Opinion
06-14-2024
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Justin M. TILLMON, Defendant-Appellant.
THOMAS L. PELYCH, HORNELL, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. BRITTANY GROME ANTONACCI, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AUBURN (SUSAN C. AZZARELLI OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Appeal from a judgment of the Cayuga County Court (Thomas G. Leone, J.), rendered July 21, 2022. The judgment convicted defendant upon a jury verdict of assault in the second degree (two counts) and assault in the third degree.
THOMAS L. PELYCH, HORNELL, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
BRITTANY GROME ANTONACCI, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AUBURN (SUSAN C. AZZARELLI OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CURRAN, MONTOUR, NOWAK, AND DELCONTE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of, inter alia, two counts of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [3]), defendant contends that the conviction of those counts is not supported by legally sufficient evidence inasmuch as the People failed to establish that the officers were performing a lawful duty when defendant was arrested and that he intended to prevent police officers from performing that lawful duty. Defendant failed to preserve his contention for our review (see People v. McCrea, 202 A.D.3d 1437, 1437, 158 N.Y.S.3d 900 [4th Dept. 2022]; People v. Townsley, 50 A.D.3d 1610, 1611, 856 N.Y.S.2d 424 [4th Dept. 2008], lv denied 11 N.Y.3d 742, 864 N.Y.S.2d 400, 894 N.E.2d 664 [2008]; see generally People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 19, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919 [1995]). In any event, the contention lacks merit. 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 [1983]), we conclude that there is a valid line of reasoning and permissible inferences that would lead a rational juror to conclude that defendant intentionally prevented the officers from performing their lawful duty (see People v. Bell, 176 A.D.3d 1634, 1634-1635, 110 N.Y.S.3d 188 [4th Dept. 2019], lv denied 34 N.Y.3d 1075, 116 N.Y.S.3d 160, 139 N.E.3d 818 [2019]; People v. Metales, 171 A.D.3d 1562, 1563, 99 N.Y.S.3d 559 [4th Dept. 2019], lv denied 33 N.Y.3d 1107, 106 N.Y.S.3d 677, 130 N.E.3d 1287 [2019]; cf. People v. William EE., 276 A.D.2d 918, 919, 714 N.Y.S.2d 590 [3d Dept. 2000]).
[1] Defendant further contends that his conviction of assault in the second degree as charged in count two of the indictment is not supported by legally sufficient evidence that the officer in question sustained a physical injury. Contrary to the People’s assertion, we conclude that defendant’s contention is preserved for review (see People v. Lawrence, 221 A.D.3d 1583, 1584-1585, 200 N.Y.S.3d 634 [4th Dept. 2023], lv denied 40 N.Y.3d 1093, 204 N.Y.S.3d 803, 228 N.E.3d 616 [2024]; cf. Bell, 176 A.D.3d at 1634, 110 N.Y.S.3d 188). We nevertheless reject his contention.
[2–4] Physical injury is defined as "impairment of physical condition or substantial pain" (Penal Law § 10.00 [9]). " ‘[S]ubstantial pain’ cannot be defined precisely, but it can be said that it is more than slight or trivial pain" (People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d 445, 447, 834 N.Y.S.2d 710, 866 N.E.2d 1039 [2007]). Here, the People elicited testimony that the officer hit his left knee on the floor and on a nearby object during a struggle with defendant, immediately after which he felt pain in his knee, walked with a limp, and had trouble bending that leg. The officer sought emergency medical attention for his injury, treated it with over-the-counter pain medication, and missed several days of work because of it, and his knee continued to trouble him years later. We conclude that the foregoing evidence is sufficient to establish that the officer sustained a physical injury (see People v. Talbott, 158 A.D.3d 1053, 1054, 69 N.Y.S.3d 453 [4th Dept. 2018], lv denied 31 N.Y.3d 1088, 79 N.Y.S.3d 109, 103 N.E.3d 1256 [2018]; People v. Stillwagon, 101 A.D.3d 1629, 1630, 956 N.Y.S.2d 352 [4th Dept. 2012], lv denied 21 N.Y.3d 1020, 971 N.Y.S.2d 502, 994 N.E.2d 398 [2013]). Furthermore, viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes 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 [2007]), we reject defendant’s contention that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence with respect to whether the officer sustained a physical injury (see People v. Bookman, 224 A.D.3d 1269, 1270, 204 N.Y.S.3d 671 [4th Dept. 2024]; People v. Westbrooks, 213 A.D.3d 1274, 1275, 182 N.Y.S.3d 475 [4th Dept. 2023], lv denied 39 N.Y.3d 1144, 188 N.Y.S.3d 455, 209 N.E.3d 1281 [2023]; see generally People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 [1987]). Although a different verdict would not have been unreasonable, it cannot be said that the jury "failed to give the evidence the weight it should be accorded" (Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d at 495, 515 N.Y S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672; cf. People v. Cooney [appeal No. 2], 137 A.D.3d 1665, 1668, 28 N.Y.S.3d 166 [4th Dept. 2016], appeal dismissed 28 N.Y.3d 957, 38 N.Y.S.3d 526, 60 N.E.3d 422 [2016]; People v. Gibson, 134 A.D.3d 1512, 1514, 23 N.Y.S.3d 520 [4th Dept. 2015], lv denied 27 N.Y.3d 1151, 39 N.Y.S.3d 385, 62 N.E.3d 125 [2016]).
[5] Defendant’s contention that he was punished for exercising his right to trial is not preserved for our review (see People v. Gilmore, 202 A.D.3d 1453, 1454, 158 N.Y.S.3d 916 [4th Dept. 2022], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 1008, 168 N.Y.S.3d 359, 188 N.E.3d 551 [2022]; People v. Dupuis, 192 A.D.3d 1626, 1627, 140 N.Y.S.3d 848 [4th Dept. 2021], lv denied. 37 N.Y.3d 964, 148 N.Y.S.3d 764, 171 N.E.3d 240 [2021]), and we decline to exercise our power to review that contention as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see CPL 470.15 [6] [a]). Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.