Opinion
No. 17246 Ind No. 4299/08 Case No. 2015-720
02-02-2023
Justine Luongo, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Kerry Elgarten of counsel), for appellant. Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Rachel Bond of counsel), for respondent.
Justine Luongo, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Kerry Elgarten of counsel), for appellant.
Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Rachel Bond of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Manzanet-Daniels, J.P., González, Scarpulla, Shulman, Pitt-Burke, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Michael J. Obus, J.), entered on August 12, 2014, which, after a hearing, 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 when it declined to grant a downward departure (see generally People v Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d 841, 861 [2014]). Defendant failed to show that his response to sex offender treatment was so exemplary or exceptional that a downward departure was warranted (see People v Ortega, 209 A.D.3d 540 [1st Dept 2022]; People v Alcantara, 154 A.D.3d 532 [1st Dept 2017], lv denied 30 N.Y.3d 908 [2018]). The court reviewed defendant's treatment records, and correctly concluded that defendant's participation was not exceptional. The record does not support defendant's assertion that the court relied on improper considerations in making its determination. Moreover, on this appeal this Court is not bound by the hearing court's analysis (see People v Larkin, 66 A.D.3d 592, 593 [1st Dept 2009], lv denied 14 N.Y.3d 704 [2010]). The particular mitigating factors identified by defendant failed to outweigh the seriousness of his offense against a young child.