Opinion
2013-06-14
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Noel BARRIOS–RODRIGUEZ, Defendant–Appellant.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Karen C. Russo–McLaughlin of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (David Panepinto of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Karen C. Russo–McLaughlin of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (David Panepinto of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, VALENTINO, AND WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
On appeal from a judgment convicting him following a nonjury trial of criminal contempt in the first degree (Penal Law § 215.51 [c] ), defendant contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to establish that he intended to violate the no-contact order of protection that had been issued in favor of the victim, and that the verdict is against the weight of the evidencein that regard. We reject those contentions. Even assuming, arguendo, that the victim initiated the contact with defendant on the day in question, as defendant contends, we note that the People presented evidence establishing that defendant followed the victim outside the house in which he was located and, after speaking to her briefly, he then followed her to a nearby restaurant. The victim entered the restaurant, where she telephoned the police. Shortly thereafter, the police located defendant in a parking lot that was approximately a quarter of a mile from the restaurant. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People ( see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient to establish that defendant intentionally violated the order of protection ( see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). We further conclude that, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crime in this nonjury trial ( see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), and affording great deference to County Court's credibility determinations ( see People v. White, 43 A.D.3d 1407, 1408, 842N.Y.S.2d 661,lv. denied9 N.Y.3d 1010, 850 N.Y.S.2d 398, 880 N.E.2d 884), the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence ( see generally Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672).
There is no merit to defendant's additional contention that the court erred in denying his motion to set aside the verdict pursuant to CPL 330.30. Even assuming, arguendo, that the victim's testimony at the persistent felony offender hearing constitutes newly discovered evidence as defendant suggests, we conclude that the testimony is not “of such character as to create a probability that had such evidence been received at the trial the verdict would have been more favorable to the defendant” (CPL 330.30[3] ). Finally, given defendant's significant criminal history, which includes five prior felony convictions and multiple convictions based on his violation of court orders, we perceive no basis to modify his sentence as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice ( seeCPL 470.15[6][b] ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.