Opinion
525177
11-21-2019
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Jason PHILLIPS, Appellant.
Stephen W. Herrick, Public Defender, Albany (Jessica M. Gorman of counsel), for appellant. P. David Soares, District Attorney, Albany (Vincent Stark of counsel), for respondent.
Stephen W. Herrick, Public Defender, Albany (Jessica M. Gorman of counsel), for appellant.
P. David Soares, District Attorney, Albany (Vincent Stark of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Garry, P.J., Mulvey, Devine and Aarons, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Devine, J. Appeal from an order of the County Court of Albany County (Carter, J.), entered May 3, 2017, which classified defendant as a risk level two sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act. In 2009, after a large amount of child pornography was discovered on defendant's computer, he pleaded guilty to 110 counts of possessing photographs and videos depicting a sexual performance by a child in violation of a Florida penal statute. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 30 years suspended, and 15 years of probation. In 2017, defendant was released from prison and relocated to Albany County. He was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act (see Correction Law art 6–C [hereinafter SORA] ), and the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders prepared a risk assessment instrument placing him in the risk level one classification (30 points). Following a hearing, County Court classified defendant as a risk level two sex offender (total of 80 points) based upon its assignment of 30 points under risk factor 3 (number of victims), 30 points under risk factor 5 (age of victim) and 20 points under risk factor 7 (relationship to victim). Defendant appeals.
Defendant contends that the evidence in the record does not support County Court's assignment of points under risk factors 3, 5 and 7. In establishing the appropriate risk level classification under SORA, the People "bear the burden of proving the facts supporting the determination[ ] sought by clear and convincing evidence" ( Correction Law § 168–n [3 ]; see People v. Mingo, 12 N.Y.3d 563, 571, 883 N.Y.S.2d 154, 910 N.E.2d 983 [2009] ; People v. Secor, 171 A.D.3d 1314, 1315, 95 N.Y.S.3d 665 [2019] ). With regard to risk factor 3, the Court of Appeals has recognized that "the children depicted in child pornography are necessarily counted as victims under factor 3... [and this factor] permits the assessment of 30 points whenever ‘[t]here were three or more victims’ involved in a defendant's current sex crime" ( People v. Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d 841, 855, 994 N.Y.S.2d 1, 18 N.E.3d 701 [2014], quoting Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 10 [2006]; see People v. Yingst, 167 A.D.3d 1561, 1561–1562, 89 N.Y.S.3d 508 [2018] ). Such children are also counted as victims under risk factor 5, which provides for the assessment of 30 points for victims 10 years of age or younger (see People v. Mangan, 174 A.D.3d 1337, 1338, 101 N.Y.S.3d 809 [2019] ; People v. Crosley, 161 A.D.3d 1462, 1462, 76 N.Y.S.3d 273 [2018] ). Likewise, risk factor 7 extends to children depicted in child pornography who are strangers to the offender and allows for the assessment of 20 points (see People v. Johnson, 11 N.Y.3d 416, 420–421, 872 N.Y.S.2d 379, 900 N.E.2d 930 [2008] ; People v. Parisi, 147 A.D.3d 1162, 1163–1164, 46 N.Y.S.3d 714 [2017] ).
Here, County Court relied upon the information contained in the Florida presentence investigation report (hereinafter PSI) and the case summary prepared by the Board to support defendant's risk level two classification. The Florida PSI indicates that an acquaintance of defendant found files on his computer that appeared to contain child pornography. The acquaintance took a photograph of the screen showing the names of the files – which include graphic descriptions of sexual activities involving minors both above and under the age of 10 – and he shared that photograph with the police. The case summary reveals that, after obtaining a search warrant, the police accessed defendant's computer and found 41 videos depicting children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activities and 66 digital photographs of children in sexual situations. The case summary further references records of the Florida Department of Corrections containing defendant's admission to downloading child pornography onto his computer. Contrary to defendant's claim, the PSI and case summary constitute reliable hearsay and provide clear and convincing evidence supporting defendant's classification as a risk level two sex offender (see People v. Crosley, 161 A.D.3d at 1462–1463, 76 N.Y.S.3d 273 ; People v. Burke, 139 A.D.3d 1268, 1270, 31 N.Y.S.3d 675 [2016], lv denied 28 N.Y.3d 909, 2016 WL 6839982 [2016] ).
Defendant also argues that County Court abused its discretion in failing to grant his request for a downward departure but, inasmuch as the record does not contain any findings or conclusions from County Court on that request, we are unable to assess the court's reasoning. We therefore reverse and remit so that County Court may "determine whether or not to order a departure from the presumptive risk level indicated by the offender's guidelines factor score" and to set forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law as required ( People v. Gillotti, 23 N.Y.3d at 861, 994 N.Y.S.2d 1, 18 N.E.3d 701 ; see Correction Law § 168–n [3 ]; People v. Darrah, 153 A.D.3d 1528, 1529, 61 N.Y.S.3d 390 [2017] ; People v. Davis, 145 A.D.3d 1625, 1626, 44 N.Y.S.3d 837 [2016], lv dismissed 29 N.Y.3d 976, 52 N.Y.S.3d 285, 74 N.E.3d 669 [2017] ).
Garry, P.J., Mulvey and Aarons, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs, and matter remitted to the County Court of Albany County for further proceedings not inconsistent with this Court's decision.