People v. Martinez

257 A.D.2d 667, 684 N.Y.S.2d 578, 1999 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 592

Opinion

—Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Orgera, J.), rendered January 16, 1997, convicting him of assault in the first degree (two counts), assault in the second degree, and criminal mischief in the third degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

Contrary to the defendant’s contentions, the evidence is legally sufficient to support his convictions of assault in the first degree under Penal Law § 120.10 (1) and (2). The evidence showed that the defendant beat the victim with an automobile security device known as “the Club”, causing a broken arm, a broken cheekbone, a deviated septum, and severe lacerations of the face requiring stitches, with resulting nerve damage and loss of sensation of the lip. Thus, the People proved serious physical injury sufficient to support the defendant’s conviction under the first count of assault in the first degree (see, People v Quesnel, 238 AD2d 725). In addition, the evidence established that the lacerations which healed into facial “marks”, including a gash inside the victim’s mouth, were visible to the jury nine months after the incident and described by the victim’s plastic surgeon as “permanent”. Thus, the People proved serious and permanent disfigurement sufficient to support the defendant’s conviction under the second count of assault in the first degree (see, People v Wade, 187 AD2d 687). Sullivan, J. P., Krausman, Goldstein and Luciano, JJ., concur.