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INCARCERATION AFTER A PROBATION VIOLATION IN THIS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER CASE DEEMED HARSH AND SEVERE, PROBATION REINSTATED WITH 100 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department exercised its discretion to find a legal sentence was unduly harsh and severe. Defendant had been sentenced to incarceration after a probation violation in this vehicular manslaughter case. The Fourth Department reinstated probation with 100 hours of community service:

We agree with defendant … that the sentence is unduly harsh and severe. “The determination of an appropriate sentence requires the exercise of discretion after due consideration given to, among other things, the crime[s] charged, the particular circumstances of the individual before the court and the purpose of a penal sanction, i.e., societal protection, rehabilitation and deterrence” … . Although we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in revoking defendant’s probation and sentencing her to an indeterminate term of incarceration, “we can [nevertheless] substitute our own discretion for that of a trial court [that] has not abused its discretion in the imposition of a sentence” … . …

Here, defendant, who was 18 years old and had no criminal history at the time of the underlying crimes, completed substance abuse counseling and was fully compliant with the reporting requirement during the nearly 2½ years between her release to probation from an initial period of incarceration and the death of her grandfather … . A clinical psychologist who treated defendant in the years following the underlying crimes and during the probation period noted that, despite the effects that her grandfather’s death had on defendant, she did not revert to previous unhealthy coping mechanisms, i.e., using alcohol and drugs, and she thereafter re-engaged in her treatment program. The psychologist also opined that incarceration would impede defendant’s progress and create a setback in her recovery, and that continuation of probation and her treatment program would best facilitate defendant’s commitment to a sober, productive lifestyle. Significantly, in consideration of all the circumstances, including a single “low positive reading” for marihuana approximately one year prior to her grandfather’s death that did not result in a violation petition against defendant, the probation officer recommended against incarceration given that defendant was otherwise compliant with the terms of probation until her failure to report on four occasions. Further, the record establishes that defendant was employed on a full-time basis, intended to re-enroll in college classes, and committed no crimes after the underlying conviction. … People v Clause, 2018 NY Slip Op 08815, Fourth Dept 12-21-18

SENTENCING

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