Court Opinion

ID: 9822147
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 08:48:48.124632+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:14:58.287387
License: Public Domain

Rivera, J.R,
concurs in part and dissents in part, and votes to dismiss the appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the appellant on probation for a period of 12 months, affirm the order of disposition insofar as reviewed, and affirm the order dated April 28, 2014, with the following memorandum: For the reasons that follow, I would affirm the order of disposition insofar as reviewed and affirm the order dated April 28, 2014.
On October 21, 2013, the presentment agency filed a petition alleging that the appellant, who was then 12 years old, had committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes of aggravated cruelty to animals in *1043violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a (1), and overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 353.
At a fact-finding hearing, the presentment agency presented, inter alia, the testimony of an eyewitness. The eyewitness testified that, on September 11, 2013, at approximately 3:20 p.m. to 3:25 p.m., she observed the appellant throwing into the air a grey kitten, later identified as a five-month old kitten named “Little Old Man.” As a vehicle proceeding at a “good speed” approached, the witness observed the appellant throw the kitten underneath the vehicle, where it was “immediate[ly]” crushed to death. At the time that the appellant threw the kitten under the vehicle, there were no other individuals present with the appellant.
Upon observing this conduct, the witness confronted the appellant. The witness and the appellant engaged in a heated verbal exchange. During their verbal interaction, the witness stood approximately 10 feet away from the appellant. Thereafter, she continued to follow the appellant as the appellant walked away. The witness stated that the appellant turned around and stated to her, ‘You like what you see, You like what you see, Keep watching, Take a picture, it lasts longer.” The witness estimated that approximately five minutes elapsed from the time that she initially observed the appellant tossing the kitten to when the appellant walked away. During that time, the witness did not lose sight of the appellant.
The following day, the witness returned to the area of the incident with an investigator from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. On that day, she identified the appellant as the youth who committed the subject acts against the kitten. The witness testified, “I saw her profile and then when we got ahead of her I saw her face and I knew a hundred fifty percent it was her.”
On her own behalf, the appellant presented the testimony of the assistant principal of her school, who testified that the appellant was not known to have disciplinary problems in school. Further, the appellant’s babysitter testified, among other things, that the appellant “always” arrived home from school at approximately 3:30 p.m. The appellant’s mother testified that, on September 11, 2013, at 3:37 p.m., she received a telephone call from the appellant. Finally, the appellant herself testified to the effect that she would never hurt any animal.
Following the fact-finding hearing, the Family Court found that the appellant committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crimes enumerated in the *1044petition. Thereafter, the appellant moved pursuant to Family Court Act §§ 315.2 and 355.1 to vacate the fact-finding order and to dismiss the petition in the interest of justice. In an order dated April 28, 2014, the court denied the motion. The court concluded that the presentment agency’s evidence established that the appellant “deliberately” placed the kitten in front of oncoming vehicular traffic and found that the appellant’s identity as the perpetrator was established beyond a reasonable doubt. In an order of disposition dated April 29, 2014, the Family Court adjudged the appellant to be a juvenile delinquent and placed her on probation for a period of 12 months.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the presentment agency (see Matter of David H., 69 NY2d 792, 793 [1987]), I 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 aggravated cruelty to animals, in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a (1), and overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals in violation of Agriculture and Markets Law § 353. Moreover, contrary to the determination of my colleagues in the majority, in fulfilling my responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see Matter of Tevin K., 127 AD3d 1090, 1091 [2015]; Matter of Dashawn R., 120 AD3d 1250, 1251 [2014]; Matter of Kaseem R., 113 AD3d 779, 780 [2014]; cf. CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342 [2007]), I nevertheless accord great deference to the opportunity of the factfinder to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe the demeanor (cf. People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]). Upon reviewing the record, I am satisfied that the Family Court’s fact-finding determination was not against the weight of the evidence (see Family Ct Act § 342.2 [2]; Matter of Darnell C., 66 AD3d 771, 772 [2009]; cf. People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633, 644-645 [2006]).
Here, a disinterested witness with absolutely no motive to lie consistently and credibly testified that she observed the appellant commit the subject acts against the kitten. Contrary to the finding of my colleagues in the majority, as discussed above, the witness’s opportunity and ability to observe the appellant were not limited. During the course of the subject events, which occurred in daylight, the witness had an unobstructed view of the appellant. She had ample opportunity to observe the appellant as the appellant tossed the kitten up in the air and then under the moving vehicle. The witness and the appellant were facing each other during the verbal exchange after the kitten’s *1045demise. This encounter provided another occasion for the witness to observe the appellant’s facial features and demeanor. Further, the witness watched as the appellant walked down the block and turned around to address additional remarks to her. She estimated that five minutes elapsed from when she initially observed the appellant toss the kitten in the air until the appellant walked away. Significantly, throughout her testimony, the witness remained steadfast with regard to her certainty that the appellant was the youth whom she observed throw the kitten under the moving vehicle.
The witness’s strong identification testimony, which was fully credited by the Family Court, was not undermined by the self-serving evidence offered on the appellant’s behalf by her witnesses. The Family Court’s credibility determinations should not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by the record (see Matter of Darnell G., 125 AD3d 969 [2015]; Matter of Christopher H., 123 AD3d 713, 714 [2014]). Upon reviewing the record, I am satisfied that the determinations of the Family Court were not against the weight of the evidence and I discern no basis upon which to disturb the Family Court’s determinations.
The appellant’s remaining contentions are without merit.