THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. APPEAL NO (2013)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

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

Memorandum:  In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a nonjury verdict of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15[3] ) and, in appeal No. 2, he appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of robbery in the first degree (§ 160.15[3] ) and robbery in the third degree (§ 160.05).   Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crime in the nonjury trial in appeal No. 1 (see People v. Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495).   The victim and another witness testified that defendant brandished a long kitchen knife while fleeing from the robbery.   Although defendant testified that he neither brandished a knife nor had one on his person during or in immediate flight from the robbery, it is well settled that “[g]reat deference is to be accorded to the [factfinder's] resolution of credibility issues based upon its superior vantage point and its opportunity to view witnesses, observe demeanor and hear the testimony” (People v. Aikey, 94 AD3d 1485, 1486, lv denied 19 NY3d 956 [internal quotation marks omitted] ).   We see no basis to disturb County Court's credibility determinations (see People v. Maxwell, 103 AD3d 1239, 1240).

Defendant contends that, if this Court reverses the judgment of conviction in appeal No. 1, then we should likewise reverse the judgment of conviction in appeal No. 2. We affirm the judgment in appeal No. 2, however, in view of our determination in appeal No. 1 (cf.  People v. Baker, 20 NY3d 354, 364).

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court