Case Name: In the Matter of Dillon R., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2015-02-11
Citations: 125 A.D.3d 781
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Dillon R., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 125
Pages: 781–782

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Dillon R., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant.
[3 NYS3d 123]—

Opinion:
Appeal from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Terrence J. McElrath, J.), dated December 10, 2013. The order adjudicated Dillon R. a juvenile delinquent and placed him on probation for a period of 18 months. The appeal from the order of disposition brings up for review a fact-finding order of that court dated November 12, 2013, which found, after a hearing, that Dillon R. committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes of robbery in the second degree, menacing in the third degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, and grand larceny in the fourth degree.
Ordered that the order of disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the presentment agency (see Matter of David H., 69 NY2d 792, 793 [1987]), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the appellant committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes of robbery in the second degree, menacing in the third degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, and grand larceny in the fourth degree (see Family Ct Act § 342.2 [2]). Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see Matter of Dashawn R., 120 AD3d 1250, 1251 [2014]; cf. CPL 470.15 [5]), we nevertheless accord great deference to the opportunity of the trier of fact to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see Matter of Dashawn R., 120 AD3d at 1251; cf People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the Family Court's fact-finding determination was not against the weight of the evidence (cf. People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]).
Mastro, J.P., Dickerson, Maltese and Barros, JJ., concur.