Opinion
2013-09-27
In the Matter of STATE of New York, Petitioner–Respondent, v. Michael MATTER, Respondent–Appellant.
Emmett J. Creahan, Director, Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Buffalo (Margot S. Bennett of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
Emmett J. Creahan, Director, Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Buffalo (Margot S. Bennett of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, CARNI, AND LINDLEY, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Respondent appeals from an order revoking his prior regimen of strict and intensive supervision and treatment (SIST), determining that he is a dangerous sex offender requiring confinement, and committing him to a secure treatment facility ( seeMental Hygiene Law § 10.01 et seq.). On a prior appeal, we affirmed an order determining that respondent is a detained sex offender requiring civil management through a regimen of SIST and placing him with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision ( Matter of State of New York v. Matter, 103 A.D.3d 1113, 958 N.Y.S.2d 556). While that prior appeal was pending, petitioner filed a petition alleging that respondent had violated the conditions and terms of his SIST regimen, and a hearing was held on the petition.
We conclude that respondent's constitutional and statutory challenges to the treatment he received while in a regimen of SIST are not properly before us inasmuch as they are not preserved for our review ( see Matter of State of New York v. Gooding, 104 A.D.3d 1282, 1282–1283, 961 N.Y.S.2d 683). In any event, “there is no evidence that petitioner ... failed to fulfill its treatment responsibilities or violated respondent's due process rights” ( id. at 1283, 961 N.Y.S.2d 683).
Contrary to respondent's contention, we conclude that petitioner established by clear and convincing evidence at the hearing that respondent is a dangerous sex offender requiring confinement ( seeMental Hygiene Law §§ 10.07[f]; 10.11[d][4]; Matter of State of New York v. Motzer, 79 A.D.3d 1687, 1688, 913 N.Y.S.2d 473). Finally, we reject respondent's further contentionthat “petitioner was required to ‘refute the possibility of a less restrictive placement’ or that the court was required to specifically address the issue of a less restrictive alternative” ( Gooding, 104 A.D.3d at 1282, 961 N.Y.S.2d 683;see Matter of State of New York v. Enrique T., 93 A.D.3d 158, 166–167, 937 N.Y.S.2d 203,lv. dismissed18 N.Y.3d 976, 944 N.Y.S.2d 478, 967 N.E.2d 703).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.