Officer to preclude [him] from putting on exculpatory evidence.” T.329. The prosecutor reminded the court that even before the trial commenced, she had informed defense counsel about the potential charges of witness tampering against Mrs. Campbell. T.331. The trial court agreed with the prosecutor, noting that well before defense counsel had communicated his intention to call petitioner’s mother, he knew that she was possibly subject to criminal charges. T.333.

Proofs were closed at this point. After hearing argument from the parties, the trial court declined to charge the jury with the lesser included offense of attempted first degree rape, as defense counsel had requested. The jury returned a verdict convicting Campbell on all of the charges submitted to it. T.444-46.

On May 31, 2000, Campbell appeared in court with new counsel, who had moved pursuant to C.P.L. § 330.30 to set aside the verdict on the basis that the prosecutor made improper comments during summation and “the prosecutor’s interference with Esther Campbell ... who would have testified ... mainly attacking the various pictures [of petitioner’s bedroom shown] to the children.” S.2-3; see also S.3-5. Defense counsel argued that petitioner was wrongly deprived of his right to call witnesses and noted Mrs. Campbell never actually was indicted by the district attorney’s office on charges of witness-tampering with regard to her allegedly having intimidated one of petitioner’s nieces by threatening to punish her if she testified against petitioner. S.4. The prosecutor opposed the motion, reiterating her arguments made during the trial with regard to the issue of Mrs. Campbell and contending that her remarks were “fair comment” on the evidence and responsive to defense counsel’s summation. The trial judge ruled from the bench and denied the motion, essentially for the same reasons urged by the prosecutor. S.10-11.

Before being sentenced, Campbell made a statement maintaining his innocence and professing that his trial was a sham. He informed the court, “[T]oday I still stand before you an innocent man. Unfortunately the jury didn’t know actually the law....” S. 12-13. The trial judge sentenced Campbell to seven (7) years determinate with regard to count one (first degree sexual abuse); twenty-five (25) years determinate with regard to count two (first degree rape); one (1) year determinate with regard to count six (endangering the welfare of a child); twenty-five (25) years determinate with regard to count seven (first degree rape); twenty-five years determinate with regard to count eight (first degree sodomy); twenty-five (25) years determinate with regard to count nine (first degree sodomy); one (1) year determinate with regard to count ten (endangering the welfare of a child); twenty-five (25) years determinate with regard to count eleven (first degree rape); twenty-five (25) years determinate with regard to count twelve (first degree sodomy); one and one-third to four (1/é to 4) years on count thirteen (incest); and one year determinate on count fourteen (endangering the welfare of a child). The sentences under counts one, two and six, were set to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to all other sentences. Those imposed under counts seven, eight, nine and ten were concurrent with each other but consecutive the remaining sentences. Finally, the sentences for counts eleven, twelve, thirteen and fourteen were concurrent to each other but consecutive to the other terms. The longest sentence in each of the three groups of concurrent sentences was twenty-five (25) years, making Campbell’s aggregate sentence seventy-five (75) years. The judge indicated that he knew, by operation of law, the maximum term would be deemed fifty (50) years. S.16. However, the trial court indicated that a lengthy period of incarceration was necessary based on the pre-sen-tence investigation and the results of the psychiatric evaluation of petitioner.

Represented by new counsel on direct appeal, Campbell appealed his conviction to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, of New York State Supreme Court. Appellate counsel raised the following six arguments: the court improperly permitted three child witnesses to be sworn; improperly prevented the petitioner from cross-examining a witness about a letter having to do with where the petitioner’s daughter wanted to reside as a result of his incarceration; impermissibly allowed hearsay testimony from a child victim’s brother that bolstered a victim’s testimony; that the court erred by allowing a physician to testify to what the children told him during each child’s examination; erred by disallowing defense evidence that one child’s mother had previously made a false accusation of improper sexual conduct against the petitioner and his mother; and that the sentence was illegal and harsh.

Campbell filed a pro se supplemental appellate brief, presenting the following issues: trial counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve certain issues; the trial court made comments and issued rulings which denied him a fair trial; the prosecutor committed misconduct by threatening to prosecute defense witnesses (petitioner’s mother and petitioner’s sister) and making improper comments during summation; and the indictment was jurisdic-tionally defective because grand jury witnesses should not have been permitted to give sworn testimony and because the dates contained in the indictment did not adequately reflect the testimony in the grand jury and the felony hearing. Campbell also repeated some of appellate counsel’s arguments. The prosecution filed a reply brief, to which petitioner responded with a sur-reply. However, it is unclear whether Campbell was permitted to even file such a pleading. In unanimously affirming the judgment of conviction, People v. Campbell, 286 A.D.2d 979, 730 N.Y.S.2d 762 (App.Div. 4th Dept.2001), the Appellate Division declined to address the following issues because they had not been preserved for its review: admissibility of statements that the children made to the examining physician; a claim of bolstering; a claim that the court and the prosecutor made improper comments during the trial; and an argument that the indictment was jurisdictionally defective. After considering the merits of Campbell’s ineffective assistance of counsel, the Appellate Division ruled that he had received constitutionally meaningful representation. It also found that each child witness was competent to testify; and that the testimony of a victim’s brother was not hearsay. The Appellate Division declined to modify the sentence, and concluded that Campbell’s “remaining issues were without merit.” On December 21, 2001, the Appellate Division denied Campbell’s pro se motion for reargument.

On behalf of Campbell, appellate counsel filed a discretionary leave application with the New York Court of Appeals, specifically requesting review of the following three issues: (1) the seventy-five year sentence violated the defendant’s constitutional rights; (2) trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to preserve a challenge to the admission of the physician’s testimony about what the children had told him; failed to object to the testimonial capacity of the child witnesses; and failed to call the petitioner’s mother as a witness; and (3) the trial court erred in disallowing testimony that the mother of two of the victims had falsely accused the petitioner and his mother of improper sexual conduct in an earlier custody proceeding. On January 22, 2002, the Court of Appeals denied leave. People v. Campbell, 97 N.Y.2d 702, 739 N.Y.S.2d 102, 765 N.E.2d 305 (N.Y.2002).

The petitioner first moved to vacate the judgment on or about January 10, 2002, and filed a supporting affidavit dated January 29, 2002. The People filed an opposing affidavit dated May 2, 2002, and the petitioner filed a reply affidavit dated May 31, 2002. The petitioner presented a number of issues, including a claim that trial counsel had been ineffective. The court denied the motion on June 11, 2002, concluding that sufficient facts appeared in the record to have permitted direct review of his claim that counsel had been ineffective. See N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 440.10(2)(e). In any event, the trial court concluded, Campbell had received the effective assistance of counsel. Furthermore, the trial court observed, Campbell had raised many of the same issues in his direct appeal, but had failed to raise others despite there being sufficient facts of the record. Accordingly, the trial court denied the motion on procedural grounds, citing C.P.L. § 440.10(2)(a) and C.P.L. § 440.10(2)(c). Moreover, the trial court concluded, petitioner’s additional allegations were conclusory and unsupported by evidence. Thus, it denied the balance of the motion by citing to C.P.L. § 440.30(4)(b) and (d).

Campbell sought leave to appeal on July 2, 2002; however, in his leave request, he addressed only the ineffectiveness issue, specifically arguing that trial counsel failed to obtain evidence that purportedly would have exonerated him and that trial counsel did not properly handle inconsistent statements made by certain witnesses. The Appellate Division denied leave to appeal the denial of the C.P.L. § 440.10 motion on December 16, 2002.

Campbell filed a second C.P.L. § 440.10 motion to vacate the judgment on October 21, 2003. Purporting to rely on new deci-sional law, Campbell claimed that his second motion presented novel legal issues concerning the pay structure of New York State’s assigned counsel program. He also included many issues that he had already raised in his first C.P.L. § 440.10 motion, in his briefs on direct appeal, or both. These included the following: (1) the competency of the child witnesses to be sworn (direct appeal; first C.P.L. § 440.10 motion); (2) the range of dates of the various crimes rendered the indictment defective (direct appeal, C.P.L. § 440.10 motion); (3) trial counsel’s purported lack of investigation regarding medical evidence (C.P.L. § 440.10 motion); (4) trial counsel’s failure to make objections and preserve various appellate issues (C.P.L. § 440.10 motion, direct appeal); and (5). prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury (direct appeal). Campbell also asserted that trial counsel failed to develop evidence regarding the children’s residences, but he did not explain why that was significant, how he was prejudiced, or why he did not assert this purported deficiency in his earlier motion.

The prosecutor opposed the motion on December 30, 2003. On January 29, 2004, the trial court denied relief, finding that to the extent that the ineffectiveness claim was based on trial counsel’s failure to object, it was based on matters of record and had been decided on direct appeal. The trial court further agreed that Eze v. Senkowski, 321 F.3d 110 (2d Cir.2003), was not new law, and denied Campbell’s ineffective assistance claims premised on that case for procedural reasons pursuant to C.P.L. 440.10(2)(a). The trial court concluded that the indictment was not defective, and that there was no prosecutorial misconduct relating to the time frames set out in the indictment. Dismissed as procedurally barred were Campbell’s claims that the assigned counsel program negatively affected his attorney’s performance, and that New York’s state’s preservation requirement is itself unconstitutional. See N.Y.Crim. Proc. Law § 440.10(3)(a). The court also denied on procedural grounds the claim that the prosecutor had threatened a defense witness because Campbell had previously raised that issue in a motion to set aside the verdict pursuant to C.P.L. § 330.30. See N.Y. Cant Proc. Law §§ 440.10(2)(c); 440.10(3)(b).

The petitioner sought discretionary leave to appeal, presenting the court with three issues: misconduct relating to the range of dates in the indictment; ineffective counsel; and constitutional deficiencies in the assigned counsel program. He also argued that the preservation requirement placed an undue burden on indigent defendants, and that C.P.L. Article 440 should be available to preserve appealable issues. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department, denied leave on March 29, 2004. Campbell sought reconsideration of the trial court’s denial of his second motion, because the January 29, 2004, decision did not consider the People’s affidavit dated January 23, 2004, or the petitioner’s affidavit dated January 28, 2004. In a decision and order dated April 6, 2004, the trial court denied the petitioner’s motion after considering those affidavits. The trial judge concluded that scientific articles that the petitioner had submitted did not undermine medical testimony from the prosecution’s witnesses and failed to support his ineffectiveness claim. On cross-examination, the prosecution’s medical expert acknowledged that the hymenal injury to two children could have been caused by something other than a penis.

By affidavit dated April 29, 2004, the petitioner sought leave to appeal the denial of his reconsideration motion. On the issue of counsel’s allegedly deficient pre-trial preparation, he argued that the Second Circuit’s decision in Eze v. Senkowski 321 F.3d 110 (2d Cir.2003), constitutionally obligated defense counsel to retain an expert witness because the case involved allegations of sexual abuse against child victims. Petitioner also addressed counsel’s failure to object to the physician’s hearsay testimony reading from his examination reports about what the children had told him during their exams. Campbell claimed that he was entitled to a hearing to explore counsel’s motivations, and to determine whether counsel’s decisions were influenced by what he considered the unconstitutional pay structure of the assigned counsel program. Finally, he addressed the prosecutor’s actions in the context of the time frames for the indicted crimes. On May 24, 2004, the Appellate Division denied the petitioner’s leave application.

This habeas petition followed. See Petition (“Pet.”) (Dkt.# 1). Before respondent answered the petition, Campbell submitted a pleading titled “Petitioner’s Affidavit” (“Pet’r Aff.”) (Dkt.# 4). Respondent, in its answer (Dkt.# 9) and memorandum of law (Dkt.# 10) in opposition to the petition, asserts the defense of non-exhaustion with regard to a number of Campbell’s claims. Respondent also argues that none of petitioner’s claims have any merit.

For the reasons that follow, the request for a writ of habeas corpus is denied and the petition is dismissed.

III. Standard of Review

Under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”), a federal court may grant a writ of habeas corpus to a state prisoner on a claim that was “adjudicated on the merits” in state court only if it concludes that the adjudication of the claim (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); see also Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 375-76, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000). An “adjudication on the merits” is a substantive, rather than a procedural, resolution of a federal claim. Sellan v. Kuhlman, 261 F.3d 303, 313 (2d Cir.2001).

Federal habeas review is available for a State prisoner “only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). Errors of state law are not subject to federal habeas review. See, e.g., Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68, 112 S.Ct. 475, 116 L.Ed.2d 385 (1991); Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146, 94 S.Ct. 396, 38 L.Ed.2d 368 (1973).

IV. Analysis of the Petition

A. Claims of Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel — Petition (Dkt.# 1)

1. Legal Standard Applicable to Ineffective Assistance Claims

To establish that he was deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of trial counsel, a petitioner must show that (1) his attorney’s performance was deficient, and that (2) this deficient performance prejudiced his defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Deficiency is measured by an objective standard of reasonableness, and prejudice is demonstrated by a showing of a “reasonable probability” that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the trial would have been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the proceeding.” Id. To succeed, petitioner challenging counsel’s representation must overcome a “strong presumption that [his attorney’s] conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Id. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reviewing court “must judge the reasonableness of counsel’s challenged conduct on the facts of the particular case, viewed as of the time of counsel’s conduct,” id., and may not second-guess defense counsel’s strategy. Id. at 690, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Here, Campbell has failed to demonstrate that his counsel’s conduct was deficient within the meaning of Strickland, and that, but for the deficiency, the result of his trial would likely have been different.

2. Alleged Bases of Counsel’s Ineffectiveness

Campbell has assailed trial counsel’s performance on myriad grounds. First, on the form habeas petition (Dkt.# 1), Campbell has stated as follows:

Ground one: THE DEFENDANT WAS DENIED THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL. Trail [sic] counsel [1] failed to hire expert to evaluate evidence; [2] failed to ascertain addresses of the complainants during the period alleged; [3] failed to make appropriate objections to the testimonial capacity of the witness, the [4] bolstering evidence of the physician and other matters related in the attachment: background facts.

Pet. at 7, ¶ 22A (Dkt.# 1). I note that in his pro se brief on direct appeal, Campbell essentially raised same claims as # 3 and # 4 in Ground One, above, arguing that trial counsel’s failure to register the proper objections at trial deprived him of due process by forcing him to present unpre-served appellate issues. He complained that trial counsel did not object to a lack of specificity in the indictment as to the time frames when the incidents allegedly occurred; did not object to the prosecution’s medical expert’s bolstering by testifying about what the children had said to him during their physical examinations; and did not object to the trial court’s decision permitting the children to be sworn as witnesses. See Petitioner’s Pro Se Supplemental Brief at 23-28, submitted as Respondent’s Exhibit (“Resp’t Ex.”) A in the Appendix of State Court Records. The Appellate Division did not address the instances of ineffectiveness specifically, but ruled generally that petitioner received meaningful representation. Allegations # 1 and # 2 were raised in various of Campbell’s motion to vacate the judgment pursuant to C.P.L. § 440.10. The trial court rejected them as without merit, and also because they could have been raised on direct appeal. For the reasons discussed below, none of the alleged errors of trial counsel, taken singly or together, amount to constitutionally ineffective representation.

a. Failure to object to swearing-in of child complainants

This claim premised on trial counsel’s alleged failure to object has been mooted because the Appellate Division did rule on petitioner’s argument that the trial court erred in swearing the child complainants, finding that each child was properly sworn. As respondent notes, this fatally undermines petitioner’s claim based on trial counsel’s failure to object to the trial court’s ruling: because the appellate court considered the issue on the merits, notwithstanding the lack of preservation, petitioner cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced by counsel’s failure to object.

b. Failure to object to hearsay by treating physician

I turn next to the alleged ineffectiveness based on the failure to object to certain hearsay testimony by Dr. Coyne, the physician who testified for the prosecution. Dr. Coyne testified that his examination included a subjective portion, which consisted of his attempt to elicit from the child the reason why she was there. See T.200, 203, 207, 209-10. During his direct testimony, Dr. Coyne repeated what the children had told him during the course of his physical examination of them. Trial counsel did not object to this testimony, which Campbell complains “improperly bolstered the testimony of the three victims.” Petitioner’s Appellate Brief (“Pet’r App. Br.”) at 14, Resp’t Ex. A. Respondent has argued that trial counsel had a reasonable strategic basis in declining to object; a major aspect of trial counsel’s strategy was to attack the credibility of the child complainants and their susceptibility to coercion by other family members and to point out that the child complainants told many different people about the abuse, which suggested that it was choreographed by manipulative adult family members.

I need not decide whether trial counsel’s failure object to this hearsay evidence lacked a strategic basis and was objectively unreasonable. Any error occasioned by the admission of the hearsay evidence offered by Dr. Coyne was harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence of Campbell’s guilt. Moreover, by the time Dr. Coyne testified, all three complainants had already testified in detail and without significant impeachment regarding the sexual contact. And, trial counsel ultimately elicited from the complainants that each had spoken to various people about how Campbell allegedly had molested them; Dr. Coyne was not the first individual to whom they had spoken. See People v. Clark, 222 A.D.2d 446, 446, 634 N.Y.S.2d 714, 714 (App.Div.2d Dept. 1995) (“Although it was error to allow the treating doctor, during redirect examination, to recite verbatim the victim’s complaints to him, the error was harmless, in light of the overwhelming evidence of guilt and the fact that the defense counsel had already adduced testimony on cross-examination that the victim had complained of sexual abuse and rape[.]”) (citing, inter alia, People v. Knapp, 139 A.D.2d 931, 932, 527 N.Y.S.2d 914, 915 (App.Div. 4th Dept. 1988)) (“The court, however, erred in admitting the details of what the victim said to the doctor who examined her. These statements followed extensive examination and questioning and occurred several hours after the incident. Thus, the statements to the doctor could not be admitted as either a spontaneous declaration, or as a prompt complaint. Hearsay testimony in the nature of a prompt complaint is admissible only to bolster the victim’s credibility in the face of a claim of recent fabrication. The admission of the doctor’s statements, however, was harmless error. The evidence of guilt was overwhelming and inasmuch as the victim’s statements had already been properly admitted through her mother, “there is no significant probability ... that the jury would have acquitted the defendant had it not been for the error.” ”) (quoting People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787 (N.Y.1975) (internal citations omitted)). There is thus is no reasonable probability that the jury would have acquitted Campbell of any of the charges had trial counsel objected, meaning that Campbell cannot satisfy the “prejudice” prong of Strickland.

c. Failure to retain medical expert witness

Campbell contends, as he did in his motion to vacate the judgment pursuant to C.P.L. § 440.10, that trial counsel unreasonably failed to hire an expert witness to counter the prosecution’s expert testimony regarding the medical evidence. He chiefly cites Eze v. Senkowski, 321 F.3d 110 (2d Cir.2003), decided after his conviction became final. He also has submitted two articles reporting the results of empirical studies of prepubertal females who had never been sexually abused, alleged to be helpful to his position. Respondent argues that Campbell’s reliance upon Eze is misplaced, pointing out that it does not stand for the proposition that counsel must present medical evidence in every case of child sexual abuse. Respondent also contends that the articles submitted do not support petitioner’s position.

When Campbell presented this contention in the context of his request for reconsideration of the denial of his 2003 C.P.L. § 440.10 motion, the trial court reviewed the articles in relation to the objective findings in the prosecution’s expert witness’ testimony. The trial court found that the articles did “not undermine the physician’s conclusion that the hymenal membrane of (2)[sic] of the victims was damaged by penetrating trauma.” County Court Order Dated April 6, 2004 Denying C.P.L. § 440.10 Motion at 2. Furthermore, the trial court found that defense counsel successfully elicited from the physician on cross-examination that the hyme-nal membrane could have been damaged by an object other than a penis.

Campbell contends, as he did in support of his C.P.L. § 440.10 motion, that trial counsel was derelict in failing to retain an expert witness to review the medical evidence. See, e.g., Petitioner’s Reply Affidavit dated 1/28/04 in Support of C.P.L. § 440.10 Motion, ¶¶ 15 et seq, However, Campbell has never obtained a supporting affidavit from a physician demonstrating the existence of an expert opinion countering that offered by Dr. Coyne. See Murden v. Artuz, 253 F.Supp.2d 376, 389 (E.D.N.Y.2001) (dismissing claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel based on the failure to retain an expert witness where petitioner failed to introduce affidavit from potential expert witness). In support of this contention, Campbell relies only upon Eze v. Senkowski, 321 F.3d 110, and several journal articles, copies of which he submitted to the C.P.L. § 440.10 motion court. See Petition (Dkt.# 1); Exhibits E & F to Petitioner’s Reply Affidavit dated 1/28/04 in Support of C.P.L. § 440.10 Motion.

As respondent points out, neither the Second Circuit nor the Supreme Court has ever ruled that in every case involving allegations of child sexual abuse, trial counsel is constitutionally obligated to present medical evidence through an expert witness. See Resp’t Mem. at 15-16 (Dkt.# 10); see also Gersten v. Senkowski, 426 F.3d 588, 609 (2d Cir.2005) (“As the district court correctly noted, ‘[tjhere is no per se rule that requires trial attorneys to seek out an expert.’ We do not ... mean to hold that expert consultation is always necessary in order to provide effective assistance of counsel in child sexual abuse cases (internal quotation omitted; alteration in original).

Eze v. Senkowski, 321 F.3d at 110, upon which Campbell principally relies, is distinguishable. In Eze, the two female victims were the petitioner’s nieces. According to the prosecution, the girls were subjected to brutal sexual abuse by various perpetrators acting alone and at times in concert— their father; a woman who apparently was the father’s girlfriend; and petitioner, who was the girls’ uncle. The Eze panel identified eight deficiencies in counsel’s representation which required remanding the case for an evidentiary hearing in district court. Of particular concern to the Second Circuit was trial counsel’s failure to introduce a past medical record of one of the victims, evidence “crucial” to demonstrating that the physical condition of her hymen pre-dated the alleged abuse. See Eze, 321 F.3d at 126-27. In addition to this “significant dereliction,” the Second Circuit found that trial counsel ignored a key inconsistency in the victim’s testimony that would have severely undercut the children’s credibility — namely, that during a social worker’s interview, both victims said that they wanted to see the petitioner, their uncle, because they wanted to ask them if he knew about what their father did to them. The Second Circuit found that this was significant, potentially exculpatory evidence, and that the failure to introduce this compounded the error that had been caused when the prosecution’s medical expert improperly vouched for the two girls by testifying that “[i]n the medical literature ... statements made by the child regarding their own sexual abuse have the most weight.” Id. at 133.

Here, in contrast, Campbell has not demonstrated that there were any previous medical records containing additional potentially exculpatory or impeaching evidence, such as existed in Eze. Significantly, there was nothing whatever to indicate that Shanna’s physical condition pre-exist-ed the alleged abuse. With regard to Sha-kia, defense counsel elicited that she recalled her nine-year-old cousin Quentin “humping” her. Shamika’s medical findings were the most inconclusive as only scar tissue was found, but defense counsel elicited from that she also had been raped and sodomized by her “uncle DC”. Thus, trial counsel used the available evidence to advance petitioner’s defense theory that someone else was responsible for the alleged abuse. Furthermore, unlike the prosecution’s expert in Eze, Dr. Coyne did not testify that the medical literature directed that the child victim’s subjective statements carry the most weight in determining whether there has been sexual abuse. Compare with Eze, 321 F.3d at 133.

Campbell’s case presents further dissimilarities to Eze, where trial counsel failed to challenge the prosecution’s expert’s opinion regarding the significance of the enlarged hymenal openings found in the two victims — a conclusion that petitioner Eze was able to demonstrate had been subject to much criticism by other physicians. Eze, 321 F.3d at 127-28. Here, in contrast, none of the three children had an enlarged hymenal opening. Rather, Dr. Coyne found, Shanna and Shakia had a gap or cleft in the hymenal ring that “was right down to the vaginal wall.” One gap occurred at the 5:80 to 7:80 position; the other at 5:80. It was these findings— which were indicative of penetrating trauma to the child’s genitals — that were most significant to Dr. Coyne.

In particular, Campbell has not asserted that an expert could or would have testified that the hymenal clefts or gaps found in Shakia and Shanna occurs naturally in children or can result from something other than penetrating trauma. In fact, the articles submitted by Campbell actually contradict any such assertion. One article reported that such clefts rarely exist naturally in a child’s hymenal ring; when they do, it is above the 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock midline. No hymenal clefts were found between the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions in infant girls up to the age of one year who had not been sexually abused. Berenson, A.B., Appearance of the Hymen at Birth and One Year of Age: a Longitudinal Study, 91 J. Pediatrics 820-25 (1993). As noted above, the clefts found in Shanna and Shakia were between the 5:30 and 7:30 position. In another article submitted by Campbell, the same doctor documented the genital anatomy of 211 girls, between the ages of one month and seven years, who had no history of having been sexually abused. Berenson, A.B., et al., Appearance of the Hymen in Prepubertal Girls, 89 J. Pediatrics 387, 394 (1992). Although the researchers occasionally found hymenal notches or clefts on the top and sides of the hymenal rim (i.e., above the 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock midline) in the study subjects, they did not find any notches in the lower half of the hymenal rim. See also Gardner, J.J., Descriptive study of genital variation in healthy, non-abused, premenarchal girls, 120 J. Pediatrics, 251, 255 (1992) (“Notches of the hymen [defined as perpendicular disruptions of the hymenal skin penetrating the vaginal mucosa] were rare, occurring in only two girls.”) (internal quotation and footnote omitted).

As respondent notes, even without the assistance of a medical expert, defense counsel for Campbell obtained a concession from Dr. Coyne that his objective physical findings was “consistent with some penetrating trauma to [Shanna and Shakia] but [he] couldn’t tell you from what.” T.233. Trial counsel elicited from Dr. Coyne that he could not state to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that any of the claimants had been sexually abused.

d. Failure to obtain addresses of child victims

Campbell also faults trial counsel for failing to obtain the addresses of the child complainants. This appears to be a reiteration of his argument that the abuse could not have occurred because Shanna and Shakia were in Florida. Defense counsel did pursue this avenue through his questioning of the defense witnesses about who was living at 60 Humason and when. However, petitioner’s allegations about what trial counsel allegedly would have discovered about the children’s addresses was belied to a large extent by the defense witnesses’ testimony. Petitioner, who was staying at 60 Humason throughout the time during which the offenses were alleged to have occurred, could not establish that he lacked access to Shanna and Sha-kia before they went to Florida. There is no question that petitioner had custody of Shanna and she resided at 60 Humason. Petitioner attempts to create an issue about when Shakia and her mother and aunt moved into 60 Humason and who was using which bedroom. However, these arguments are a smokescreen; the fact remains that Campbell had plenty of unlimited access to all three of the victims, two of whom (Shanna and Shakia) testified that the abuse occurred before the family trip to Florida. Moreover, Shamika stayed in Buffalo at 60 Humason while the family was gone, giving Campbell many opportunities to be alone with her. Trial counsel did the best he could with a set of facts that did not in any way favor an alibi defense.

3. Other Bases of Alleged Ineffectiveness

Campbell has raised additional grounds of alleged ineffectiveness on trial counsel’s part in his Affidavit (Dkt.# 4). Essentially, Campbell argues that the statutory pay rate his assigned counsel received inevitably resulted in low-quality representation, stating that he was

denied of the effective assistance of counsel, due process, and equal protection of law by the unconstitutional pay-structure of the assigned-counsel program, as it existed at the time of his representation, as it affected the performance of his assigned counsel.

Pet’r Aff., ¶ 212 (Dkt.# 4). This claim is specious. The only basis for Campbell’s claim is his personal dissatisfaction with the outcome of his trial — not any objective evidence that trial counsel performed in a sub-par manner because he was paid less than his typical hourly rate under the County’s assigned counsel program for indigent defendants. To the contrary, Campbell’s trial counsel zealously represented his interests and performed competently at pre-trial and trial proceedings. This claim is accordingly dismissed as lacking in a factual basis.

Next, Campbell asserts a number of additional flaws in trial counsel’s performance, arguing that his attorney

failed to act as counsel guaranteed by the constitution when he [1] failed to investigate into the truthfullness [sic] of the indictment, [2] ascertain the residences of the victims, [3] advise the defendant relative to exercising the right to testify in the grand jury, [4] failed to raise constitutional challenges to the questioning and arrest of the defendant, [5] failed to move for a trial order of dismissal directed at specific evidentiary deficiencies, [6] failed to make demands for Rosario material, or other issues to protect the record for appellate review.

Pet’r Aff., ¶ 212; see also ¶211 (Dkt.# 4). Campbell has failed to substantiate any of these allegations of error. First, trial counsel demanded and received from the prosecutor a bill of particulars amplifying the substance of the offenses charged in the indictment. Trial counsel also moved for inspection and disclosure of the grand jury minutes; this was denied by the trial court, which found that the evidence submitted to the grand jury was legally sufficient to support the indictment. Second, the contention regarding counsel’s alleged failure to ascertain the addresses of the child complainants’ residences was addressed above in this Decision and Order. Third, even assuming the truth of his unsupported allegation that trial counsel failed to advise him of his New York state statutory right to testify before the grand jury, Campbell cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced thereby. This is because the petit jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a higher standard of proof than the “probable cause” standard employed by the grand jury in determining whether to indict. Fourth, Campbell has wholly failed to identify the “constitutional challenges to [his] questioning and arrest” that trial counsel purportedly should have made, and accordingly cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to make motions, the substance of which is entirely speculative. Fifth, Campbell has not identified the “specific evidentiary deficiencies” in the prosecution’s case against which he believes a trial order of dismissal would have been successful and, again, has failed to demonstrate prejudice. Trial counsel did succeed in obtaining dismissal of three of the sodomy counts about which the complainant failed to offer testimony. With regard to the remaining charges in the indictment submitted to the jury the evidence was much more than legally sufficient to justify the finding of guilty. Sixth, and finally, Campbell’s claim of a New York state-law discovery violation under People v. Roscmo based on the failure to turn over alleged videotaped grand jury testimony of the child victims is factually unsupported since there was no videotaped testimony taken of them.

4. Cumulative Error

Taken singly or together, none of the alleged inadequacies on the part of trial counsel amount to constitutionally ineffective representation. After reviewing trial record in its entirety, the Court is convinced that there is no reasonable possibility that the outcome of Campbell’s trial would have been different had defense counsel taken the actions Campbell believes he should have taken. Campbell’s allegations of ineffective assistance amount to nothing more than disgruntled carping and do not present a basis for habeas relief. Accordingly, they are dismissed.

B. Allegations of Prosecutorial Misconduct

Under “Ground two” of the form Petition, Campbell has written the following:

THE CONDUCT OF THE PROSECUTOR DENIED THE DEFENDANT OF A FAIR TRIAL. [1] The Prosecutor lied to the Grand Jury concerning the dates of the crimes perposely [sic] exaggerated [sic] the alleged time frames; [2] threatened defense witnesses with prosecution if they took the stand; [3] coached witnesses [sic] testimony, [4] made an improper summation and other matters related in the petitioner [sic] attachment: Background Facts.

Pet. at 8, ¶ 22B (Dkt.# 1); see also Pet’r Aff., ¶ 214 (Dkt.# 4) (“Whether the defendant was denied a fair trial and due process by prosecutorial misconduct before and during trial and during her summation.”). As discussed below, the first claim is not cognizable on habeas review. I agree with respondent that the second, third, and fourth claims of error by the prosecutor have not been properly exhausted, but must be “deemed” exhausted and procedurally barred from habeas review.

1. The claim alleging prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury is not cognizable on federal habeas review.

Not only has Campbell failed to adduce any credible evidence in support of his claim that the prosecutor “lied to the Grand Jury,” the claim itself is not cognizable in this federal habeas proceeding. The verdict of guilty by the petit jury at Campbell’s trial necessarily renders any irregularities before the grand jury harmless as it establishes not only that there existed probable cause to indict him, but also that the defendant is “in fact guilty as charged beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Mechanik, 475 U.S. 66, 68, 106 S.Ct. 938, 89 L.Ed.2d 50 (1986); Lopez v. Riley, 865 F.2d 30, 32 (2d Cir.1989) (holding that habeas petitioner’s “claims of impropriety before the grand jury in this case concerning] the sufficiency of the evidence, a failure to develop exculpatory evidence by the prosecutor, the presentation of prejudicial evidence and error in explaining the law” ... were “cured in the trial before the petit jury, which convicted”). Accordingly, this claim is not cognizable on habeas review and it is dismissed.

2. The claims that the prosecutor threatened defense witnesses with criminal charges, “coached” witnesses, and committed misconduct during summation are procedurally defaulted.

Campbell presented the above-listed claims involving alleged prosecutorial misconduct in “Point III” of his pro se supplemental brief on direct appeal-specifically, that the “prosecutor’s conduct, by improperly denigrating the defense during her summation, vouching for the credibility of the state’s witnesses, threatening defense witnesses with prosecution, and abusing her office’s authority denied the defendant the right to a fair trial.” See Petitioner’s Pro Se Supplemental Appellate Brief at 2, 31-32, Resp’t Ex. A; see also id. at 33-35, Resp’t Ex. A. Trial counsel did not object during the summation, but he “noted for the record” that he believed that the prosecutor had made improper commentary. Trial counsel confirmed, however, that he was not seeking any particular relief from the trial court in this regard. Then, counsel at sentencing asserted a claim of prosecutorial misconduct in support of the C.P.L. § 330.30 motion to set aside the verdict. The trial judge ruled from the bench that the prosecutor’s comments were fair comment on the evidence and not objectionable.

Subsequently, on direct appeal, the Appellate Division declined to address the “contentions concerning allege