PEOPLE v. DOUGLAS (2021)

ORDERED that the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

Following a nonjury trial, at which two of the officers who had witnessed defendant's conduct which gave rise to the charges testified, as did defendant, the Criminal Court found defendant guilty of attempted assault in the third degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 120.00 [1]), menacing in the third degree (Penal Law § 120.15), and harassment in the second degree (Penal Law § 240.26 [1]).

To the extent that any of defendant's contentions on appeal are viewed as legal insufficiency claims, they are not preserved for appellate review since, based upon the existing record, he failed to raise these same arguments with specificity before the Criminal Court (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Hawkins, 11 NY3d 484, 492 [2008]; People v Gray, 86 NY2d 10, 19 [1995]). However, upon a defendant's request, this court must conduct a weight of the evidence review and, thus, “a defendant will be given one appellate review of adverse factual findings” (People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 348 [2007]). “Necessarily, in conducting its weight of the evidence review, a court must consider the elements of the crime, for even if the prosecution's witnesses were credible their testimony must prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt” (Danielson, 9 NY3d at 349). Upon the exercise of our factual review power (see CPL 470.15 [5]; Danielson, 9 NY3d at 348-349), while according great deference to the trier of fact's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear their testimony, observe their demeanor, and assess their credibility (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]), we are satisfied that the verdicts convicting defendant of attempted assault in the third degree, menacing in the third degree, and harassment in the second degree were not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633, 643-646 [2006]).

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

ALIOTTA, P.J., ELLIOT and TOUSSAINT, JJ., concur.