Opinion
2015-06-23
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Derrick HARRIS, Defendant–Appellant.
Richard M. Greenberg, Office of the Appellate Defender, New York (Kerry S. Jamieson of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Jeffrey A. Wojcik of counsel), for respondent.
Richard M. Greenberg, Office of the Appellate Defender, New York (Kerry S. Jamieson of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Jeffrey A. Wojcik of counsel), for respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Renee A. White, J.), entered on or about August 8, 2012, which adjudicated defendant a level two sexually violent offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law art 6–c), unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court properly exercised its discretion when it declined to grant a downward departure ( see People v. Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d 841, 994 N.Y.S.2d 1, 18 N.E.3d 701 [2014] ). The mitigating factors cited by defendant were outweighed by the seriousness of the underlying sex crimes committed against a child over a period of years, which raise valid concerns about a danger of recidivism, especially against children. We have considered and rejected defendant's remaining arguments.