Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: JAMEL G. (Anonymous), appellant.
In a juvenile delinquency proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 3, the appeal is from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Weinstein, J.), dated May 31, 2007, which, upon a fact-finding order of the same court dated March 13, 2007, made after a hearing, finding that the appellant committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes of robbery in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, attempted assault in the third degree (three counts), and menacing in the third degree (three counts), adjudged him to be a juvenile delinquent and placed him on probation for a period of 18 months subject to certain conditions. The appeal brings up for review the fact-finding order dated March 13, 2007, and the denial of that branch of the appellant's omnibus motion which was to suppress identification testimony.
ORDERED that the order of disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Contrary to the appellant's contention, the presentment agency met its initial burden of demonstrating that the identification procedure was reasonable and not unduly suggestive by presenting testimony that the identification was spontaneous and occurred in close spatial and temporal proximity to the offense (see Matter of Kassan D., 282 A.D.2d 747, 724 N.Y.S.2d 334). Moreover, the appellant offered no proof of any unduly suggestive police conduct (cf. People v. Chipp, 75 N.Y.2d 327, 553 N.Y.S.2d 72, 552 N.E.2d 608, cert. denied 498 U.S. 833, 111 S.Ct. 99, 112 L.Ed.2d 70).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the presentment agency (see Matter of David H., 69 N.Y.2d 792, 793, 513 N.Y.S.2d 111, 505 N.E.2d 621), we find that the identification evidence was legally sufficient to support the findings that the appellant committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes of robbery in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, attempted assault in the third degree, and menacing in the third degree (cf. People v. Gonzalez, 3 A.D.3d 579, 770 N.Y.S.2d 661). The discrepancies and inconsistencies in the identification testimony were not of such a magnitude as to render that testimony incredible or unreliable as a matter of law (see Matter of Christian M., 37 A.D.3d 834, 831 N.Y.S.2d 247; Matter of Nikkia C., 187 A.D.2d 581, 590 N.Y.S.2d 129). Such discrepancies and inconsistencies are matters to be considered by the finder of fact in assessing a witness's credibility (see Matter of Christian M., 37 A.D.3d 834, 831 N.Y.S.2d 247). Resolution of issues of credibility is primarily a matter to be determined by the finder of fact, which saw and heard the witnesses, and its determination should be accorded great deference on appeal (see Matter of Ryan W., 143 A.D.2d 435, 532 N.Y.S.2d 575; cf. People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 644-645, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902; People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053, cert. denied 542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828). Upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the findings of fact were not against the weight of the evidence (see Matter of Ryan W., 143 A.D.2d 435, 532 N.Y.S.2d 575; cf. People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).
The Family Court has broad discretion in entering dispositional orders (see Family Ct. Act § 141). Based upon the nature of the incident, the recommendations made in the probation report and mental health report, the appellant's poor record of attendance and performance in school, the appellant's association with friends who were in a gang and were a negative influence on him, and the appellant's disciplinary history in school including two suspensions, one of which was for hitting a teacher, the Family Court properly found that the “least restrictive [dispositional] alternative” was probation supervision for a period of 18 months (see Family Ct. Act § 352.2[2] [a]; see Matter of Melissa B. 49 A.D.3d 536, 853 N.Y.S.2d 586; Matter of Oneil D., 35 A.D.3d 602, 824 N.Y.S.2d 743; Matter of Cindy A., 31 A.D.3d 440, 817 N.Y.S.2d 662; Matter of Leah G., 23 A.D.3d 658, 805 N.Y.S.2d 405; Matter of Rosario S., 18 A.D.3d 563, 795 N.Y.S.2d 79; Matter of Antonio C., 294 A.D.2d 123, 741 N.Y.S.2d 520).
The appellant's remaining contention is unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, is without merit.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: May 20, 2008
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)