Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Jose Pagan, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2002-02-19
Citations: 291 A.D.2d 509
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Jose Pagan, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 291
Pages: 509–510

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Jose Pagan, Appellant.
[738 NYS2d 233]

Opinion:
—Appeal by the defen dant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Chambers, J.), rendered January 27, 2000, convicting him of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see, People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The complainant's former drug addiction, criminal history, and explanations of his prior arrests, which were fully explored before the jury, did not render his testimony incredible as a matter of law (see, People v Butler, 221 AD2d 458; People v Walker, 215 AD2d 607; People v Harris, 215 AD2d 586). Moreover, resolution 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, which saw and heard the witnesses (see, People v Gaimari, 176 NY 84, 94). Its determination should be accorded great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the record (see, People v Garafolo, 44 AD2d 86, 88). Upon the exercise of our factual review power, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see, CPL 470.15 [5]).
The sentence imposed was not excessive (see, People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80). Prudenti, P.J., O'Brien, Friedmann and McGinity, JJ., concur.