Opinion
09-30-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Johannes HIRAM, Defendant–Appellant.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Deborah K. Jessey of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Michael J. Flaherty, Jr., Acting District Attorney, Buffalo (Matthew B. Powers of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Deborah K. Jessey of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Michael J. Flaherty, Jr., Acting District Attorney, Buffalo (Matthew B. Powers of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., LINDLEY, CURRAN, TROUTMAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM: Defendant appeals from an order determining that he is a level two risk under the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law § 168 et seq. ). Contrary to defendant's contention, Supreme Court properly assessed 15 points under risk factor 9 for his nonviolent felony criminal history. That assessment is supported by the reliable hearsay contained in the case summary (see People v. Thompson, 66 A.D.3d 1455, 1456, 885 N.Y.S.2d 828, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 714, 2009 WL 4845034 ; People v. Ramos, 41 A.D.3d 1250, 1250, 839 N.Y.S.2d 383, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 809, 844 N.Y.S.2d 785, 876 N.E.2d 514 ; see generally People v. Mingo, 12 N.Y.3d 563, 573, 883 N.Y.S.2d 154, 910 N.E.2d 983 ), and defendant's criminal history report (see People v. Palmer, 68 A.D.3d 1364, 1366, 892 N.Y.S.2d 232 ; People v. Mann, 52 A.D.3d 884, 886, 859 N.Y.S.2d 278 ), which establish that defendant committed a felony in the State of Texas. “Although given an opportunity to discover and present evidence on the matter ... defendant adduced nothing in opposition to those materials” (People v. Wroten, 286 A.D.2d 189, 199, 732 N.Y.S.2d 513, lv. denied 97 N.Y.2d 610, 740 N.Y.S.2d 694, 767 N.E.2d 151 ).
We further conclude that the court properly assessed 10 points under risk factor 12 based on defendant's failure to accept responsibility. Although defendant pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse in the first degree (see Penal Law §§ 110.00, 130.65[3] ), and stated that he was sorry and “never, never wants this to happen again[,]” he denied that he touched the 10–year–old victim's vagina and also denied that his actions were motivated by sexual desire. Defendant's denials, however, are in direct contradiction to his guilty plea of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree (see §§ 130.00 [3]; 130.65[3] ). Defendant's “contradictory statements, considered together, do not reflect a ‘genuine acceptance of responsibility’ as required by the risk assessment guidelines developed by the Board [of Examiners of Sex Offenders]” (People v. Noriega, 26 A.D.3d 767, 767, 808 N.Y.S.2d 529, lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 713, 816 N.Y.S.2d 748, 849 N.E.2d 971 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Finally, defendant's contention that the People failed to present clear and convincing evidence that he in fact touched the victim's vagina is raised for the first time on appeal and is thus not preserved for our review (see People v. Smith, 17 A.D.3d 1045, 1045, 793 N.Y.S.2d 782, lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 705, 801 N.Y.S.2d 252, 834 N.E.2d 1261 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.