Opinion
2019–01163 Ind No. 2317–17
11-18-2020
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Napoleon C. CURTIS, appellant.
Laurette D. Mulry, Riverhead, N.Y. (Felice B. Milani of counsel), for appellant. Timothy D. Sini, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Karla Lato and Marion Tang of counsel), for respondent.
Laurette D. Mulry, Riverhead, N.Y. (Felice B. Milani of counsel), for appellant.
Timothy D. Sini, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Karla Lato and Marion Tang of counsel), for respondent.
RUTH C. BALKIN, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, HECTOR D. LASALLE, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Mark D. Cohen, J.), rendered January 9, 2019, convicting him of rape in the first degree (two counts), rape in the second degree (two counts), attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, upon a jury verdict, and sentencing him to a determinate term of imprisonment of 20 years plus a period of postrelease supervision of 20 years on the conviction of rape in the first degree under count 1 of the indictment, a determinate term of imprisonment of 10 years plus a period of postrelease supervision of 20 years on the conviction of rape in the first degree under count 4 of the indictment, a determinate term of imprisonment of 5 years plus a period of postrelease supervision of 10 years on each conviction of rape in the second degree, a determinate term of imprisonment of 10 years plus a period of postrelease supervision of 15 years on the conviction of attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree, and a definite term of imprisonment of 1 year on the conviction of endangering the welfare of a child, with the sentences on the convictions of rape in the first degree to run consecutively to each other, and with all of the other sentences to run concurrently with each other and with the sentences on the convictions of rape in the first degree.
ORDERED that the judgment is modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, by providing that all of the sentences imposed shall run concurrently with each other; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed.
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, 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 ). 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 ).
Contrary to the defendant's contention, he was not denied his constitutional rights to due process and to confront witnesses by the County Court's application of the Rape Shield Law ( CPL 60.42 ) to prohibit him from introducing into evidence text messages and statements made by the complainant to individuals unrelated to the instant offenses, which were of a sexual nature. The defendant was given ample opportunity to develop evidence at trial to support his defenses, including regarding the complainant's motive to fabricate her accusations against him (see People v. Weberman , 134 A.D.3d 862, 22 N.Y.S.3d 97 ; People v. Simmons , 106 A.D.3d 1115, 1116, 965 N.Y.S.2d 618 ; People v. Russillo , 27 A.D.3d 493, 812 N.Y.S.2d 574 ).
The defendant's contention that he was deprived of a fair trial by certain remarks made by the prosecutor during summation is partially unpreserved for appellate review (see People v. Hernandez , 166 A.D.3d 647, 88 N.Y.S.3d 51 ). In any event, the challenged remarks did not rise to the level of egregious misconduct that would have deprived the defendant of a fair trial (see People v. Freire , 168 A.D.3d 973, 976, 92 N.Y.S.3d 115 ; People v. Tapia , 148 A.D.3d 940, 941, 50 N.Y.S.3d 412 ).
We agree with the County Court's determination denying, after a hearing, the defendant's motion pursuant to CPL 330.30 to set aside the verdict since, at the hearing, the defendant failed to establish any improper conduct by a juror that may have affected his substantial rights (see CPL 330.30[2] ; People v. Clark , 81 N.Y.2d 913, 914, 597 N.Y.S.2d 646, 613 N.E.2d 552 ; People v. Hernandez , 107 A.D.3d 504, 967 N.Y.S.2d 64 ; cf. People v. Neulander , 34 N.Y.3d 110, 111 N.Y.S.3d 259, 135 N.E.3d 302 ).
The sentence imposed was excessive to the extent indicated (see People v. Suitte , 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675 ). The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.
BALKIN, J.P., AUSTIN, LASALLE and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.