In re Raymond M.
Matter of Raymond M. v Benjamin M.
2004 NY Slip Op 09075
Decided on
Appellate Division, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to
Judiciary Law § 431.
This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before
publication in the Official Reports.
Decided on
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF
APPELLATE DIVISION : SECOND
JUDICIAL DEPARMENT
NANCY E. SMITH, J.P.
STEPHEN G. CRANE
WILLIAM F. MASTRO
PETER B. SKELOS, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
2003-10041
[*1]In the Matter of Raymond M.
(Anonymous). Orange County Department of Social Services, respondent;
and
Benjamin M. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1)
In the Matter of Samantha M. (Anonymous).
Orange County Department of Social Services, respondent;
and
Benjamin M. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2)
In the Matter of Tiffany M. (Anonymous).
Orange County Department of Social Services, respondent;
and
Benjamin M. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 3)
(Docket Nos. NA-2487-03, NN-2488-03, NN-2489-03)
George E. Reed, Jr.,
David L. Darwin,
(Peter R. Schwartz and Stephen
Toole of counsel), for respondent.
Gary E. Eisenberg,
children.
In three child protective proceedings pursuant to Family
Court Act article 10, the father appeals from an order of disposition of the
Family Court, Orange County (Kiedaisch, J.), entered
October 27, 2003, which, upon a fact-finding order of the same court entered
September 9, 2003, and after a hearing, found that he sexually abused and
neglected the children Samantha M. and Tiffany M. and derivatively neglected
the child Raymond M. The appeal brings up for review the fact-finding order
entered
ORDERED that the order of disposition is
affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
A preponderance of the evidence supported the Family Court's
determination that the appellant sexually abused and neglected his two
daughters and derivatively neglected his son (see Family Ct. Act § 1046[b][i]; Matter of Nicole V., 71 NY2d
112; Matter of Shavar B., 7 AD3d 619). The
out-of-court statements of the appellant's daughters and the appellant's own
statement to the police corroborated each other (see Matter of Nicole V., supra
at 123-124; Matter of Victoria H., 255 AD2d 442; Matter of Latisha
W., 221 AD2d 645).
Contrary to the appellant's contention, the element of
intent to obtain sexual gratification could be inferred from the totality of
the circumstances (see Matter of Christopher T., 287 AD2d 336; see generally
Matter of Kenny O., 276 AD2d 271, 272; Matter of Gregory W., 266 AD2d 221). In
addition, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in drawing a
negative inference against the appellant upon his failure to testify at the
hearing (see Matter of Joseph C., 297 AD2d 673).
SMITH, J.P., CRANE, MASTRO and SKELOS, JJ.,
concur.
ENTER:
James Edward Pelzer
Clerk of the Court