Case Name: In the Matter of Dante W., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2001-10-18
Citations: 287 A.D.2d 347
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Dante W., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 287
Pages: 347–347

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Dante W., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant.
[731 NYS2d 687]

Opinion:
—Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Harold Lynch, J.), entered on or about August 14, 2000, which adjudicated appellant a juvenile delinquent, upon a fact-finding determination that he committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree (four counts), and placed him on probation for a term of two years, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court properly permitted the seven-year-old victim to give sworn testimony and the five-year-old victim to give unsworn testimony, in light of the voir dire responses of the two children demonstrating their ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood and to appreciate the consequences of lying in court, the older child's additional responses indicating that he understood the nature of an oath, and the court's observation of the victims' maturity in comparison with other children their ages (see, Family Ct Act § 343.1 [2]; People v Cordero, 257 AD2d 372, 374, lv denied 93 NY2d 968; Matter of Ralph D., 163 AD2d 752, 753-754).
The court's finding was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence. There is no basis upon which to disturb the court's determinations concerning credibility. The credible evidence clearly established the element of sexual gratification (see, Penal Law § 130.00 [3]; § 130.65; Matter of Troy B., 270 AD2d 107). Concur — Wallach, J. P., Rubin, Buckley, Friedman and Marlow, JJ.