Opinion
11-25-2015
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Nirun HONGHIRUN, appellant.
Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Patricia Pazner of counsel), for appellant. Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Daniel Bresnahan, and Deborah E. Wassel of counsel), for respondent.
Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Patricia Pazner of counsel), for appellant.
Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Daniel Bresnahan, and Deborah E. Wassel of counsel), for respondent.
JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, J.P., JEFFREY A. COHEN, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, and HECTOR D. LaSALLE, JJ.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Buchter, J.), rendered June 7, 2012, convicting him of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant's claim that testimony from three witnesses, the complainant, the complainant's school counselor, and the arresting police officer did not fall within the scope of the prompt outcry exception to the hearsay rule (see People v. McDaniel, 81 N.Y.2d 10, 16–17, 595 N.Y.S.2d 364, 611 N.E.2d 265 ), is unpreserved for appellate review, since the defendant failed to object to the testimony of which he now complains (see CPL 470.05 [2] ; People v. Stuckey, 50 A.D.3d 447, 448, 855 N.Y.S.2d 141 ; People v. Phillips, 45 A.D.3d 702, 702, 846 N.Y.S.2d 244 ;
People v. Leveille, 12 A.D.3d 533, 533, 783 N.Y.S.2d 864 ). Moreover, this argument was waived in light of the fact that the defense elicited the same testimony on cross-examination (see People v. Stalter, 77 A.D.3d 776, 776–777, 909 N.Y.S.2d 516 ; People v. Brown, 57 A.D.3d 1461, 1462, 871 N.Y.S.2d 540 ; People v. Grant, 54 A.D.3d 967, 967, 864 N.Y.S.2d 134 ; People v. Bryan, 50 A.D.3d 1049, 1050–1051, 856 N.Y.S.2d 227 ).
The defendant was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel, as the record reveals that defense counsel provided meaningful representation (see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 713–714, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584 ; People v. Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 146, 147, 444 N.Y.S.2d 893, 429 N.E.2d 400 ; People v. Thomas, 131 A.D.3d 712, 713, 15 N.Y.S.3d 221 ).
The defendant contends that the evidence was legally insufficient to support his conviction and that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 621, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932 ), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we nevertheless accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 420, 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 here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 645–646, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ).
The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 85–86, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675 ).
The defendant's remaining contention is unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, without merit.