People v McFarley
2010 NY Slip Op 06827 [77 AD3d 1282]
October 1, 2010
Appellate Division, Fourth Department
As corrected through Wednesday, December 15, 2010


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

[*1]Timothy P. Donaher, Public Defender, Rochester (David M. Abbatoy, Jr., of counsel), fordefendant-appellant.

Michael C. Green, District Attorney, Rochester (Geoffrey Kaeuper of counsel), forrespondent.

Appeal from a judgment of the Monroe County Court (Elma A. Bellini, J.), rendered April 26,2007. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of 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 after a jury trial of endangeringthe welfare of a child (Penal Law § 260.10 [1]). Contrary to defendant's contention, viewing theevidence in light of the elements of the crime as charged to the jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342,348-349 [2007]), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the evidence (seegenerally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). It cannot be said that the victim'stestimony was incredible as a matter of law (see People v Rufus, 56 AD3d 1175 [2008], lv denied 11 NY3d930 [2009]; cf. People v O'Neil, 66AD3d 1131, 1133-1134 [2009]). We note in any event that defense counsel highlighted theevidence concerning the motivation of the victim to fabricate her allegations, and the jury's resolution ofcredibility issues with respect to the victim's testimony is entitled to great deference (see People v Young, 55 AD3d 1234,1235-1236 [2008], lv denied 11 NY3d 901 [2008]; People v Baker, 30 AD3d 1102 [2006], lv denied 7 NY3d 846[2006]). Present—Scudder, P.J., Martoche, Peradotto, Green and Gorski, JJ.


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