PEOPLE v. MANDES (2019)

DECISION & ORDER

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence, raised in his main brief, is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Hawkins, 11 N.Y.3d 484, 492, 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, 621, 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, 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 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, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

The defendant contends in his main brief that certain testimony from the sister, the mother, and the father of the victims regarding the circumstances surrounding one of the victim's outcry and the events leading to the criminal investigation, as well as testimony from a detective regarding the defendant's arrest, constituted improper bolstering.  This contention is only partially preserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ).  In any event, the defendant's contention is without merit.  The challenged testimony elicited from the sister was properly admitted under the prompt outcry exception to the rule against hearsay (see People v. McDaniel, 81 N.Y.2d 10, 17, 595 N.Y.S.2d 364, 611 N.E.2d 265;  People v. Evangelista, 155 A.D.3d 972, 972–973, 65 N.Y.S.3d 240;  People v. Caban, 126 A.D.3d 808, 808–809, 6 N.Y.S.3d 73), and the challenged testimony from the mother, the father, and the arresting detective was properly admitted for the purpose of completing the narrative and explaining the investigation (see People v. Ludwig, 24 N.Y.3d 221, 231, 997 N.Y.S.2d 351, 21 N.E.3d 1012;  People v. Mehmood, 112 A.D.3d 850, 977 N.Y.S.2d 78;  People v. Rosario, 100 A.D.3d 660, 661, 953 N.Y.S.2d 299;  People v. Ragsdale, 68 A.D.3d 897, 897–898, 889 N.Y.S.2d 681).

The defendant's contention in his main brief that the Supreme Court erred in admitting into evidence photographs of the victims is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2];  People v. Texidor, 123 A.D.3d 746, 746, 996 N.Y.S.2d 715) and, in any event, without merit.  The court providently exercised its discretion in admitting into evidence photographs depicting the victims at ages 8 and 11, respectively, when the sexual abuse was alleged to have occurred, in order to illustrate each victim's age and appearance, and to corroborate expert testimony regarding the “imbalance of power” which existed between the defendant and the victims (see People v. Stevens, 76 N.Y.2d 833, 835, 560 N.Y.S.2d 119, 559 N.E.2d 1278;  People v. Matthews, 142 A..D3d 1354, 38 N.Y.S.3d 307;  People v. Khan, 88 A.D.3d 1014, 1015, 931 N.Y.S.2d 393).

The defendant contends in his pro se supplemental brief that his statutory and constitutional rights to a speedy trial were violated.  Since the defendant never made a pretrial motion to dismiss the indictment on the ground that he was denied his statutory right to a speedy trial, he waived his right to dismissal on statutory speedy trial grounds (see CPL 210.20[1];  People v. Lawrence, 64 N.Y.2d 200, 203–204, 485 N.Y.S.2d 233, 474 N.E.2d 593;  People v. Card, 107 A.D.3d 820, 968 N.Y.S.2d 803).  Furthermore, insofar as the issue is raised for the first time on appeal, the defendant's contention that his constitutional speedy trial rights were violated is unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Jordan, 62 N.Y.2d 825, 826, 477 N.Y.S.2d 605, 466 N.E.2d 145;  People v. Card, 107 A.D.3d 820, 968 N.Y.S.2d 803).  In any event, upon review of the record, we find that the defendant was not denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial (see People v. Taranovich, 37 N.Y.2d 442, 373 N.Y.S.2d 79, 335 N.E.2d 303;  People v. Metellus, 157 A.D.3d 821, 69 N.Y.S.3d 713).

The defendant was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel.  Viewing the record in its totality, the defendant was provided with meaningful representation (see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584).  While the defendant contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move to dismiss the indictment on statutory speedy trial grounds, the argument cannot be fairly characterized as clear-cut and dispositive in the defendant's favor (see People v. McGee, 20 N.Y.3d 513, 518, 964 N.Y.S.2d 73, 986 N.E.2d 907), so as to render defense counsel ineffective for failing to make such a motion.

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

CHAMBERS, J.P., AUSTIN, ROMAN and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.