Opinion
2014-02-4
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Herbert SHEPPARD, Defendant–Appellant.
Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Bonnie C. Brennan of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Karinna M. Rossi of counsel), for respondent.
Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Bonnie C. Brennan of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Karinna M. Rossi of counsel), for respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Patricia Nunez, J.), entered on or about November 18, 2010, which adjudicated defendant a level three sexually violent offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law art 6–C), unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court providently exercised its discretion in declining to grant a downward departure to level two (see People v. Cintron, 12 N.Y.3d 60, 70, 875 N.Y.S.2d 828, 903 N.E.2d 1149, cert. denied sub nom. Knox v. New York, 558 U.S. 1011, 130 S.Ct. 552, 175 L.Ed.2d 382 [2009]; People v. Johnson, 11 N.Y.3d 416, 418, 421, 872 N.Y.S.2d 379, 900 N.E.2d 930 [2008] ). Neither defendant's age (late 40s) nor any of the other factors cited by defendant warranted a downward departure, given the seriousness of his sex offenses against seven different victims, including offenses against a child ( see e.g. People v. Thomas, 105 A.D.3d 640, 963 N.Y.S.2d 583 [1st Dept.2013], lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 863, 2013 WL 4516315 [2013]; People v. Ward, 83 A.D.3d 561, 920 N.Y.S.2d 669 [1st Dept.2011], lv. denied 17 N.Y.3d 707, 2011 WL 3925293 [2011] ). MAZZARELLI, J.P., ACOSTA, SAXE, MOSKOWITZ, JJ., concur.