PEOPLE v. ZOLLO (2008)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Jaeger, J.), rendered January 5, 2007, convicting him of criminal contempt in the first degree, after a nonjury trial, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

Contrary to the defendant's contention, the County Court properly allowed evidence of certain bad acts and uncharged crimes, which were based on violations of a prior order of protection issued in favor of the complainant, since such evidence was directly relevant to the issue of the defendant's intent and motive, and its probative value outweighed its potential for prejudice (see People v. Alvino, 71 N.Y.2d 233, 525 N.Y.S.2d 7, 519 N.E.2d 808;  People v. Flores, 40 A.D.3d 876, 836 N.Y.S.2d 273;  People v. Woodson, 31 A.D.3d 678, 818 N.Y.S.2d 295;  People v. Hanson, 30 A.D.3d 537, 818 N.Y.S.2d 128).   Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant committed the crime of criminal contempt in the first degree with the requisite criminal intent (see Penal Law §§ 215.50, 215.51).   Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power (see CPL 470.15[5] ), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v. McDonald, 287 A.D.2d 655, 732 N.Y.S.2d 32;  People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675).