PEOPLE v. AZIZ (2019)

Judgment of conviction (Ann E. Scherzer, J.), rendered, September 6, 2017, affirmed.

The verdict convicting the defendant of two counts of sexual abuse in the third degree (see Penal Law § 130.55) was supported by legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342 [2007]). There is no basis for disturbing the court's determination concerning credibility. The credited testimony of two plain-clothes police officers established that on two separate occasions, defendant positioned himself directly behind young teenage girls, strangers to him, as they were observing the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center, and repeatedly pressed his groin against the victims' buttocks until they moved away. The trial court could rationally infer that defendant engaged in “sexual contact” when he touched the victims' buttocks and that such touching was “for the purpose of gratifying [defendant's] sexual desire” (Penal Law § 130.00[3]; People v Williams, 94 AD3d 1555 [2012]).

Per Curiam.