| People v Aikey |
| 2012 NY Slip Op 03291 [94 AD3d 1485] |
| April 27, 2012 |
| Appellate Division, Fourth Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Richard E.Aikey, Jr., Appellant. |
—[*1] Richard E. Aikey, Jr., defendant-appellant pro se. R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua (James B. Ritts of counsel), forrespondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Ontario County Court (Frederick G. Reed, A.J.), renderedOctober 22, 2008. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of course of sexualconduct against a child in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child (two counts).
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of, inter alia,course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree (Penal Law § 130.80 [1] [b]),defendant contends that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence based on inconsistenciesin the testimony of one of the victims. Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of thecrimes as charged to the jury (see Peoplev Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349 [2007]), we reject that contention (see generallyPeople v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). "Great deference is to be accorded to the fact[]finder's resolution of credibility issues based upon its superior vantage point and its opportunityto view witnesses, observe demeanor and hear the testimony" (People v Curry, 82 AD3d 1650,1651 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 805 [2011] [internal quotation marks omitted]; seePeople v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004], cert denied 542 US 946 [2004]).
Contrary to defendant's further contention, County Court did not abuse its discretion indenying his request for an adjournment when his attorney became ill. "The court's exercise ofdiscretion in denying a request for an adjournment will not be overturned absent a showing ofprejudice" (People v Arroyo, 161 AD2d 1127, 1127 [1990], lv denied 76 NY2d852 [1990]). Here, defense counsel continued to represent defendant at trial, and thus defendantfailed to establish that he was prejudiced by the court's denial of his request.
We reject defendant's contention that he was punished for exercising his right to a trial. "'[T]he mere fact that a sentence imposed after trial is greater than that offered in connection withplea negotiations is not proof that defendant was punished for asserting his right to trial' " (People v Powell, 81 AD3d 1307,1308 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 799 [2011]; see generally People v Pena, 50NY2d 400, 411-412 [1980], rearg denied 51 NY2d 770 [1980], cert denied 449US 1087 [1981]). The record before us establishes that, although the court indicated it waswilling to accept an Alford plea with a [*2]shortersentence than the sentence that was eventually imposed, that offer was made to spare the childvictims the trauma of testifying against defendant, their uncle (see People v Austin, 190AD2d 508, 509 [1993], lv denied 81 NY2d 1011 [1993]). "There is no 'evidence thatdefendant was given the lengthier sentence solely as a punishment for exercising his right to atrial' " (People v Johnson, 56 AD3d1172, 1173 [2008], lv denied 11 NY3d 926 [2009]; see Pena, 50 NY2d at411-412). In addition, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
Defendant's contention in his pro se supplemental brief that the court erred in allowing thePeople's expert to bolster the testimony of one of the victims is not preserved for our review (see People v Smith, 24 AD3d1253, 1253 [2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 818 [2006]). In any event, that contention iswithout merit (see generally People v Carroll, 95 NY2d 375, 387 [2000]; People v Wallace, 60 AD3d 1268,1270 [2009], lv denied 12 NY3d 922 [2009]). Contrary to the further contention ofdefendant in his pro se supplemental brief, "[t]he failure of defense counsel to obtain thetestimony of an expert does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel because defendant hasnot shown that 'such testimony was available, that it would have assisted the jury in itsdetermination or that [defendant] was prejudiced by its absence' " (People v Brandi E., 38 AD3d1218, 1219 [2007], lv denied 9 NY3d 863 [2007]; see People v Prince, 5 AD3d 1098,1098 [2004], lv denied 2 NY3d 804 [2004]). Present—Scudder, P.J., Smith, Fahey,Carni and Sconiers, JJ.