From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

People v. Hill

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Jul 13, 1990
163 A.D.2d 852 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)

Opinion

July 13, 1990

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Doyle, J.

Present — Callahan, J.P., Denman, Green, Balio and Lowery, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: On this appeal from a judgment of conviction, following a jury trial, of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse, defendant contends that there was insufficient evidence of "forcible compulsion" (Penal Law § 130.00). In a prosecution for sex offenses based upon forcible compulsion, the proper focus is on the state of mind produced in the victim by the defendant's conduct (People v. Thompson, 72 N.Y.2d 410, 415-416). Moreover, whether the sexual intercourse was voluntary or the result of forcible compulsion is a question of fact for the jury to determine (see, People v. Yannucci, 283 N.Y. 546, 549; People v. Vicaretti, 54 A.D.2d 236, 241-242). Here, the victim testified in detail as to the express and implied threats of defendant and the codefendant and her fear for her personal safety if she refused to submit. Given that testimony, which the jury found credible, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to establish forcible compulsion.

The court did not err in admitting the victim's bloodstained pants into evidence. Because the item in issue is clothing, identification of the item by the victim as her clothing was sufficient for its admission into evidence (see, People v Samuels, 121 A.D.2d 751; People v. Flores, 101 A.D.2d 657). The pants, a nonfungible piece of evidence, were identified by the victim as the pants she was wearing on the night of the incident. Additionally, the clothing was probative on the issue of whether any force was used.

Defendant contends that the verdict sheet submitted to the jury improperly amended the indictment. There was no objection to the verdict sheet; thus that issue was not preserved for appellate review (CPL 470.05; People v. Barber, 154 A.D.2d 882, lv denied 75 N.Y.2d 810, 917; People v. Ryan, 152 A.D.2d 960, lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 899). Were we to review that issue in the interest of justice, we would find no merit to defendant's claim.

Finally, we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the sentence.


Summaries of

People v. Hill

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Jul 13, 1990
163 A.D.2d 852 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
Case details for

People v. Hill

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. CARL I. HILL, Appellant

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

Date published: Jul 13, 1990

Citations

163 A.D.2d 852 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
559 N.Y.S.2d 838

Citing Cases

People v. Seifert

(People v Thompson, 72 NY2d 410, 415-416 [1988].) Further, whether the sexual acts were voluntary or the…

People v. Seifert

Further, whether the sexual acts were voluntary or the result of forcible compulsion is a question of fact…