PEOPLE v. CASTELLANOS (2009)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (Peck, J.), rendered July 10, 2006, convicting him of criminal sexual act in the first degree and sexual abuse in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.   The appeal brings up for review the denial, after a hearing (Ayres, J.), of that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress his statements to law enforcement officials.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 The defendant contends that there was no probable cause to arrest him and that his statements to law enforcement officials were involuntarily made.   Contrary to the defendant's contention, the hearing court properly denied that branch of his omnibus motion which was to suppress his incriminating statements to law enforcement officials, since the evidence presented by the People demonstrated that the police had probable cause to arrest him (see CPL 140.10[1][b];  People v. Bigelow, 66 N.Y.2d 417, 423, 497 N.Y.S.2d 630, 488 N.E.2d 451).   Moreover, the hearing court properly determined that the defendant's statements to law enforcement officials were voluntarily made after a valid waiver of his Miranda rights (see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694).   Although there was a ruse, there was no credible evidence that the detectives threatened or coerced the defendant (see People v. Tarsia, 67 A.D.2d 210, 212, 415 N.Y.S.2d 120, affd. 50 N.Y.2d 1, 11, 427 N.Y.S.2d 944, 405 N.E.2d 188;  People v. Francis, 49 A.D.3d 552, 552-553, 853 N.Y.S.2d 366;  People v. Berumen, 46 A.D.3d 1019, 1020-1021, 846 N.Y.S.2d 820;  People v. Knudsen, 34 A.D.3d 496, 497, 823 N.Y.S.2d 530).   The defendant improperly relies upon his own trial testimony in support of his contention that his statements were involuntarily made and the product of threats of physical harm (see Matter of Felix D., 30 A.D.3d 598, 599, 818 N.Y.S.2d 142;  People v. Kocowicz, 281 A.D.2d 643, 643, 722 N.Y.S.2d 256).

 To the extent that the defendant contends that the verdict was legally insufficient because the testimony of the victim was incredible as a matter of law (see People v. Gruttola, 43 N.Y.2d 116, 122, 400 N.Y.S.2d 788, 371 N.E.2d 506), that contention is unpreserved for appellate review, as it was not raised before the County Court (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Hawkins, 11 N.Y.3d 484, 872 N.Y.S.2d 395, 900 N.E.2d 946).   In any event, 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 the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.   In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5];  People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe their demeanor (see 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;  People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).   Upon reviewing the record here, 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).

 Contrary to the defendant's contention, the County Court providently exercised its discretion in determining that the six-year-old complainant was competent to give unsworn testimony.   The examination of the child revealed that he knew the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie, promised to tell the truth, and indicated that he would be punished by his mother and by God if he lied (see CPL 60.20[2];  cf. People v. Mendoza, 49 A.D.3d 559, 853 N.Y.S.2d 364;  People v. McIver, 15 A.D.3d 677, 678, 791 N.Y.S.2d 587).

 Nor was the defendant deprived of his right of confrontation when the court curtailed defense counsel's cross-examination of a police detective and the People's medical expert.  “[C]urtailment [of cross-examination] will be judged improper when it keeps from the jury relevant and important facts bearing on the trustworthiness of crucial testimony” (People v. Ashner, 190 A.D.2d 238, 247, 597 N.Y.S.2d 975).   Here, the County Court's ruling was proper in all respects (see CPL 260.30[7];  People v. Harris, 98 N.Y.2d 452, 489-490, 749 N.Y.S.2d 766, 779 N.E.2d 705;  People v. Boyce, 54 A.D.3d 1052, 866 N.Y.S.2d 203).

 The County Court properly permitted the victim's father to testify as to the victim's accusations against the defendant and the defendant's response, as those statements were admissible as an admission against interest (see People v. Ragin, 224 A.D.2d 642, 638 N.Y.S.2d 693;  Prince, Richardson on Evidence § 8-251 [Farrell 11th ed.] ).   The defendant contends that the County Court erred in permitting the victim's mother to testify as to the victim's accusations against him.   However, any error in permitting that testimony was harmless, as there was overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt, and no significant probability that the error contributed to his convictions (see People v. Crimmins, 36 N.Y.2d 230, 241-242, 367 N.Y.S.2d 213, 326 N.E.2d 787).

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.