In re Billy G.
Opinion of the Court
As the presentment agency concedes, the court’s finding was not based on legally sufficient evidence. Evidence is legally insufficient when no rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt (Jackson v Virginia, 443 US 307, 319 [1979]). Under this standard, it is clear the evidence was insufficient. The evidence only established that appellant was present in an apartment where a group of adults, also arrested, were apparently conducting a drug-selling operation. None of the contraband was in open view or connected in any way with appellant, and the evidence did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant was a participant in the criminal enterprise (compare People v Bundy, 90 NY2d 918, 920 [1997]). Concur—Buckley, P.J., Friedman, Marlow, Nardelli and McGuire, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.