Opinion
11-09-2016
In the Matter of RICHARD H. (Anonymous), appellant.
Mark Diamond, New York, N.Y., for appellant. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Richard Dearing of counsel), for respondent.
Mark Diamond, New York, N.Y., for appellant.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Richard Dearing of counsel), for respondent.
JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, J.P., JEFFREY A. COHEN, ROBERT J. MILLER, and HECTOR D. LaSALLE, JJ.
Appeals from (1) an order of disposition of the Family Court, Richmond County (Helene D. Sacco, J.), dated September 24, 2015, and (2) an order of protection of that court, also dated September 24, 2015. The order of disposition, insofar as appealed from, adjudicated Richard H. a juvenile delinquent. The order of protection, insofar as appealed from, directed Richard H. to stay away from Rey J. and his home, school, and place of employment, and to refrain from harassing, intimidating, threatening, or otherwise interfering with Rey J. The appeal from the order of disposition brings up for review an order of fact-finding of that court dated July 14, 2015, which, after a hearing, found that Richard H. committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes of robbery in the second degree, robbery in the third degree, and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree.
ORDERED that the order of disposition is modified, on the law, by deleting the provision thereof adjudicating the appellant a juvenile delinquent based upon the finding that he committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of robbery in the third degree, and substituting therefor a provision adjudicating the appellant a juvenile delinquent based upon a finding that he committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of grand larceny in the fourth degree; as so modified, the order of disposition is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements, and the order of fact-finding is modified accordingly; and it is further,ORDERED that the order of protection is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law, without costs or disbursements.
The appellant's challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence is unpreserved for appellate review (see Matter of George R., 104 A.D.3d 949, 962 N.Y.S.2d 332 ; Matter of Charles S., 41 A.D.3d 484, 838 N.Y.S.2d 136 ). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the presentment agency (see Matter of David H., 69 N.Y.2d 792, 513 N.Y.S.2d 111, 505 N.E.2d 621 ; Matter of Keir B., 115 A.D.3d 855, 855–856, 982 N.Y.S.2d 347 ; Matter of Danasia Mc., 94 A.D.3d 1122, 943 N.Y.S.2d 549 ), 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 crimes of robbery in the second degree (Penal Law § 160.10 [1] ), grand larceny in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 155.30[5] ), and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree (Penal Law § 165.40 ). 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] ), we nevertheless accord great deference to the opportunity of the trier of fact to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see Matter of Danasia Mc., 94 A.D.3d at 1124, 943 N.Y.S.2d 549 ; cf. People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053 ; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Upon reviewing the record, we are satisfied that the Family Court's fact-finding determination was not against the weight of the evidence (see Family Ct. Act § 342.2[2] ; Matter of Darnell C., 66 A.D.3d 771, 772, 887 N.Y.S.2d 211 ; cf. People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ).
Although the Family Court's decision on the record correctly determined that the appellant committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of grand larceny in the fourth degree, its order of fact-finding and order of disposition each contain a provision incorrectly stating that the appellant committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of robbery in the third degree. A judgment or order must conform strictly to the court's decision (see McLoughlin v. McLoughlin, 63 A.D.3d 1017, 882 N.Y.S.2d 203 ; Curry v. Curry, 14 A.D.3d 646, 789 N.Y.S.2d 307 ; Pauk v. Pauk, 232 A.D.2d 386, 648 N.Y.S.2d 621 ; Di Prospero v. Ford Motor Co., 105 A.D.2d 479, 480 N.Y.S.2d 784 ). “Where there is an inconsistency between a judgment or order and the decision upon which it is based, the decision controls” (Curry v. Curry, 14 A.D.3d at 647, 789 N.Y.S.2d 307 ; see Verdrager v. Verdrager, 230 A.D.2d 786, 787, 646 N.Y.S.2d 185 ; Green v. Morris, 156 A.D.2d 331, 548 N.Y.S.2d 899 ; Di Prospero v. Ford Motor Co., 105 A.D.2d 479, 480 N.Y.S.2d 784 ). Consequently, we modify the subject provisions of the orders accordingly.
The appellant's contention that the Family Court issued an order of protection in favor of Rey J. in violation of Family Court Act § 352.3(1) is unpreserved for appellate review since the appellant failed to raise this contention at the dispositional hearing (see Matter of Elias E., 83 A.D.3d 833, 834, 921 N.Y.S.2d 276 ; Matter of Nathaniel P., 58 A.D.3d 860, 873 N.Y.S.2d 118 ). However, we review this contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see Matter of Elias E., 83 A.D.3d at 834, 921 N.Y.S.2d 276 ; People v. Goldberg, 16 A.D.3d 519, 791 N.Y.S.2d 172 ). The Family Court was not authorized under Family Court Act § 352.3(1) to issue an order of protection in favor of Rey J., who was a witness to, but not a victim of, the offenses (see Matter of Elias E., 83 A.D.3d at 834, 921 N.Y.S.2d 276 ; Family Ct. Act § 352.3[1] ).