IN RE: RONDA E.F. (2016)

Order, Family Court, New York County (Mary E. Bednar, J.), entered on or about September 18, 2014, which, upon confirmation of the Support Magistrate's finding of willfulness, sentenced respondent Leroy M.C. to incarceration for a period of four months with a purge amount set at $20,000, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Respondent failed to present credible evidence of his inability to make the required payments to provide support for the subject child (see Matter of Powers v. Powers, 86 N.Y.2d 63, 68–70 [1995]; Matter of John T. v. Olethea P., 64 AD3d 484, 485 [1st Dept 2009] ).

Contrary to respondent's argument, improperly raised for the first time on appeal, the Support Magistrate did not assume the appearance of an advocate for the petitioner during the proceedings. Rather, the Magistrate fulfilled a “vital role in clarifying confusing testimony and facilitating the orderly and expeditious progress of the trial” (Matter of Carlos S., 5 AD3d 1051, 1052 [2004], lv denied 2 NY3d 707 [2004] ).