People v Kearse, 2020 NY Slip Op 06144 [187 AD3d 1209]

October 28, 2020

Appellate Division, Second Department

[*1]

The People of the State of New York, Respondent,

v

Shyron T. Kearse, Appellant.

Paul Skip Laisure, New York, NY (Priya Raghavan of counsel), for appellant.

Melinda Katz, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, NY (Johnnette Traill, Ellen C. Abbot, and Eunice Villantoy of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Michael Aloise, J.), rendered April 17, 2018, convicting him of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (two counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that judgment is affirmed.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People ( see People v Contes , 60 NY2d 620 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 jury’s opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor ( see People v Mateo , 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]; People v Bleakley , 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence ( see People v Romero , 7 NY3d 633 [2006]).

The sentence imposed was not excessive ( see People v Suitte , 90 AD2d 80 [1982]). Maltese, J.P., Dillon, Leventhal and Connolly, JJ., concur..