People v. Ibrahim
This text of People v. Ibrahim (People v. Ibrahim) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
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Bureau Thomas J.K. Smith, State Reporter
People v Ibrahim
2026 NY Slip Op 03687
June 10, 2026
Appellate Division, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
This decision is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.
The People of the State of New York, respondent,
v
Jamil Ibrahim, appellant.
Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department
Decided on June 10, 2026
2025-02044, (Ind. No. 7219/18)
Colleen D. Duffy, J.P.
Paul Wooten
Helen Voutsinas
James P. McCormack, JJ.
Law Office of Robert Osuna, P.C., New York, NY, for appellant.
Eric Gonzalez, District Attorney, Brooklyn, NY (Leonard Joblove and Julian Joiris of counsel), for respondent.
DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Phyllis Chu, J.), rendered February 19, 2025, convicting him of sexual abuse in the third degree, burglary in the third degree, and computer trespass, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law and as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a new trial.
After a jury trial, the defendant, a physician, was convicted of sexual abuse in the third degree (Penal Law § 130.55), burglary in the third degree (id. § 140.20), and computer trespass (id. § 156.10) in connection with his actions toward the complainant, who was his patient, as well as his unauthorized presence in a property owned by his former medical clinic employer following his suspension from his position and his unauthorized accessing of the complainant's medical records during his suspension.
The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his contention that the evidence was legally insufficient to support his conviction of computer trespass (see id. § 156.10) due to his alleged right to continued access to patient records. The defendant failed to specify this ground in his motion to dismiss the indictment at trial (see CPL 470.05[2]; People v Finger, 95 NY2d 894, 895). In any event, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution (see People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt of both burglary in the third degree and computer trespass beyond a reasonable doubt (see People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342, 349). Among other things, the People provided the defendant's employment contract, which prohibited the defendant from removing or copying medical records without his employer's consent. 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 at 348), 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; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633).
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court did not err in permitting [*2]the People to elicit testimony from two witnesses regarding prior incidents of alleged sexual misconduct by the defendant during medical examinations. Evidence of a crime or bad act may be admissible as evidence in the People's case-in-chief in the trial of another crime when it tends to establish a defendant's (1) intent, (2) motive, (3) knowledge, (4) common scheme or plan, or (5) identity (see People v Molineux, 168 NY 264, 293; People v Blackwell, 219 AD3d 619, 621). When evidence is sought to be introduced to prove a defendant's intention in the crime charged, the probative balance has generally warranted admission of this evidence only where the acts involved in the crimes charged are equivocal so that intention is not easily inferred from the acts alone (see People v Weinstein, 42 NY3d 439, 460; People v Telfair, 41 NY3d 107, 115). If the evidence has substantial probative value and is directly relevant to the purpose—other than to show criminal propensity—for which it is offered, the probative value of the evidence outweighs the danger of prejudice and the court may admit the evidence (see People v Blackwell, 219 AD3d at 621; see also People v Weinstein, 42 NY3d at 458). Here, the Molineux evidence was relevant to establish the defendant's intent, since the charged sexual conduct involved inappropriately touching the complainant during a medical examination (see People v Gonzalez, ____ AD3d ____, ____, 2026 NY Slip Op 02047, *1). Moreover, the court addressed the potential for prejudice and took steps to minimize any undue prejudicial effect by providing repeated limiting instructions (see People v Morris, 21 NY3d 588, 598; People v Nicholson, 210 AD3d 1009, 1011). Thus, the court properly concluded that the Molineux evidence directed to the issue of defendant's intent was admissible (see People v Gonzalez, ____ AD3d at ____, 2026 NY Slip Op 02047, *2).
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the Supreme Court's Sandoval ruling (see People v Sandoval, 34 NY2d 371, 376) regarding statements made on certain audio recordings was not improper. The defendant concedes on appeal that the recordings contained no allegations of specific criminal, vicious, or immoral acts (see id.; People v Chappell, 198 AD3d 1018, 1020 n). Further, insofar as the statements made on the recordings concerned the complainant, that evidence was "relevant to the very same crime for which the defendant [was] on trial" (People v Frumusa, 29 NY3d 364, 370).
The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court should not have permitted the People to use these recordings to cross-examine him because they were not timely disclosed is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2]). Further, the court did not err in declining to impose a sanction against the People for the late disclosure (see People v Emanuel, 239 AD3d 767, 768). The defendant's contention, raised in his appellate brief, that the People failed to exercise due diligence in disclosing the audio recordings is not reviewable on direct appeal, since the record contains insufficient evidence for this Court to review the defendant's claim (see CPL 440.10[2][b]; People v Dixon, 138 AD3d 1016, 1017; see also People v Boyce, 118 AD3d 1016, 1016).
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People v. Ibrahim, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ibrahim-nyappdiv-2026.