Case ID: ad2d_161/html/1166-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Christopher R. Weston, Appellant.
   Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: The trial court properly refused to charge, sexual abuse in the second degree as a lesser included offense of sodomy in the second degree. Despite the concession by the People to the contrary, sexual abuse is not a lesser included offense of sodomy (see, Matter of Matthew P., 161 AD2d 1195 [decided herewith]). Moreover, here, the victim testified that defendant had anal intercourse with him, whereas defendant, testifying in his own defense, denied any sexual activity whatsoever between him and the victim. Therefore, the jury was faced with a credibility question which could result in either defendant’s conviction for sodomy or his acquittal. Consequently, there was no reasonable view of the evidence which could result in a finding that defendant committed sexual abuse but not sodomy (see, People v Glover, 57 NY2d 61, 63; People v Diaz, 150 AD2d 885, 886, lv denied 74 NY2d 808; People v Blair, 148 AD2d 767, 768, lv denied 74 NY2d 661; People v Norman, 147 AD2d 717; People v Carter, 137 AD2d 826, 827-828, lv denied 71 NY2d 1024). (Appeal from judgment of Herkimer County Court, Bergin, J.—sodomy, second degree.) Present—Callahan, J. P., Doerr, Boomer, Green and Davis, JJ.