People v Johnson
2011 NY Slip Op 08955 [90 AD3d 676]
December 6, 2011
Appellate Division, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, February 1, 2012


The People of the State of New York, Respondent,
v
Anthony Johnson, Appellant.

[*1] Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Kendra L. Hutchinson of counsel), for appellant.

Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Ann Bordley of counsel; Samuel K. Mersky on the brief), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Mullen, J.), rendered June 11, 2009, convicting him of robbery in the first degree (two counts), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Contrary to the defendant's contention, the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620 [1983]), was legally sufficient to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, his identity as one of two robbers. 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, 348-349 [2007]; People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633, 644-645 [2006]), 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], cert denied 542 US 946 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]; People v Jean-Marie, 67 AD3d 704, 704 [2009]). Upon reviewing the record, we are satisfied that the jury's verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]). Mastro, A.P.J., Florio, Lott and Cohen, JJ., concur.