Opinion
11-18-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Chad J. COLSRUD, Defendant–Appellant.
Davison Law Office PLLC, Canandaigua (Mary P. Davison of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Brooks T. Baker, District Attorney, Bath (John C. Tunney of Counsel), for Respondent.
Davison Law Office PLLC, Canandaigua (Mary P. Davison of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Brooks T. Baker, District Attorney, Bath (John C. Tunney of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, LINDLEY, DeJOSEPH, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of endangering the welfare of a child (Penal Law § 260.10[1] ). Defendant contends that the verdict is legally repugnant inasmuch as the jury acquitted him of five counts of rape in the third degree (§ 130.25 [2] ), one count of criminal sexual act in the third degree (§ 130.40[2] ), and three counts of unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree (§ 260.20 [2] ). We reject that contention. When viewed in light of the elements of each crime as charged to the jury without regard to the accuracy of those instructions (see People v. Tucker, 55 N.Y.2d 1, 4, 7–8, 447 N.Y.S.2d 132, 431 N.E.2d 617, rearg. denied 55 N.Y.2d 1039, 449 N.Y.S.2d 1030, 434 N.E.2d 1081 ), none of the acquittals negates an essential element of the crime of endangering the welfare of a child (see People v. Strickland, 78 A.D.3d 1210, 1211, 909 N.Y.S.2d 846 ; see generally People v.
Muhammad, 17 N.Y.3d 532, 538–539, 935 N.Y.S.2d 526, 959 N.E.2d 463 ).
Defendant also contends that, as instructed by the court, the jury was precluded from finding that he endangered the welfare of the victim under count two by any conduct beyond that which was alleged in the indictment with respect to rape in the third degree and criminal sexual act in the third degree. We reject that contention. Although the People concede defendant's interpretation of the court's instructions, such concession “does not ... relieve us from the performance of our judicial function and does not require us to adopt the [interpretation] urged upon us” (People v. Berrios, 28 N.Y.2d 361, 366–367, 321 N.Y.S.2d 884, 270 N.E.2d 709 ). We construe the instruction at issue to be permissive rather than restrictive, and we therefore conclude that the instruction did not preclude the jury from considering evidence of other acts “likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare” of the victim beyond the specific acts alleged in the other counts of the indictment (Penal Law § 260.10[1] ; see generally Strickland, 78 A.D.3d at 1211–1212, 909 N.Y.S.2d 846 ).
We reject defendant's further contention that he was convicted on a theory different from that set forth in the indictment. We recognize the general rule that where a court's jury instruction on a particular count erroneously contains an additional theory that differs from the theory alleged in the indictment, as limited by the bill of particulars, and the evidence adduced at trial could have established either theory, reversal of the conviction on that count is required because there is a possibility that the jury could have convicted the defendant upon the uncharged theory (see People v. Grega, 72 N.Y.2d 489, 496, 534 N.Y.S.2d 647, 531 N.E.2d 279 ). Here, count two of the indictment alleged that defendant endangered the child by subjecting her to “sexual contact” (see Penal Law § 130.00[3] ). The People's bill of particulars did not narrow the specific type of “sexual contact” alleged in count two (cf. People v. Duell, 124 A.D.3d 1225, 1227, 999 N.Y.S.2d 288, lv. denied 26 N.Y.3d 967, 18 N.Y.S.3d 603, 40 N.E.3d 581 ), and the indictment did not limit the People to a particular act of “sexual contact” at trial (see generally People v. McGrew, 103 A.D.3d 1170, 1174, 958 N.Y.S.2d 561 ). The court instructed the jury under count two that the People were required to prove that defendant endangered the child by subjecting her to “sexual conduct,” which the court defined in accordance with Penal Law § 130.00(10). Inasmuch as the term “sexual contact” is broad enough to include all forms of “sexual conduct,” we conclude that defendant received the requisite “ ‘fair notice of the accusations against him’ ” (Grega, 72 N.Y.2d at 495, 534 N.Y.S.2d 647, 531 N.E.2d 279 ; see People v. Abeel, 67 A.D.3d 1408, 1410, 888 N.Y.S.2d 696 ), and that there is no possibility that the jury could have convicted the defendant upon an uncharged theory.
Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crime of endangering the welfare of a child as charged to the jury (see
People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we further conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.