Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Cesar Romero, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2012-12-20
Citations: 101 A.D.3d 560
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Cesar Romero, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 101
Pages: 560–560

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Cesar Romero, Appellant.
[955 NYS2d 509]

Opinion:
The verdict was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 348-349 [2007]). Defendant's criminal intent could be readily inferred from the surrounding circumstances (see generally People v Mackey, 49 NY2d 274, 278-279 [1980]). Defendant's presence in a walk-in closet inside an apartment in the early morning hours, with his hands above his head near a jewelry box, provided ample evidence that defendant entered the apartment with intent to commit a crime therein. The jury properly rejected the implausible explanation that defendant offered for his actions (see e.g. People v Jenkins, 213 AD2d 279 [1st Dept 1995], lv denied 85 NY2d 974 [1995]). Concur— Andrias, J.P., Saxe, Moskowitz, Freedman and Abdus-Salaam, JJ.