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People v. Mathews

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
May 31, 1996
227 A.D.2d 954 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)

Opinion

May 31, 1996

Appeal from the Wayne County Court, Sirkin, J.

Present — Green, J.P., Pine, Lawton, Balio and Boehm, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of rape in the first degree, two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child. We reject defendant's contention that County Court improperly limited cross-examination of a prosecution witness regarding sexual activity between the complainant, age 10, and individuals other than defendant. That evidence is irrelevant to the issue whether defendant had sexual intercourse with the complainant and is not otherwise admissible under CPL 60.42 ( see, People v. Gagnon, 150 A.D.2d 918, 919, affd 75 N.Y.2d 736; People v. Boyd, 122 A.D.2d 273, 275).

Contrary to defendant's contention, the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence ( see, People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495). Defendant further contends that the prosecutor improperly commented during his opening statement on defendant's pre-arrest silence. That issue is unpreserved for our review ( see, CPL 470.05; People v. Johnson, 110 A.D.2d 1057, lv denied 66 N.Y.2d 615), and we decline to exercise our power to address it as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice ( see, CPL 470.15 [a]). We further conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing defendant as a persistent felony offender ( see, Penal Law § 70.10) and that the sentence imposed is neither unduly harsh nor severe ( see, CPL 470.15 [b]).


Summaries of

People v. Mathews

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
May 31, 1996
227 A.D.2d 954 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
Case details for

People v. Mathews

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. JOHN A. MATHEWS…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department

Date published: May 31, 1996

Citations

227 A.D.2d 954 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996)
643 N.Y.S.2d 851

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