120 A.D.3d 587
N.Y. App. Div.
2014

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v JAMES GOODMAN, Appellant.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Department

990 NYS2d 836

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Tomei, J.), rendered February 28, 2011, convicting him of robbery in the first degree and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant‘s contention that the identification evidence was legally insufficient to support his convictions of robbery in the first degree and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Shearer, 114 AD3d 708 [2014]). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant‘s identity 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 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490 [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]).

Upon our review of the issues preserved for appellate review that relate to the alleged failure of the People to properly authenticate certain recordings of telephone calls made by the defendant while he was incarcerated, we find the defendant‘s contentions with respect to those issues to be without merit (see People v Vasser, 97 AD3d 767 [2012]; People v Collins, 90 AD3d 1069 [2011]).

The defendant‘s remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review. Dillon, J.P., Hall, Sgroi and Barros, JJ., concur.