We agree with defendant that it is proper to consider his reasons for refusing treatment in the context of a request for a downward departure (seeGraves , 162 A.D.3d at 1660, 79 N.Y.S.3d 798 ). Even assuming, arguendo, that defendant's statement is sufficient to meet the required preponderance of the evidence standard (seePeople v. Gillotti , 23 N.Y.3d 841, 864, 994 N.Y.S.2d 1, 18 N.E.3d 701 [2014] ), we question the credibility of the statement in the absence of any other supporting evidence and conclude that the statement alone merits "little if any weight" in justifying a downward departure ( People v. June , 150 A.D.3d 1701, 1702, 54 N.Y.S.3d 253 [4th Dept. 2017] ; seePeople v. Martinez , 104 A.D.3d 924, 924-925, 962 N.Y.S.2d 336 [2d Dept. 2013], lv denied 21 N.Y.3d 857, 2013 WL 2395742 [2013] ; see alsoGillotti , 23 N.Y.3d at 861, 994 N.Y.S.2d 1, 18 N.E.3d 701 ; People v. Walker , 125 A.D.3d 1516, 1517, 3 N.Y.S.3d 255 [4th Dept. 2015] ; People v. Smith , 122 A.D.3d 1325, 1326, 995 N.Y.S.2d 890 [4th Dept. 2014] ).
We agree with defendant that it is proper to consider his reasons for refusing treatment in the context of a request for a downward departure (see Graves, 162 A.D.3d at 1660). Even assuming, arguendo, that defendant's statement is sufficient to meet the required preponderance of the evidence standard (see People v Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d 841, 864 [2014]), we question the credibility of the statement in the absence of any other supporting evidence and conclude that the statement alone merits "little if any weight" in justifying a downward departure (People v June, 150 A.D.3d 1701, 1702 [4th Dept 2017]; see People v Martinez, 104 A.D.3d 924, 924-925 [2d Dept 2013], lv denied 21 N.Y.3d 857 [2013]; see also Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d at 861; People v Walker, 125 A.D.3d 1516, 1517 [4th Dept 2015]; People v Smith, 122 A.D.3d 1325, 1326 [4th Dept 2014]).
While "[a]n offender's response to treatment, if exceptional, can be the basis for a downward departure" (id. at 17, 894 N.Y.S.2d 633 ), defendant's participation and moderate success in treatment programs does not demonstrate that his response was exceptional (see People v. Pendleton, 112 A.D.3d 600, 601, 975 N.Y.S.2d 908, lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 861, 2014 WL 593202 ; People v. Watson, 95 A.D.3d 978, 979, 944 N.Y.S.2d 584 ; People v. Parker, 81 A.D.3d 1304, 1304, 916 N.Y.S.2d 557, lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 713, 2011 WL 1675754 ). Furthermore, defendant's self-serving statements regarding his progress carry little if any weight (see People v. Martinez, 104 A.D.3d 924, 924–925, 962 N.Y.S.2d 336, lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 857, 2013 WL 2395742 ). We therefore conclude that " ‘defendant failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that his response to treatment was exceptional’ " (People v. Butler, 129 A.D.3d 1534, 1535, 11 N.Y.S.3d 757, lv. denied 26 N.Y.3d 904, 2015 WL 5254753 ).