People v Clas
2008 NY Slip Op 06844 [54 AD3d 770]
September 9, 2008
Appellate Division, Second Department
As corrected through Wednesday, October 29, 2008


The People of the State of New York, Respondent,
v
JoseClas, Appellant.

[*1]Robert C. Mitchell, Riverhead, N.Y. (John M. Dowden of counsel), for appellant.

Thomas J. Spota, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Edward A. Bannan and Glenn Green ofcounsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (Kahn, J.),rendered June 10, 2005, convicting him of criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse inthe first degree (two counts), and endangering the welfare of a child, upon a jury verdict, andimposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's contention that the testimony of the People's witness Dr. Jocelyn Brownamounted to improper bolstering of the complainant's testimony is unpreserved for appellatereview (see CPL 470.05 [2]) since the defendant's objection at trial was based upongrounds different from those raised on appeal (see People v Saladana, 208 AD2d 872[1994]), and his general objection was insufficient to preserve the issue for appellate review(see People v Walker, 182 AD2d 657 [1992]).

The defendant's argument regarding the testimony of the People's expert Dr. Eileen Traceyregarding child abuse accommodation syndrome is unpreserved for appellate review (seeCPL 470.05 [2]; People v Naranjo, 194 AD2d 747, 748 [1993]) and, in any event, iswithout merit (see People v Carroll, 95 NY2d 375, 387 [2000]; People v Taylor,75 NY2d 277, 288 [1990]; People vHiggins, 12 AD3d 775, 778-779 [2004]).

The defendant's challenges to the testimony of the complainant's aunt and mother are alsounpreserved for appellate review (seePeople v Patten, 43 AD3d 964, 965 [2007]; People v Valentine, 48 AD3d 1268 [2008]) and, in any event, arewithout merit.[*2]

The trial court properly denied the defendant's request fora missing witness charge with respect to his six-year-old son because the request, which wasmade after both sides had rested, was untimely (see People v Lubrano, 43 AD3d 829 [2007]; People vTilghman, 233 AD2d 348 [1996]). In any event, the record demonstrates that the uncalledwitness was equally available to both parties (see People v Jean-Baptiste, 37 AD3d 852 [2007]; People vHerrera, 285 AD2d 613, 614 [2001]).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People vContes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), we find that the sworn testimony of the complainantestablishing the required elements of criminal sexual act in the first degree (see PenalLaw § 130.50 [3]; § 130.00 [2] [a]) as well as sexual abuse in the first degree(see Penal Law § 130.65 [3]; § 130.00 [3]), constituted legally sufficientevidence of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (see People v Pryce, 41 AD3d 983, 984 [2007]; People vEdkin, 210 AD2d 808, 809-810 [1994]; People v Lashway, 187 AD2d 747, 749[1992]; People v Ali, 178 AD2d 418 [1991]). Moreover, upon the exercise of our factualreview power (see CPL 470.15 [5]), we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was notagainst the weight of the evidence.

The sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80, 86-88[1982]). Rivera, J.P., Fisher, Lifson and Dillon, JJ., concur.


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