Opinion
2013-06-19
In the Matter of Christina Stevenson BLANCO, respondent, v. Augusto Tito BLANCO, appellant.
Salvatore C. Adamo, New York, N.Y., for appellant. Edward C. Bruno, Pine Bush, N.Y., for respondent.
Salvatore C. Adamo, New York, N.Y., for appellant. Edward C. Bruno, Pine Bush, N.Y., for respondent.
In a family offense proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 8, Augusto Tito Blanco appeals from an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Orange County (Bivona, J.), dated August 1, 2012, which, after a hearing, found that he had committed the family offense of harassment in the second degree and directed him to comply with the conditions set forth in an order of protection of the same court dated July 19, 2012.
ORDERED that the order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
“The determination of whether a family offense was committed is a factual issue to be resolved by the hearing court” (*869Matter of Creighton v. Whitmore, 71 A.D.3d 1141, 1141, 898 N.Y.S.2d 585;see Family Ct. Act §§ 812, 832; Matter of Smith v. Amedee, 101 A.D.3d 1033, 956 N.Y.S.2d 172), “and that court's determination regarding the credibility of witnesses is entitled to considerable deference on appeal” (Matter of Cruz v. Rodriguez, 96 A.D.3d 838, 838, 946 N.Y.S.2d 480;see Matter of Smith v. Amedee, 101 A.D.3d at 1033, 956 N.Y.S.2d 172). Contrary to the appellant's contention, a fair preponderance of the credible evidence supported the Family Court's determination that he committed acts which constituted the family offense of harassment in the second degree ( see Penal Law § 240.26[1]; Family Ct. Act § 812[1]; Matter of Smith v. Amedee, 101 A.D.3d at 1033, 956 N.Y.S.2d 172).