Opinion
2014-07-30
In the Matter of JONATHAN E. (Anonymous), appellant.
Seymour M. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Marcia Egger of counsel), for appellant. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Pamela Dolgow, Kristin M. Helmers, and Emma Grunberg of counsel), for respondent.
Seymour M. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Marcia Egger of counsel), for appellant. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Pamela Dolgow, Kristin M. Helmers, and Emma Grunberg of counsel), for respondent.
In a juvenile delinquency proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 3, Jonathan E. appeals from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (McElrath, J.), dated June 10, 2013, which, upon a fact-finding order of the same court dated March 22, 2013, made after a hearing, finding that he committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, adjudged him to be a juvenile delinquent and placed him on probation for a period of 12 months. The appeal from the order of disposition brings up for review the fact-finding order.
ORDERED that the appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the appellant on probation for a period of 12 months is dismissed as academic, without costs or disbursements; and it is further,
ORDERED that the order of disposition is affirmed insofar as reviewed, without costs or disbursements.
The appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the appellant on probation for a period of 12 months has been rendered academic, as the period of placement has expired ( see Matter of Rasean B., 7 A.D.3d 520, 775 N.Y.S.2d 878). However, since there may be collateral consequences resulting from the adjudication of delinquency, the appeal from so much of the order of disposition as adjudicated the appellant a juvenile delinquent, and which brings up for review the fact-finding order, has not been rendered academic ( seeFamily Ct. Act § 783; Matter of Dorothy D., 49 N.Y.2d 212, 424 N.Y.S.2d 890, 400 N.E.2d 1342).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the presentment agency ( see Matter of David H., 69 N.Y.2d 792, 793, 513 N.Y.S.2d 111, 505 N.E.2d 621;cf. People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the appellant committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence ( see Matter of Hasan C., 59 A.D.3d 617, 617–618, 873 N.Y.S.2d 709;cf.CPL 470.15[5]; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the factfinder's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor ( see Matter of Ashley P., 74 A.D.3d 1075, 1076, 903 N.Y.S.2d 146;cf. People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the Family Court's fact-finding determination was not against the weight of the evidence ( see Matter of Ashley P., 74 A.D.3d at 1076, 903 N.Y.S.2d 146;cf. People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902). RIVERA, J.P., ROMAN, SGROI and LaSALLE, JJ., concur.