Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: DONTE W., A Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant. Presentment Agency.
Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Sidney Gribetz, J.), entered on or about July 6, 2011, which adjudicated appellant a juvenile delinquent upon a fact-finding determination that he committed an act that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of attempted assault in the third degree, and placed him with the Office of Children and Family Services for a period of 12 months, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court's finding was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348–349 [2007] ). There is no basis for disturbing the court's determinations concerning credibility. The evidence supports the inference that appellant, while acting in concert with other persons, attacked the victim with the intent to injure him.
Appellant challenges a 911 call, in which a nontestifying declarant describes the ongoing incident and refers to appellant by name, as violating his right of confrontation and his right to notice of an identification procedure. Initially, we note that the court struck from evidence the reference to appellant, and that a judge sitting as trier of fact is presumed capable of disregarding inadmissible evidence (see People v. Moreno, 70 N.Y.2d 403, 405–406 [1987] ). In any event, there was no Confrontation Clause violation because the call was made “to enable police assistance to meet an ongoing emergency” (Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 822 [2006] ), and there was no need for notice under Family Court Act § 330.2(2) because there was no identification within the meaning of CPL 710.30(1)(b) (see People v. Irick, 145 A.D.2d 507, 535 N.Y.S.2d 446 [2d Dept 1988], lv denied 73 N.Y.2d 978 [1989] ). Moreover, the reference to appellant on the tape was cumulative to other evidence.
The placement was a proper exercise of the court's discretion, and it constituted the least restrictive alternative consistent with appellant's needs and best interests and the community's need for protection (see Matter of Katherine W., 62 N.Y.2d 947 [1984] ).
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: October 09, 2012
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)