People v. Gilley

Decision Date05 February 2004
Docket Number2803.
Citation770 N.Y.S.2d 868,4 A.D.3d 127,2004 NY Slip Op 00587
PartiesTHE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. DWAINE GILLEY, Appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

The court properly exercised its discretion in permitting the victim, defendant's daughter, 11 years old at the time of trial, to testify to prior uncharged crimes or immoral acts that he allegedly committed against her. The victim's description of these acts completed her narrative and assisted the jury in its comprehension of the crimes charged, providing necessary background material to explain her relationship with defendant while they lived together in the homeless shelters, and to place the events in a believable context (see People v Feliciano, 301 AD2d 480 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 538 [2003]; People v Santiago, 295 AD2d 214 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 701 [2002]; People v Steinberg, 170 AD2d 50, 72-74 [1991], affd 79 NY2d 673 [1992]). Furthermore, given the fact pattern, the People were entitled to anticipate and address a potential issue as to whether defendant was seeking sexual gratification (see People v Nowlin, 297 AD2d 554 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 770 [2002]; People v Young, 99 AD2d 373 [1984]; compare People v Lewis, 69 NY2d 321, 327 [1987]).

The court properly exercised its discretion in admitting expert testimony regarding child sexual abuse syndrome. This testimony tended to explain matters beyond the ken of the typical juror, such as reactions and behavior of children as a result of sexual abuse, including a general explanation of such victims' untimely disclosures (see People v Grant, 241 AD2d 340 [1997], lv denied 90 NY2d 1011 [1997]; People v Sanchez, 200 AD2d 363 [1994], lv denied 83 NY2d 1007 [1994]). The court gave appropriate limiting instructions negating any likelihood that the jury considered the testimony for an improper purpose.

Concur — Mazzarelli, J.P., Saxe, Ellerin and Williams, JJ.

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3 cases
  • People v. Carey
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 10 February 2012
    ...( People v. Haidara, 65 A.D.3d 974, 885 N.Y.S.2d 415, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 939, 895 N.Y.S.2d 329, 922 N.E.2d 918; see People v. Gilley, 4 A.D.3d 127, 127–128, 770 N.Y.S.2d 868, lv. denied 2 N.Y.3d 799, 781 N.Y.S.2d 299, 814 N.E.2d 471). We note in any event that, “[c]onsidering that the cou......
  • People v. Adoms
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 7 February 2012
    ...over a long period of time ( see People v. Carroll, 95 N.Y.2d 375, 387, 718 N.Y.S.2d 10, 740 N.E.2d 1084 [2000]; People v. Gilley, 4 A.D.3d 127, 128, 770 N.Y.S.2d 868 [2004], lv. denied 2 N.Y.3d 799, 781 N.Y.S.2d 299, 814 N.E.2d 471 [2004] ). Regardless of whether defendant expressly raised......
  • People v. Olivo, 2801.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 5 February 2004
16 books & journal articles
  • Expert witnesses
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books New York Objections
    • 3 May 2022
    ...on child abuse accommodation syndrome was proper and did not warrant a Frye hearing as novel science was not involved. People v. Gilley , 4 A.D.3d 127, 770 N.Y.S.2d 868 (1st Dept. 2004). In a case involving charges of sexual abuse, a court properly exercised discretion in permitting expert ......
  • Witness examination
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2015 Contents
    • 2 August 2015
    ...at the time of the accident. Children, elderly, non-English speaking, or mentally- or physically-challenged witnesses People v. Gilley, 4 A.D.3d 127, 770 N.Y.S.2d 868 (1st Dept. 2004). In a jury trial convicting defendant of sodomy and first degree sexual assault, court exercised proper dis......
  • Expert witnesses
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2019 Contents
    • 2 August 2019
    ...on child abuse accommodation syndrome was proper and did not warrant a Frye hearing as novel science was not involved. People v. Gilley , 4 A.D.3d 127, 770 N.Y.S.2d 868 (1st Dept. 2004). In a case involving charges of sexual abuse, a court properly exercised discretion in permitting expert ......
  • Expert witnesses
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Archive New York Objections - 2021 Contents
    • 2 August 2021
    ...on child abuse accommodation syndrome was proper and did not warrant a Frye hearing as novel science was not involved. People v. Gilley , 4 A.D.3d 127, 770 N.Y.S.2d 868 (1st Dept. 2004). In a case involving charges of sexual abuse, a court properly exercised discretion in permitting expert ......
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