The People, etc., respondent, v. Julio Rodriguez–Rodriguez, appellant. (2026)

Submitted—March 9, 2026

DECISION & ORDER

A/

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Rockland County (Sherri L. Eisenpress, J.), rendered October 1, 2024, convicting him of course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree, sexual abuse in the third degree, and endangering the welfare of a child (two counts), after a nonjury trial, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his contention that he was deprived of his right to fair trial by the Supreme Court's reliance on evidence outside of the record in rendering its verdict (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Lostumbo, 182 AD3d 1007, 1009).  In any event, any errors were not so pervasive or egregious as to deprive the defendant of his right to a fair trial (see People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 242;  People v. Weinberg, 75 AD3d 612, 614;  People v. Torres, 1 AD3d 621, 621).  “[W]here, as here, a case is tried without a jury, absent a showing of prejudice, the [court] is presumed to have considered only competent evidence adduced at trial in reaching the verdict” (People v. Bradshaw, 210 AD3d 44, 52 [internal quotation marks omitted];  see People v. Johnson, 194 AD3d 1072, 1073;  People v. Dyson, 169 AD3d 917, 918;  People v. Smith, 163 AD3d 1004, 1004–1005;  People v. Terranova, 147 AD3d 1086, 1088).

The defendant's contention that he was deprived of his right to a fair trial by the Supreme Court admitting hearsay statements that did not fall within any exceptions is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ) and, in any event, without merit.  As a general rule, “ ‘evidence that a victim of sexual assault promptly complained about the incident is admissible to corroborate the allegation that an assault took place’ ” (People v. Rosario, 17 NY3d 501, 511, quoting People v. McDaniel, 81 N.Y.2d 10, 16;  see People v. Gross, 172 AD3d 741, 743).  A victim's outcry is prompt if it is made “ ‘at the first suitable opportunity’ ” (People v. McDaniel, 81 N.Y.2d at 17, quoting People v. O'Sullivan, 104 N.Y. 481, 486), which is “a relative concept dependent on the facts—what might qualify as prompt in one case might not in another” (id.;  see People v. Rosario, 17 NY3d at 512–513;  People v. Gross, 172 AD3d at 743;  People v. Evangelista, 155 AD3d 972).  Here, the complainant's outcries were prompt since the complainant made them while the abuse was ongoing (see People v. Rosario, 17 NY3d at 515;  People v. Chin, 205 AD3d 819, 820;  People v. Gross, 172 AD3d at 743).  The testimony regarding the complainant's outcry “did not exceed the allowable level of detail” (People v. McDaniel, 81 N.Y.2d at 18).

The defendant's contention that he was deprived of his right to a fair trial by the Supreme Court's participation in questioning the trial witnesses is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ) and, in any event, without merit.  The majority of the court's interjections during the trial were to clarify confusing answers given by the witnesses (see People v. Reid, 198 AD3d 819, 820;  People v. Todd, 306 A.D.2d 504, 505), and the record as a whole demonstrates that the court was impartial and not biased against the defendant (see People v. Reid, 198 AD3d at 820;  People v. Ojeda, 118 AD3d 919, 919).

DILLON, J.P., FORD, VOUTSINAS and MCCORMACK, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Darrell M. Joseph

Clerk of the Court