Opinion
No. KA 08-00342.
December 30, 2009.
Appeal from a judgment of the Ontario County Court (Frederick G. Reed, J.), rendered February 8, 2008. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of sexual abuse in the first degree.
CHRISTINE M. COOK, SYRACUSE, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
R. MICHAEL TANTILLO, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CANANDAIGUA (JAMES B. RITTS OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Present: Scudder, P.J., Fahey, Carni and Gorski, JJ.
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of sexual abuse in the first degree (Penal Law § 130.65), defendant contends that County Court penalized him for exercising his right to trial. We reject that contention. "`[T]he mere fact that a sentence imposed after trial is greater than that offered in connection with plea negotiations is not proof that defendant was punished for asserting his right to trial'" ( People v Chappelle, 14 AD3d 728, 729, lv denied 5 NY3d 786), and there is no indication in the record that the court was vindictive in sentencing defendant ( see People v Griffin, 48 AD3d 1233, 1237, lv denied 10 NY3d 840). We reject the further contention of defendant that he was denied effective assistance of counsel based on defense counsel's failure to pursue an intoxication defense, inasmuch as there was "a paucity of evidence that defendant exhibited significant signs of intoxication or that his mental state was affected by alcohol" ( People v Van Ness, 43 AD3d 553, 555, lv denied 9 NY3d 965).