SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

546 

KA 12-00838 

PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., FAHEY, LINDLEY, SCONIERS, AND VALENTINO, JJ. 

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, 

V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

ERIC J. MOTZER, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. 

 

NORMAN P. EFFMAN, PUBLIC DEFENDER, WARSAW (GREGORY A. KILBURN OF

COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. 

DONALD G. O’GEEN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WARSAW (VINCENT A. HEMMING OF

COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT. 

 

Appeal from a judgment of the Wyoming County Court (Mark H. Dadd,

J.), rendered April 5, 2012. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a

jury verdict, of rape in the second degree, criminal sexual act in the

second degree, criminal sale of marihuana in the second degree and

endangering the welfare of a child. 

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is

unanimously modified as a matter of discretion in the interest of

justice and on the law by directing that the sentences shall run

concurrently with respect to each other and by amending the order of

protection and as modified the judgment is affirmed and the matter is

remitted to Wyoming County Court for further proceedings in accordance

with the following Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting

him upon a jury verdict of rape in the second degree (Penal Law §

130.30 [1]), criminal sexual act in the second degree (§ 130.45 [1]),

criminal sale of marihuana in the second degree (§ 221.50), and

endangering the welfare of a child (§ 260.10 [1]), defendant contends

that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. We reject

that contention. Viewing the evidence in light of the elements of the

crimes as charged to the jury (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342,

349), we conclude that the verdict is not against the weight of the

evidence (see generally People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495). 

“[R]esolution of issues of credibility, as well as the weight to be

accorded to the evidence presented, are primarily questions to be

determined by the jury” (People v Witherspoon, 66 AD3d 1456, 1457, lv

denied 13 NY3d 942 [internal quotation marks omitted]).

Defendant’s further contention that he was punished for

exercising his right to a jury trial is not preserved for our review

“inasmuch as defendant failed to raise [it] at sentencing” (People v

Stubinger, 87 AD3d 1316, 1317, lv denied 18 NY3d 862), and in any

event it lacks merit. “ ‘[T]he mere fact that a sentence imposed
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KA 12-00838 

after trial is greater than that offered in connection with plea

negotiations is not proof that defendant was punished for asserting

his right to trial . . . , and there is no indication in the record

before us that the sentencing court acted in a vindictive manner based

on defendant’s exercise of the right to a trial’ ” (id.). We agree

with defendant, however, that the sentence is unduly harsh and severe. 

We therefore modify the sentence as a matter of discretion in the

interest of justice by directing that all of the sentences shall run

concurrently with respect to each other (see CPL 470.15 [6] [b]). In

view of our modification of the judgment with respect to the sentence,

we further modify the judgment by amending the order of protection,

and we remit the matter to County Court for a recalculation of its

expiration date (see generally People v Wallace, 53 AD3d 795, 798, lv

denied 11 NY3d 795). 

Entered: June 7, 2013 Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court