Filed Date: 12/2/2008
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 11/1/2024
The Family Court did not err in denying that branch of the appellant’s pretrial motion which sought to preclude police testimony. Although the appellant contends that he was
The Family Court did not improvidently exercise its discretion in finding that the forensic scientist possessed the requisite skill, training, education, knowledge, or expertise to render a rehable opinion as to the identity of the material seized upon the appellant’s arrest (see People v Menendez, 50 AD3d 1061 [2008]). Further, the evidence provided reasonable assurances as to the chain of custody of the material in question (see People v Julian, 41 NY2d 340, 343 [1977]; People v Valdez, 41 AD3d 316 [2007]; People v Isaac, 40 AD3d 1118 [2007]). Thus, any deficiencies in the chain of custody went only to the weight to be accorded the evidence, not its admissibility (see People v Julian, 41 NY2d at 343; People v Isaac, 40 AD3d at 1118).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Presentment Agency (see Matter of David H., 69 NY2d 792, 793 [1987]; Matter of Charles S., 41 AD3d 484, 485 [2007]), we find that it was legally sufficient to support the finding that the appellant committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree (see Penal Law § 221.10). Upon our independent factual review, we are satisfied that the Family Court’s findings of fact were not against the weight of the evidence (cf. CPL 470.15 [5]).
The appellant’s remaining contentions are without merit. Ritter, J.P., Florio, Miller and Dillon, JJ., concur.