Opinion
No. 1459 Ind No. 39-2017 M-4960 Case No. 2022-03928
01-18-2024
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Raymond Talavera, Defendant-Appellant.
Jenay Nurse Guilford, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Jane Merrill of counsel), for appellant. Darcel D. Clark, District Attorney, Bronx (Shera Knight of counsel), for respondent.
Jenay Nurse Guilford, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Jane Merrill of counsel), for appellant.
Darcel D. Clark, District Attorney, Bronx (Shera Knight of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Oing, J.P., Kennedy, Mendez, Rodriguez, Michael, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Raymond L. Bruce, J.), entered on or about June 23, 2022, which adjudicated defendant a level two 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 (see People v Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d 841, 861 [2014]). Defendant's remorse, acceptance of responsibility, participation in sex offender treatment, and stable living arrangements were adequately taken into account by the risk assessment instrument (see People v Seales, 220 A.D.3d 494 [1st Dept 2023]; People v Cabrera, 91 A.D.3d 479, 480 [1st Dept 2012], lv denied 19 N.Y.3d 801 [2012]). Defendant has not shown that his response to sex offender treatment was exceptional (see People v Bonnemere, 201 A.D.3d 475, 475 [1st Dept 2022]), or established that his age (late 50s) reduced his likelihood of reoffense (People v Rodriguez, 145 A.D.3d 489, 490 [1st Dept 2016], lv denied 28 N.Y.3d 916 [2017]). Defendant also has not demonstrated that his family support warranted a downward departure, especially given that he had the same support network at the time of the underlying misconduct (see People v Mills, 220 A.D.3d 548 [1st Dept 2023]; People v Stuckey, 174 A.D.3d 454, 455 [1st Dept 2019]). In any event, the mitigating factors, including defendant's yearslong period of offense-free living, was outweighed by the seriousness of the underlying crime, which involved a young child, and the potential harm that could result if defendant reoffends.
M-4960 - People v Raymond Talavera
Motion by defendant to strike portions of the People's brief granted to the extent of striking references to the supporting deposition, and otherwise denied.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.