Opinion
2012–06343 Ind. No. 1909/09
04-24-2019
The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Latisha JOHNSON, Appellant.
Janet E. Sabel, New York, N.Y. (Ursula Bentele, David Crow, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP [James W. Orth ], of counsel), for appellant. Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Nancy Fitzpatrick Talcott, and Antara D. Kanth of counsel), for respondent.
Janet E. Sabel, New York, N.Y. (Ursula Bentele, David Crow, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP [James W. Orth ], of counsel), for appellant.
Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Nancy Fitzpatrick Talcott, and Antara D. Kanth of counsel), for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., RUTH C. BALKIN, LEONARD B. AUSTIN, ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (John B. Latella, J.), rendered May 14, 2012, convicting her of grand larceny in the third degree (two counts), falsifying business records in the first degree (two counts), and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree (two counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant contends that the verdict convicting her of grand larceny in the third degree (two counts), falsifying business records in the first degree (two counts), and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree (two counts) was against the weight of the evidence. In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5] ; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 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, 410, 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, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ).
RIVERA, J.P., BALKIN, AUSTIN and MILLER, JJ., concur.