Opinion
2014-12-30
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. David ZAIRE, Defendant–Appellant.
Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Joanne Legano Ross of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sheila L. Bautista of counsel), for respondent.
Steven Banks, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Joanne Legano Ross of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sheila L. Bautista of counsel), for respondent.
ACOSTA, J.P., MOSKOWITZ, RICHTER, FEINMAN, CLARK, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Patricia Nunez, J.), entered on or about December 18, 2012, which adjudicated defendant a level three sexually violent offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law art. 6–C), unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court properly assessed points under the risk factor for the victim's physical helplessness during the rape, because she was handcuffed and her mouth was taped shut, rendering her unable to communicate consent ( seePenal Law § 130.00[7]; People v. Teicher, 52 N.Y.2d 638, 649, 439 N.Y.S.2d 846, 422 N.E.2d 506 [1980] ). The court also properly assessed points for unsatisfactory conduct while confined, including sexual misconduct, since reliable documents showed defendant engaged in an act of lewdness directed at a female officer, as well as committing many other infractions ( see People v. Birch, 99 A.D.3d 422, 952 N.Y.S.2d 10 [1st Dept.2012], lv. denied20 N.Y.3d 854, 958 N.Y.S.2d 698, 982 N.E.2d 618 [2012] ). To the extent defendant is challenging any other point assessments, we find those challenges unavailing.
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, including his age (mid 50s) and lack of a prior criminal record, do not warrant a downward departure in light of the seriousness of the underlying offense, which was a heinous crime of predatory violence.