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In re Denise GG.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Oct 22, 1998
254 A.D.2d 582 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)

Opinion

October 22, 1998

Appeal from the Family Court of Albany County (Maney, J.).


Respondent is the father of Denise GG. (born in 1984), Lisa GG. (born in 1985) and Samantha GG. (born in 1989). In April 1996, petitioner filed an abuse and/or neglect petition against respondent alleging, inter alia, that he committed various acts of sexual abuse against Denise and Lisa. In October 1996, respondent pleaded guilty to numerous sex-related crimes, some of which provided the basis for the abuse and/or neglect petition. Specifically, with regard to crimes involving Denise, respondent pleaded guilty to sodomy in the first degree, endangering the welfare of a child and use of a child in a sexual performance. Respondent thereafter attempted to withdraw his plea of guilty, claiming that his attorney had pressured him into entering it. County Court found no basis to vacate respondent's guilty plea and imposed sentence.

Based upon respondent's plea, petitioner moved for summary judgment in the abuse and/or neglect proceeding. Family Court granted the motion and issued an order adjudicating Denise to be an abused child and Lisa and Samantha derivatively to be abused and neglected children. Respondent appeals.

We affirm. In the context of child protective proceedings, the courts have accorded collateral estoppel effect to criminal convictions involving sexual crimes where the conduct providing the basis for the crimes is the same as that alleged in the abuse and/or neglect petition ( see, Matter of Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs. v. James M., 83 N.Y.2d 178, 182-183; Matter of Laurali M., 248 A.D.2d 983; Matter of Sarah L., 207 A.D.2d 1016, lv denied 85 N.Y.2d 811; Matter of Denise J., 133 A.D.2d 687). In this case, the record discloses that the conduct providing the basis for respondent's plea of guilty to the crimes involving Denise is the same as that alleged in the abuse and/or neglect petition. Inasmuch as there is an identity of issue between the two proceedings and respondent had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the matter in the criminal proceeding, collateral estoppel applies to sustain Family Court's finding of abuse and neglect against the children ( see, Matter of Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs. v. James M., supra, at 183; Matter of Amanda LL., 195 A.D.2d 708, 709-710). Our conclusion is unaltered by the fact that summary judgment was granted based upon respondent's plea of guilty since a judgment of conviction based upon this plea was ultimately entered.

Furthermore, we find no merit to respondent's claim that a question of fact is raised by his attempt to withdraw his plea inasmuch as he has failed to substantiate his conclusory allegation of coercion and the transcript of the plea colloquy clearly discloses; that the plea was knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently entered ( see, People v. Cook, 252 A.D.2d 595; People v. Goncalves, 239 A.D.2d 924, lv denied 91 N.Y.2d 873).

White, Spain, Carpinello and Graffeo, JJ., concur.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.


Summaries of

In re Denise GG.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Oct 22, 1998
254 A.D.2d 582 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)
Case details for

In re Denise GG.

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of DENISE GG. and Others, Children Alleged to be Abused and…

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

Date published: Oct 22, 1998

Citations

254 A.D.2d 582 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998)
678 N.Y.S.2d 821

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