Opinion
2011-09-30
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,v.Michael W. MYERS, Defendant–Appellant.
David J. Farrugia, Public Defender, Lockport (Joseph G. Frazier of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.Michael J. Violante, District Attorney, Lockport (Thomas H. Brandt of Counsel), for Respondent.
David J. Farrugia, Public Defender, Lockport (Joseph G. Frazier of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.Michael J. Violante, District Attorney, Lockport (Thomas H. Brandt of Counsel), for Respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
Defendant appeals from an order determining that he is a level three risk pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act ( [SORA] Correction Law § 168 et seq. ). We reject defendant's contention that County Court erred in assessing 10 points under risk factor 13 on the risk assessment instrument based on his unsatisfactory conduct while confined. Points are properly assessed under that risk factor against “an offender ... who receives dispositions for behavior such as attempting to contact the victim” (Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary, at 16 [2006] ). Here, defendant admitted at the SORA hearing that he sent two letters from prison to the police officer who arrested him, threatening to kill the officer and his family. In addition, the case summary, which was admitted in evidence at the SORA hearing, stated that defendant had “39 Tier II infractions and 10 serious Tier III infractions” while incarcerated. We thus conclude that the court properly assessed the 10 points in question.
Defendant further contends that he was denied a meaningful opportunity to present mitigating evidence at the SORA hearing concerning risk factor 13. Although the People did not provide timely notice of their intent to seek an assessment of points under that risk factor ( see Correction Law § 168–n [3] ), the court granted defense counsel a brief adjournment to review the “documentary evidence” sought to be admitted by the People with respect to risk factor 13 ( see People v. Inghilleri, 21 A.D.3d 404, 405, 799 N.Y.S.2d 793). Defense counsel availed himself of the adjournment and proceeded with the hearing without requesting a further adjournment or any other corrective action ( see People v. Jordan, 31 A.D.3d 1196, 818 N.Y.S.2d 718, lv. denied 7 N.Y.3d 714, 824 N.Y.S.2d 606, 857 N.E.2d 1137), and thus defendant is deemed to have waived his present contention concerning risk factor 13 ( see generally People v. Forshey, 298 A.D.2d 962, 963, 748 N.Y.S.2d 295, lv. denied 99 N.Y.2d 558, 754 N.Y.S.2d 210, 784 N.E.2d 83, 100 N.Y.2d 561, 763 N.Y.S.2d 818, 795 N.E.2d 44). We note in any event that there was no prejudice to defendant inasmuch as he was aware prior to the SORA hearing of the nature of the evidence sought to be admitted by the People with respect to that risk factor. Thus, under the circumstances, defendant was not deprived of a meaningful opportunity to present mitigating evidence ( see generally
People v. Wheeler, 59 A.D.3d 1007, 872 N.Y.S.2d 360, lv. denied 12 N.Y.3d 711, 2009 WL 1309378; People v. Warren, 42 A.D.3d 593, 593–594, 840 N.Y.S.2d 176, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 810, 844 N.Y.S.2d 786, 876 N.E.2d 515).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.