PEOPLE v. SOMMERVILLE (2006)

Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon a jury verdict, of three counts each of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120. 05[2] ) and endangering the welfare of a child (§ 260.10[1] ), and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (§ 265.01[2] ).   Although we agree with defendant that County Court erred in admitting the opinion testimony of child protective workers concerning the demeanor of the victims and defendant when they were interviewed prior to trial (see People v. Ciaccio, 47 N.Y.2d 431, 439, 418 N.Y.S.2d 371, 391 N.E.2d 1347), we conclude that any error in the admission of that testimony is harmless.   The victims and defendant testified at trial, thus providing the jury with its own opportunity to assess the veracity and demeanor of the victims and defendant.   We conclude that there is no significant probability that the jury would have acquitted defendant but for the error in the admission of that testimony (see generally People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241-242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787).

We reject the further contention of defendant that the court erred in allowing the People to present evidence at trial that was beyond the scope of their bill of particulars and the evidence presented to the grand jury.   The record establishes that the charges for which defendant was tried were sufficiently set forth in the People's amended bill of particulars and that the information therein was presented to the grand jury such that the theory of the prosecution did not change at trial (see People v. Greaves, 1 A.D.3d 979, 980, 767 N.Y.S.2d 530;  see also People v. Rivera, 22 A.D.3d 888, 889, 802 N.Y.S.2d 540, lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 780, 811 N.Y.S.2d 347, 844 N.E.2d 802).   We reject defendant's further contention that the court erred in admitting evidence of defendant's prior abusive conduct toward the victims (see People v. Cook, 251 A.D.2d 1033, 1034, 675 N.Y.S.2d 268, affd. 93 N.Y.2d 840, 688 N.Y.S.2d 89, 710 N.E.2d 654).   Defendant did not preserve for our review his contention that the court erred in failing to give a limiting instruction with respect to that Molineux evidence and, in any event, any error in the court's failure to give a limiting instruction is harmless (see People v. Ward, 10 A.D.3d 805, 807, 782 N.Y.S.2d 158, lv. denied 4 N.Y.3d 768, 792 N.Y.S.2d 12, 825 N.E.2d 144).   Also contrary to the contention of defendant, he received effective assistance of counsel (see generally People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400).   Defendant did not preserve for our review his contention that the evidence is legally insufficient to sustain the conviction of assault in the second degree (see People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 19, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919) and, in any event, we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient to establish that the respective victims experienced substantial pain in connection with the injuries inflicted by defendant (see Penal Law § 10.00[9] ).   Finally, the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672), and the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: