People v Diaz, 2019 NY Slip Op 06199 [175 AD3d 603]

August 21, 2019

Appellate Division, Second Department

[*1]

The People of the State of New York, Respondent,

v

Joshua Diaz, Appellant.

Paul Skip Laisure, New York, NY (Samuel Barr of counsel), for appellant.

John M. Ryan, Acting District Attorney, Kew Gardens, NY (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, William H. Branigan, and Vinnette K. Campbell of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Evelyn L. Braun, J.), rendered April 27, 2017, convicting him of assault in the second degree, resisting arrest, and theft of services, after a nonjury trial, 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, 621 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient to disprove the defendant’s justification defense and to establish the defendant’s guilt of assault in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt ( see People v Chiddick , 8 NY3d 445 , 447 [2007]; People v Perry , 122 AD3d 775 , 776 [2014]; People v Saeed , 60 AD3d 975 , 977 [2009]; People v Williams , 23 AD3d 589 [2005]). Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence ( see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson , 9 NY3d 342 [2007]), we nevertheless accord great deference to the fact-finder’s opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor ( see People v Mateo , 2 NY3d 383 [2004]; People v Bleakley , 69 NY2d 490 [1987]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to that crime was not against the weight of the evidence ( see People v Romero , 7 NY3d 633 [2006]). Scheinkman, P.J., LaSalle, Barros and Iannacci, JJ., concur..