Court Opinion

ID: 4083009
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-07 23:42:14.234745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:14:41.625360
License: Public Domain

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
             Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

1038
CA 13-00541
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, VALENTINO, WHALEN, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ.

IN THE MATTER OF STATE OF NEW YORK,
PETITIONER-RESPONDENT,

                     V                              MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

DOUGLAS KENNEDY, RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

KEVIN J. BAUER, ALBANY, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALBANY (FRANK BRADY OF
COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER-RESPONDENT.

     Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Erie County (John L.
Michalski, A.J.), entered March 11, 2013 in a proceeding pursuant to
Mental Hygiene Law article 10. The order, among other things,
committed respondent to a secure treatment facility.

     It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is
unanimously affirmed without costs.

     Memorandum: Respondent appeals from an order determining that he
is a dangerous sex offender requiring confinement pursuant to Mental
Hygiene Law article 10 and committing him to a secure treatment
facility. Contrary to respondent’s contention, Supreme Court’s
determination that respondent “is likely to be a danger to others and
to commit sex offenses if not confined to a secure treatment facility”
is not against the weight of the evidence (§ 10.03 [e]; see Matter of
State of New York v Reeve, 87 AD3d 1378, 1378, lv denied 18 NY3d 804;
see generally § 10.03 [i]). The court was “in the best position to
evaluate the weight and credibility of the conflicting psychiatric
testimony presented” (Matter of State of New York v Timothy JJ., 70
AD3d 1138, 1144; see Matter of State of New York v Richard VV., 74
AD3d 1402, 1405), and we see no reason to disturb the court’s decision
to credit the testimony of petitioner’s expert over that of
respondent’s expert (see Matter of State of New York v Boutelle, 85
AD3d 1607, 1607; Timothy JJ., 70 AD3d at 1145).

Entered:   October 3, 2014                      Frances E. Cafarell
                                                Clerk of the Court