Opinion
No. KA 06-01497.
February 6, 2009.
Appeal from a judgment of the Onondaga County Court (Joseph E. Fahey, J.), rendered April 6, 2006. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of assault in the first degree.
FRANK H. HISCOCK LEGAL AID SOCIETY, SYRACUSE (MARY P. DAVISON OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
WILLIAM J. FITZPATRICK, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SYRACUSE (MATTHEW H. JAMES OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Present: Hurlbutt, J.P., Martoche, Smith, Centra and Peradotto, JJ.
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him as a juvenile offender upon a jury verdict of assault in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.10). Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crime as charged to the jury ( see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence ( see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495). "Where, as here, witness credibility is of paramount importance to the determination of guilt or innocence, [we] must give `[g]reat deference . . . [to the] fact-finder's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony and observe demeanor'" ( People v Harris, 15 AD3d 966, 967, lv denied 4 NY3d 831, quoting Bleakley, 69 NY2d at 495). It was for the jury to determine whether to credit the victim's testimony, and we see no reason to disturb the jury's credibility determination ( see id.). The sentence is not unduly harsh or severe. We note, however, that the certificate of conviction incorrectly reflects that defendant was sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration of 3 ½ to 10 years, and it must therefore be amended to reflect that he was sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration of 3 ½ to 10 years ( see generally People v Saxton, 32 AD3d 1286).