PEOPLE v. WALKER (2018)

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (David P. Sullivan, J.), rendered May 19, 2016, convicting him of assault in the second degree (four counts) and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence is preserved for appellate review only to the extent that he contends that the evidence failed to prove that he intentionally or recklessly assaulted the complainants by pushing them into hot barbecue coals (see CPL 470.05[2] ).  In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant's guilt of four counts of assault in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 120.05[2], [3], [4], [6] ) and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law § 265.02[1] ).  Moreover, 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, 349, 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;  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, 644–645, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial is without merit.  The possibility that jurors may have briefly and inadvertently viewed the defendant in handcuffs does not, by itself, constitute reversible error (see People v. Harper, 47 N.Y.2d 857, 419 N.Y.S.2d 61, 392 N.E.2d 1244;  People v. Anderson, 175 A.D.2d 806, 807, 573 N.Y.S.2d 288;  People v. Sharpe, 166 A.D.2d 620, 623, 560 N.Y.S.2d 905;  People v. Walker, 139 A.D.2d 546, 526 N.Y.S.2d 856).  Moreover, the defendant's contention regarding the court's curative instruction as to this issue is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Patrick, 102 A.D.3d 892, 958 N.Y.S.2d 210;  People v. James, 35 A.D.3d 762, 825 N.Y.S.2d 776;  People v. Velasquez, 141 A.D.2d 882, 530 N.Y.S.2d 208).  In any event, the instruction was proper.

The defendant's remaining contention is without merit.

MASTRO, J.P., LEVENTHAL, BARROS and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.