Opinion
11578 Dkt. NN-20092/17
05-28-2020
IN RE SINCERE L., a Child under Eighteen Years of Age, etc., Romone L., Respondent–Appellant, v. Administration for Children Services, Petitioner-Respondent.
Law Office of Thomas R. Villecco, P.C., Jericho (Thomas R. Villecco of counsel), for appellant. James E. Johnson, Corporation Counsel, New York (Elizabeth I. Freedman of counsel), for respondent. Dawne A. Mitchell, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Judith Stern of counsel), attorney for the child.
Law Office of Thomas R. Villecco, P.C., Jericho (Thomas R. Villecco of counsel), for appellant.
James E. Johnson, Corporation Counsel, New York (Elizabeth I. Freedman of counsel), for respondent.
Dawne A. Mitchell, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Judith Stern of counsel), attorney for the child.
Renwick, J.P., Richter, Manzanet–Daniels, Singh, Moulton, JJ.
Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Fiordaliza A. Rodriguez, J.), entered on or about December 5, 2018, which, after a hearing, found that respondent father neglected the subject child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The finding of neglect is supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Court Act § 1046[b] ; § 1012[f] ). The record shows that during an altercation the father punched the mother in the face while the child was present (see e.g. Matter of Jermaine K.R., 176 A.D.3d 648, 110 N.Y.S.3d 678 [1st Dept. 2019] ; Matter of O'Ryan Elizah H. [Kairo E.], 171 A.D.3d 429, 95 N.Y.S.3d 520 [1st Dept. 2019] ). There exists no basis to disturb the court's credibility determinations (see Matter of Irene O., 38 N.Y.2d 776, 777, 381 N.Y.S.2d 865, 345 N.E.2d 337 [1975] ).
We have considered the father's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.