PEOPLE v. PRUITT (2006)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Nassau County (DeRiggi, J.), rendered March 14, 2001, convicting him of rape in the first degree and sexual abuse in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The County Court's Sandoval ruling (see People v. Sandoval, 34 N.Y.2d 371, 378, 357 N.Y.S.2d 849, 314 N.E.2d 413) was a provident exercise of its discretion (see People v. Mitchell, 298 A.D.2d 602, 748 N.Y.S.2d 689;  People v. Williams, 292 A.D.2d 474, 475, 740 N.Y.S.2d 348).

 The County Court properly admitted the testimony of the People's expert witness, as it was based on his specialized knowledge and was helpful in aiding the jury to reach its verdict (see People v. Brown, 97 N.Y.2d 500, 505, 743 N.Y.S.2d 374, 769 N.E.2d 1266;  People v. Cronin, 60 N.Y.2d 430, 433, 470 N.Y.S.2d 110, 458 N.E.2d 351).

 Additionally, the defendant was not unduly prejudiced by the fact that he was shackled during his testimony.   The court placed a paper wrapping around the desk where the defendant testified so that his waist and hands were not visible to the jurors (see People v. Bailey, 205 A.D.2d 789, 613 N.Y.S.2d 692;  People v. Tedesco, 143 A.D.2d 155, 159, 531 N.Y.S.2d 609).   In any event, it was the defendant's own violent behavior which made it necessary that he be shackled, and the court minimized any potential prejudice by issuing the appropriate instruction to the jury (see People v. Benito, 256 A.D.2d 221, 683 N.Y.S.2d 27, lv. denied 93 N.Y.2d 850, 688 N.Y.S.2d 498, 710 N.E.2d 1097, cert. denied 528 U.S. 810, 120 S.Ct. 42, 145 L.Ed.2d 38;  People v. Bailey, supra).

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.   Moreover, upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Castaldi, 24 A.D.3d 567, 806 N.Y.S.2d 684).

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.