Crimes - Course of Sexual Conduct against Child - Weight of Evidence - Purported Discrepancies between Complainant's Trial Testimony and Her Prior Out-of-Court Statements Not of Such Magnitude as to Render Her Testimony Incredible or Unreliable

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Donald Leo, J.), rendered January 18, 2024, convicting him of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, forcible touching (two counts), endangering the welfare of a child (two counts), and strangulation in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant was charged, inter alia, with course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree based upon allegations that he engaged in sexual conduct with his stepdaughter during a period of time between October 29, 2012, and March 25, 2013, when the child was nine years old. After a jury trial, the defendant was convicted, among other things, of that charge.

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 jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to the charge of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633 [2006]). Contrary to the defendant's contention, the purported discrepancies between the complainant's trial testimony and her prior out-of-court statements were not of such magnitude as to render her testimony incredible or unreliable (see People v Stewart, 222 AD3d 781, 782 [2023]). Genovesi, J.P., Dowling, Wan and Taylor, JJ., concur.