IN RE: JOLENE “SS” 1 et al. (1998)

Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Rensselaer County (Hummel, J.), entered March 19, 1997, which granted petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, to adjudicate respondent's children to be abused and/or neglected.

Respondent is the stepfather of Regina (born in 1982) and the biological father of Jolene (born in 1987) and Joel (born in 1987).   Until May 1996, respondent resided in the City of Troy, Rensselaer County, with the children and his wife.   In May 1996, Regina reported to police that she had been raped by respondent.   This resulted in petitioner, inter alia, filing a child abuse and neglect petition against respondent and his wife.   A fact-finding hearing was conducted before Family Court in November 1996.²  During the hearing, respondent called Regina to testify and due to her reluctance to have respondent present during her testimony, he left the courtroom.   Following the hearing, Family Court determined that Regina was an abused child and Jolene and Joel were neglected children.   A dispositional order was entered placing the children in petitioner's custody for one year.   Respondent appeals.

 Respondent contends that he was denied his constitutional right to confront witnesses at the hearing by his exclusion from the courtroom during Regina's testimony.   We disagree.   The transcript discloses that, after conferring with counsel, respondent voluntarily agreed to leave the courtroom in order to encourage Regina to testify after petitioner had rested.   Under the circumstances, we find that he waived his right to be present during her testimony (see generally, Matter of Christina F., 135 Misc.2d 495, 496, 516 N.Y.S.2d 383, affd. 147 A.D.2d 942, 538 N.Y.S.2d 738, affd. 74 N.Y.2d 532, 549 N.Y.S.2d 643, 548 N.E.2d 1294;  cf., Matter of Daniel A.D., 49 N.Y.2d 788, 790, 426 N.Y.S.2d 729, 403 N.E.2d 451).   Furthermore, inasmuch as respondent's attorney was present during Regina's testimony and questioned her on respondent's behalf, we do not find that respondent's due process rights were violated (see, Matter of Falon P. [Angel P.], 250 A.D.2d 497, 672 N.Y.S.2d 877;  Matter of Heather J. [Bruce L.], 244 A.D.2d 762, 763, 666 N.Y.S.2d 213, 215).   Nor do we find the consent given by respondent's attorney to respondent's absence from the courtroom during Regina's testimony a basis for concluding that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel (see, Matter of Matthew C. [Donna C.], 227 A.D.2d 679, 682-683, 641 N.Y.S.2d 753;  Matter of Donna K., 132 A.D.2d 1004, 1005, 518 N.Y.S.2d 289).   Therefore, we find no reason to disturb Family Court's order.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.

FOOTNOTES

2.   The allegations against respondent's wife were resolved prior to the hearing.

CARDONA, Presiding Justice.

MIKOLL, J.P., and CREW, WHITE and CARPINELLO, JJ., concur.