You are here: / / DEFENDANT’S POSITIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE PRISON SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT...
,

DEFENDANT’S POSITIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE PRISON SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS OFFENSES, DID NOT WARRANT A DOWNWARD DEPARTURE FROM LEVEL THREE TO LEVEL TWO; TWO-JUDGE DISSENT (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, affirming the appellate division, over a two-justice dissent, determined defendant’s request for a downward departure in this SORA risk-level proceeding (level three to level two) was properly denied:

In 1988, defendant was convicted after trial of four counts of first-degree rape and four counts of first-degree sodomy, among other crimes, for raping or sexually assaulting five women in their homes at knifepoint during burglaries that occurred over the course of a year. In anticipation of defendant’s conditional release from imprisonment in 2020, the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders assessed defendant 155 points on the risk assessment instrument (RAI), presumptively designating him a level three sexually violent offender for purposes of the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA).

Defendant did not dispute the accuracy of the Board’s point assessment, but he requested that the court depart downward to risk level two. To that end, defendant argued that he did not present a high risk of sexual reoffense, as evidenced by his positive performance in sex offender treatment and educational programs while incarcerated (including obtaining his general equivalency diploma and college-level education credits), limited history of disciplinary infractions, age at time of release (51 years old), familial support, and his scores on two alternative risk assessment instruments. Defendant also asserted that he would be subject to supervision regardless of his risk designation as part of the terms of his conditional release, and that a level three designation would make it more difficult for him to locate housing. People v Anthony, 2023 NY Slip Op 03303, CtApp 6-15-23

Practice Point: Here defendant’s age (51) and positive performance in the prison sex offender treatment and educational programs, given the seriousness of his offenses, did not warrant a SORA risk-level downward departure from level three to level two. There was a strong two-judge dissent.

 

You might also like
THE TRIAL JUDGE PROPERLY HANDLED A JUROR’S CLAIM THAT OTHER JURORS HAD EXHIBITED RACIAL BIAS DURING DELIBERATIONS AND PROPERLY DENIED THE DEFENSE REQUEST FOR A MISTRIAL; THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE DISSENT (CT APP).
DEFENDANT’S GUILTY PLEA WAS NOT VOLUNTARY BECAUSE HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE MANDATORY FINES FOR THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW OFFENSES; AN EXCEPTION TO THE PRESERVATION REQUIREMENT APPLIED; AN APPEAL WAIVER DOES NOT PRECLUDE ARGUING THE PLEA WAS INVOLUNTARY (CT APP).
Pre-Closing Documents Can Not Be Used to Prove Conveyance or the Issuance of Title Insurance
THE PARTY SEEKING TO ENFORCE A VENUE CONTRACT PROVISION HAS THE BURDEN OF DEMONSTRATING THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SIGNATURE IN THE FACE OF AN ALLEGATION OF FORGERY; HERE DEFENDANT DEMONSTRATED THE SIGNATURE WAS AUTHENTIC AND PLAINTIFF FAILED TO RAISE A QUESTION OF FACT RE: THE FORGERY ALLEGATION (CT APP).
Proper “Initial Aggressor” Jury Instruction Where Defendant Intervenes In an On-Going Fight Explained
IN A CITY WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR ITS POLICE OFFICERS, AN OFFICER RECEIVING BENEFITS PURSUANT TO GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW 207-c IS NOT BARRED FROM SUING FOR GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW 205-e BENEFITS.
DEFENSE EXPERT’S CONCLUSORY ASSERTIONS DID NOT RAISE A QUESTION OF FACT ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS THE NEGLIGENT PRESCRIPTION OF TWO DRUGS CAUSED HEART DAMAGE.
BRUTAL, UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON CLAIMANT, AN INMATE, BY CORRECTION OFFICERS WAS DEEMED TO HAVE NO RELATION TO THE DUTIES OF A CORRECTION OFFICER; THEREFORE THE ATTACK WAS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE OFFICERS’ EMPLOYMENT AND THE STATE, AS A MATTER OF LAW, IS NOT LIABLE UNDER A RESPONDEAT SUPERIOR THEORY (CT APP).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

IN THESE ACTIONS BY INVESTORS AGAINST TRUSTEES STEMMING FROM THE COLLAPSE OF... A SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION BROUGHT BEFORE ISSUE IS JOINED IS PREMATURE AND SHOULD...