People v. Sumpter
This criminal case concerns a defendant's conviction for third-degree sexual abuse. The evidence showed the defendant "confronted" a co-worker, grabbed and caressed her buttocks through clothing, and attempted to kiss her with his tongue, despite her protests. The court affirmed the conviction, finding the defendant's conduct legally sufficient to infer an intent for sexual gratification under Penal Law § 130.55, which defines sexual contact as any touching of intimate parts for sexual desire. The dissenting opinion argued that the incident was an isolated, unrequited overture between co-workers, lacked sufficient evidence of sexual gratification intent, and thus the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. However, the majority emphasized that the sexual gratification element could be inferred from the perpetrator's actions, and the complainant's testimony was credible.