Opinion
1087 CA 17–01450
11-09-2018
In the Matter of the Application of STATE of New York, Petitioner–Respondent, v. NATHANIEL W., for Civil Management Pursuant To Article 10 of the Mental Hygiene Law, Respondent–Appellant.
SARAH M. FALLON, DIRECTOR, MENTAL HYGIENE LEGAL SERVICE, ROCHESTER (KAREN BAILEY TURNER OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT–APPELLANT. BARBARA D. UNDERWOOD, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALBANY (KATHLEEN M. TREASURE OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER–RESPONDENT.
SARAH M. FALLON, DIRECTOR, MENTAL HYGIENE LEGAL SERVICE, ROCHESTER (KAREN BAILEY TURNER OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT–APPELLANT.
BARBARA D. UNDERWOOD, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALBANY (KATHLEEN M. TREASURE OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER–RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, PERADOTTO, DEJOSEPH, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: Respondent appeals from an order pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law article 10 determining, following a nonjury trial, that he is a dangerous sex offender requiring confinement (see § 10.03[e] ) and committing him to a secure treatment facility. We affirm.
We reject respondent's contention that the determination is against the weight of the evidence. Supreme Court "was in the best position to evaluate the weight and credibility" of the conflicting expert testimony presented and we see no reason to disturb the court's decision to credit the testimony of petitioner's expert ( Matter of Allan M. v. State of New York, 163 A.D.3d 1493, 1493, 80 N.Y.S.3d 838 [4th Dept. 2018] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of State of New York v. Scott W., 160 A.D.3d 1424, 1426, 76 N.Y.S.3d 332 [4th Dept. 2018], lv denied 31 N.Y.3d 913, 2018 WL 3149513 [2018] ; Matter of Billinger v. State of New York, 137 A.D.3d 1757, 1758, 27 N.Y.S.3d 423 [4th Dept. 2016], lv denied 27 N.Y.3d 911, 2016 WL 3553381 [2016] ).