People v DelPrince
2010 NY Slip Op 01131 [70 AD3d 1350]
February 11, 2010
Appellate Division, Fourth Department
As corrected through Wednesday, March 31, 2010


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

[*1]Michael B. Jones, Buffalo, for defendant-appellant.

Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Susan H. Sadinsky of counsel), forrespondent.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Erie County (M. William Boller, A.J.),rendered May 2, 2008. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of assault in thesecond degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.

Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict ofassault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [9]) and endangering the welfare of achild (§ 260.10 [1]). Contrary to defendant's contention, Supreme Court properly allowedthe five-year-old victim to give unsworn testimony (see People v Paul, 48 AD3d 833 [2008], lv denied 10NY3d 868 [2008]; People v Miller, 295 AD2d 746, 747-748 [2002]). Although thevictim did not understand the nature of an oath and thus could not give sworn testimony, hepossessed "sufficient intelligence and capacity" to give unsworn evidence (CPL 60.20 [2]; see People v Raymond, 60 AD3d1388 [2009], lv denied 12 NY3d 919 [2009]). Defendant failed to preserve for ourreview his further contention that the victim's unsworn testimony was not sufficientlycorroborated (see Raymond, 60 AD3d 1388 [2009]; People v McLoud, 291AD2d 867 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 678 [2002]) and, in any event, that contention iswithout merit (see Raymond, 60 AD3d 1388 [2009]; Paul, 48 AD3d 833 [2008];see generally CPL 60.20 [3]; People v Groff, 71 NY2d 101, 103-104, 109-110[1987]). Defendant also failed to preserve for our review his contention that the evidence islegally insufficient to establish that the victim sustained a physical injury (see People v Hawkes, 39 AD3d1209, 1210 [2007], lv denied 9 NY3d 844, 845 [2007]; People v Sommerville, 30 AD3d1093, 1095 [2006]). Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the crimes as chargedto the jury (see People v Danielson,9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of theevidence (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Finally, thesentence is not unduly harsh or severe. Present—Centra, J.P., Peradotto, Lindley, Pine andGorski, JJ.


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