Opinion
2014-10-14
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. James RIZZO, Defendant–Appellant.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Abigail Everett of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sheryl Feldman of counsel), for respondent.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Abigail Everett of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sheryl Feldman of counsel), for respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Rena K. Uviller, J.), entered on or about February 8, 2013, which adjudicated defendant to be a level three sexually violent offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law art. 6–C) unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court properly exercised its discretion in declining to grant a downward departure ( see People v. Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d 841, 851, –––N.Y.S.2d ––––, –––N.E.3d –––– [2014]; People v. Cintron, 12 N.Y.3d 60, 70, 875 N.Y.S.2d 828, 903 N.E.2d 1149 [2009], cert. denied 558 U.S. 1011, 130 S.Ct. 552, 175 L.Ed.2d 382 [2009]; People v. Johnson, 11 N.Y.3d 416, 421, 872 N.Y.S.2d 379, 900 N.E.2d 930 [2008] ). Neither defendant's age nor any other factors cited by defendant warranted a downward departure, particularly in light of the seriousness of the underlying sex crime. TOM, J.P., SWEENY, RENWICK, ANDRIAS, CLARK, JJ., concur.