Opinion
2012-07709
11-19-2014
PEOPLE of State of New York, respondent, v. Ervin LUCIUS, appellant.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Bonnie C. Brennan of counsel), for appellant. Kenneth P. Thompson, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Linda Breen of counsel), for respondent.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Bonnie C. Brennan of counsel), for appellant.
Kenneth P. Thompson, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove and Linda Breen of counsel), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., L. PRISCILLA HALL, SHERI S. ROMAN and JOSEPH J. MALTESE, JJ.
Opinion Appeal by the defendant from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (DiMango, J.), dated August 7, 2012, which, after a hearing, designated him a level two sexually violent offender pursuant to Correction Law article 6–C.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In establishing a defendant's risk level pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (see Correction Law art. 6–C [hereinafter SORA] ), the People bear the burden of establishing, by clear and convincing evidence, the facts supporting the determinations sought (see Correction Law § 168–n[3] ; see also Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 5 [2006] [hereinafter SORA Guidelines]; People v. Finizio, 100 A.D.3d 977, 977, 954 N.Y.S.2d 636 ). “In assessing points, evidence may be derived from the defendant's admissions, the victim's statements, evaluative reports completed by the supervising probation officer, parole officer, or corrections counselor, case summaries prepared by the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders ... or any other reliable source, including reliable hearsay” (People v. Crandall, 90 A.D.3d 628, 629, 934 N.Y.S.2d 446 ).
Contrary to the defendant's contention, the People established, by clear and convincing evidence, that he engaged in a continuing course of sexual misconduct with the seven-year-old victim. The evidence established that the defendant committed two or more acts of sexual misconduct, at least one of which included sexual intercourse, over a period greater than 24 hours (see SORA Guidelines at 10; People v. Thompson, 111 A.D.3d 613, 973 N.Y.S.2d 808 ; People v. Taylor, 48 A.D.3d 775, 853 N.Y.S.2d 354 ). Accordingly, 20 points were properly assessed against the defendant under risk factor four, based on a continuing course of sexual misconduct.
The Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's request for a downward departure from his presumptive risk level designation, as the record does not reflect the existence of a mitigating factor warranting a downward departure. Under the circumstances of this case, the defendant's age did not warrant a downward departure from his presumptive risk level (see People v. Grubbs, 107 A.D.3d 771, 773, 967 N.Y.S.2d 112 ; People v. Harris, 93 A.D.3d 704, 705, 940 N.Y.S.2d 127 ).
The defendant's remaining contention, relating to the points assessed under risk factor two, is unpreserved for appellate review, and, in any event, without merit.
Accordingly, the defendant was properly designated a level two sexually violent offender.