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State v. Cruz

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Dec 7, 2006
35 A.D.3d 898 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006)

Opinion

No. 15026.

December 7, 2006.

Crew III, J. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Chenango County (Sullivan, J.), rendered September 5, 2003, which revoked defendant's probation and imposed a sentence of imprisonment.

Aaron A. Louridas, Schenectady, for appellant.

Joseph A. McBride, District Attorney, Norwich (Michael J. Genute of counsel), for respondent.

Before: Mercure, J.P., Carpinello, Lahtinen and Kane, JJ., concur.


In March 2003, defendant pleaded guilty to one count of rape in the third degree in satisfaction of a 12-count indictment. In accordance with the plea agreement, defendant was sentenced to 10 years of probation, the terms of which provided, among other things, that defendant not violate any state, federal or local law during such probation. In July 2003, defendant was arrested and charged with sexual abuse in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child, prompting the filing of a petition charging defendant with violation of his probation. Following a hearing, County Court terminated defendant's probation and sentenced him to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of 1 1/3 to 4 years. Defendant now appeals and we affirm.

Contrary to defendant's assertions, the People's evidence supported a finding of defendant's violation by a preponderance of evidence ( see CPL 410.70). While it is true that some of the 13-year-old victim's testimony was inconsistent with her prior written statement and her testimony was contradicted by that of defendant's wife, we need note only that County Court's determination resolving witness credibility must be accorded "great weight" ( People v Barber, 280 AD2d 691, 694, lv denied 96 NY2d 825). Deferring to County Court's credibility determination, the evidence amply supports its finding of defendant's violation of probation. We have considered defendant's remaining argument concerning the purportedly harsh and excessive nature of his sentence and find it equally unavailing.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.


Summaries of

State v. Cruz

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Dec 7, 2006
35 A.D.3d 898 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006)
Case details for

State v. Cruz

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. ANGEL M. CRUZ…

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

Date published: Dec 7, 2006

Citations

35 A.D.3d 898 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006)
2006 N.Y. Slip Op. 9063
824 N.Y.S.2d 808

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