In re Gregory AA.
Opinion of the Court
Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Tompkins County (Sherman, J.), entered September 7, 2004, which granted petitioner’s application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct Act article 3, to adjudicate respondent a juvenile delinquent.
Respondent, horn in 1989, was charged with committing acts which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crimes of criminal sexual act in the first degree (see Penal Law § 130.50 [3]), sexual abuse in the first degree (see Penal Law § 130.65 [3]) and sexual abuse in the second degree (see Penal Law § 130.60 [2]). Respondent allegedly inserted his penis into the rectum of a seven-year-old boy and rubbed his penis against the leg of a 12-year-old boy. After a hearing, Family Court made an affirmative finding concerning the crimes of criminal sexual act in the first degree and sexual abuse in the first degree involving the seven-year-old victim and dismissed the charge alleging acts constituting the crime of sexual abuse in the second degree pertaining to the 12-year-old victim. The court therefore adjudicated respondent to be a juvenile delinquent. This appeal ensued.
Respondent claims that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. To properly assess that contention, we must determine whether “ ‘the evidence, the law, and the circum
Next addressing whether counsel failed to prevent “prompt outcry” testimony from being admitted into evidence, we recognize that the seven-year-old victim did not make á disclosure for at least two months. Out-of-court statements are generally not used to bolster a witness’s testimony, but “evidence that a victim of sexual assault promptly complained about the incident is admissible to corroborate the allegation that an assault took place” (People v McDaniel, 81 NY2d 10, 16 [1993]; see People v Allen, 13 AD3d 892, 894 [2004]). While the disclosure must be prompt, there is no set time limit, only that the complaint be made “ ‘at the first suitable opportunity’ ” (People v McDaniel, supra at 17, quoting People v O’Sullivan, 104 NY 481, 486 [1887]; see People v Allen, supra at 894-895). Recognizing this to be a factual determination (see People v McDaniel, supra at 17) and, if admissible, limited only to testimony that a complaint was made and not the details thereof (see id.; People v Herring, 227 AD2d 658, 660 [1996], lv denied 88 NY2d 986 [1996]), we find no error. Reference to the seven-year-old’s disclosure was appropriately limited both through objection by respondent’s counsel and Family Court’s limitation of the scope of question
Viewing the record in its totality, we find that in light of counsel’s strategy and the testimony elicited in furtherance thereof, respondent was provided with meaningful representation (see People v Caban, 5 NY3d 143 [2005]). Further concluding that Family Court complied with CPLR 4213 (b) by stating the essential, ultimate facts in its decision (see Matter of Jose L.I., 46 NY2d 1024, 1025-1026 [1979]; Matter of Kaitlyn R., 279 AD2d 912, 914 [2001]), we find no viable procedural challenge. For all of these reasons, we affirm.
Cardona, P.J., Spain, Carpinello and Mugglin, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.
Respondent’s assertion that the ineffective assistance claim is buttressed by counsel’s failure to request a ruling limiting testimony regarding his general practices involving masturbation and condom use is academic since the charge to which such conduct was relevant was dismissed by Family Court.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.