Opinion
July 14, 1994
Appeal from the Family Court of Albany County (Maney, J.).
On December 15, 1991, 2 1/2-year-old Jessica Y. (hereinafter the child) was returned to her mother's care after having spent two days with respondent, her father. The child's parents had been separated since February 1990. The child's mother observed blood stains in the child's undergarments and took her to the hospital for a physical examination. An emergency room physician found redness and swelling in the child's vaginal area and localized trauma to the labia. The child was tested for a urinary tract infection and sexually transmitted diseases. The child tested positive for chlamydia.
On February 4, 1992, respondent was charged with sexual abuse and neglect of the child. After a fact-finding hearing, Family Court found the child to be an abused child pursuant to Family Court Act § 1012 (e) (iii) and that the abuse was occasioned by respondent. Respondent raises two issues on this appeal. First, he contends that the court improperly permitted cross-examination concerning acts that were the basis for his prior arrest for unlawful imprisonment, sexual abuse and rape in which he was "acquitted by virtue of an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal". Second, he contends that the evidence before the court was insufficient due to lack of corroboration to support the finding that he sexually abused the child.
Addressing the issue regarding the alleged improper cross-examination concerning prior acts, we initially note that a disposition authorizing an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal is "neither a conviction nor an acquittal" (Hollender v. Trump Vil. Coop., 58 N.Y.2d 420, 423). Moreover, it is "[s]carcely necessary for repetition * * * that a defendant who chooses to testify may be cross-examined concerning any immoral, vicious or criminal acts of his life which have a bearing on his credibility as a witness, provided the cross-examiner questions in good faith and upon a reasonable basis in fact, the law being inflexibly set against questioning as to such acts when the obvious intent is to show from character or experience a propensity to commit the crime for which defendant is on trial" (People v. Greer, 42 N.Y.2d 170, 176; see, People v. Duffy, 36 N.Y.2d 258, 262, cert denied 423 U.S. 861). We find that Family Court correctly determined that the issue of credibility outweighed the risk of unfair prejudice (see, Matter of Carlos V., 192 A.D.2d 661).
With regard to the issue of corroboration, it is well settled that if properly corroborated, previous statements of a child relating to allegations of abuse or neglect are admissible in evidence and can be sufficient to sustain a finding of abuse or neglect (see, Family Ct Act § 1046 [a] [vi]; Matter of Nicole V., 71 N.Y.2d 112; Matter of Department of Social Servs. [Carol Ann D.] v. Warren D., 195 A.D.2d 460; Matter of Brandon UU. [Brynn UU.], 193 A.D.2d 835). Corroboration sufficient to make a finding can be gleaned from any evidence tending to support the reliability of the statements. Family Court, as the trier of the facts, is possessed with considerable discretion in determining whether statements of a child have been sufficiently corroborated and whether the record before the court supports a finding of abuse or neglect (see, Matter of Christina F. [Gary F.], 74 N.Y.2d 532; Matter of Department of Social Servs. [R. Children] v Waleska M., 195 A.D.2d 507, lv denied 82 N.Y.2d 660).
A review of the record makes it abundantly clear that the child suffered a trauma, was examined and found to be suffering from a sexually transmitted disease, and that respondent's girlfriend had been diagnosed with such disease only two weeks before meeting respondent. In addition, the evidence establishes that respondent refused to be tested for chlamydia after discovering that his girlfriend had been diagnosed with such disease and that scientific testing revealed that the mother's paramour did not have any sexually transmitted diseases. The child also adequately identified respondent as the perpetrator. Since petitioner established the abuse by a preponderance of the evidence, the burden then shifted to respondent to offer a satisfactory explanation to rebut the evidence (see, Matter of Vincent M., 193 A.D.2d 398; Matter of Jacinta J., 140 A.D.2d 990). We find that he has failed to do so.
It is notable that respondent concedes that he was responsible for the child's care prior to the child being taken to the hospital and does not challenge the findings that the child had been abused and contracted chlamydia. As in Matter of Philip M. (Lorene P.) ( 82 N.Y.2d 238), respondent attempted to convince Family Court that the chlamydia suffered by the child was transmitted to her by another perpetrator. In finding his explanation insufficient to overcome petitioner's prima facie case, Family Court appropriately performed its role in resolving the credibility issues (see, supra).
Mikoll, J.P., Mercure, Crew III and Yesawich Jr., JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.