—[*1] Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Cheryl P. Williams of counsel), for appellant.

Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Nicoletta J. Caferri, and Rebecca Height of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Eng, J.), rendered March 22, 2006, convicting him of aggravated sexual abuse in the third degree, upon a nonjury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

As a threshold matter, the defendant's challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Hawkins, 11 NY3d 484 [2008]; People v Gordon, 47 AD3d 833, 833-834 [2008]; People v Colon, 43 AD3d 951 [2007]). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]; People v Hayes, 47 AD3d 835 [2008]), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (see People v Burgos, 18 AD3d 667 [2005]; People v Smith, 303 AD2d 426 [2003]; People v Best, 294 AD2d 512 [2002]). 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 opportunity of the trier of fact to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004], cert denied 542 US 946 [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 [*2]People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]). Rivera, J.P., Santucci, Carni and Dickerson, JJ., concur.