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DEFENSE COUNSEL INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A DOWNWARD DEPARTURE IN THIS SORA RISK-LEVEL ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing the level three SORA risk assessment, determined defense counsel was ineffective for failing to make a motion for a downward departure. The only arguments defense counsel made were without merit, demonstrated a lack of understanding of the facts, and would not have reduced the risk assessment to level two even if successful:

… [C]ounsel only challenged 35 of the 155 total points assessed against the defendant, and a resulting score of 120 would have still been within the range (between 110 and 300 points) of a presumptive level three (high) offender. Counsel did not seek a downward departure from the defendant’s presumptive risk level designation as a level three sex offender, and the record supports the defendant’s claim that his counsel failed to articulate any argument that would have had any effect on the outcome of the SORA proceeding … . … [T]he record does not demonstrate that counsel made a “strategic decision to attack the assessment of points, while foregoing any request for a downward departure.” Any such strategy in this case “would have made no sense” because it would not have had any effect on the outcome of the SORA proceeding … . Counsel’s failure to make any application for a downward departure, under the particular circumstances of this case, worked to deprive the defendant of his right to zealous advocacy, and amounted to less than meaningful representation … . People v Morancis, 2022 NY Slip Op 00202, Second Dept 1-12-22

 

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THE UNLAWFUL SURVEILLANCE CONVICTION DID NOT INVOLVE “SEXUAL CONTACT” AS DEFINED BY THE PENAL LAW; THEREFORE THE 20 POINT ASSESSMENT FOR “SEXUAL CONTACT” WAS ERROR (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing (modifying) County Court, determined the risk factors requiring “sexual contact” and a “prior felony or sex crime” were not supported:

County Court erred in assessing points under risk factors 4 and 10. The assessment of points under risk factor 4 is warranted where a defendant has engaged in “either (i) two or more acts of sexual contact, at least one of which is an act of sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct, anal sexual conduct, or aggravated sexual contact, which acts are separated in time by at least 24 hours, or (ii) three or more acts of sexual contact over a period of at least two weeks” … . For purposes of risk classification, the Penal Law definition of terms is used … . The record does not reflect that defendant’s crimes of conviction, for unlawful surveillance in the second degree … , involved any form of sexual contact … . In the absence of any record evidence that defendant engaged in sexual contact with any victim, 20 points should not have been assessed under risk factor 4 … . Likewise, the record lacks any evidence that defendant had a “prior felony or sex crime” within three years of the unlawful surveillance sex offenses and, thus, the court erred in assessing 10 points under risk factor 10 … . People v Wassilie, 2022 NY Slip Op 00103, Third Dept 1-6-22

 

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PARTICIPATION IN A PRISON SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAM WAS NOT ENOUGH TO AVOID A 10-POINT ASSESSMENT FOR FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS SORA RISK-LEVEL PROCEEDING (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Higgitt, determined defendant’s participation in a prison sex offender treatment program did not preclude the assessment of 10 points for failing to accept responsibility for his misconduct. The additional 10 points raised defendant’s risk level from two to three:

Factor 12 of the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) Risk Assessment Guidelines allows for the assessment of 10 points for a sex offender if he “has not accepted responsibility for his sexual misconduct.” This appeal raises the issue of whether (and to what extent) a sex offender’s participation in a sex offender treatment program is evidence that he has accepted responsibility for his misconduct. We conclude that a sex offender’s participation in a sex offender treatment program is some evidence that the offender has accepted responsibility and that such evidence must be considered in conjunction with any other reliable evidence bearing on the subject (e.g., statements by the sex offender). In light of all of the evidence relevant to the subject of defendant’s acceptance of responsibility for his misconduct, including his participation in a sex offender treatment program and his statements minimizing or denying responsibility for his misconduct, the SORA court correctly concluded that the People established, by clear and convincing evidence, that defendant had not genuinely accepted responsibility for his misconduct, and, accordingly, properly assessed defendant 10 points for Factor 12. People v Solomon, 2021 NY Slip Op 07519, First Dept 12-28-21

 

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THE SORA COURT SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THAT THE DEFENDANT DID NOT REOFFEND DURING AN EXTENDED TIME WHEN HE WAS NOT SUPERVISED AS A MITIGATING FACTOR WHICH MAY WARRANT A DOWNWARD DEPARTURE IN THIS SORA RISK-LEVEL PROCEEDING (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing (modifying) County Court, determined County Court should have considered whether a downward department from the risk-level guidelines was warranted. Defendant, through and oversight, with respect to a previous conviction, was not registered as a sex offender and did not reoffend despite the absence of supervision:

… [T]he fact that defendant was at liberty while unsupervised for an extended period of time without any reoffending conduct is a mitigating factor not adequately taken into account by the guidelines … , and it is undisputed that defendant established the existence of that mitigating factor by a preponderance of the evidence … .

In view of the [SORA] court’s conclusion, it did not exercise its discretion to determine whether the totality of the circumstances warrants a departure to avoid an overassessment of defendant’s dangerousness and risk of sexual recidivism. … [W]e reverse the order and remit the matter to County Court to make that determination … . People v Edwards,  2021 NY Slip Op 07359, Fourth Dept 12-23-21

 

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THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN APPEALABLE ORDER IN A SORA RISK-LEVEL PROCEEDING EXPLAINED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, withholding a decision on the merits of the SORA risk-level determination by County Court until the People enter and serve an appealable order, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Garry, explained the “appealable order” requirements for SORA proceedings:

Despite the statutory requirement that the court render a written SORA “order setting forth its determinations and the findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the determinations are based” (Correction Law § 168-n [3]), the lack of such orders is a recurring problem … . In some cases, as here, the court states during a bench decision that a so-ordered provision will be provided on the transcript but that does not occur … . In others, the court signs a standard form designating the defendant’s risk level classification without “so-ordered” language or specific findings and conclusions … . In each of these situations, this Court generally dismisses the appeal, as we must, because it is not properly before us due to the lack of an appealable order … . This creates a confusing situation in which no proper order exists regarding the defendant’s status under SORA (see Correction Law § 168-n [3]).

… Generally, in any civil case, upon a clerk’s entry of a written order, the prevailing party should serve a copy of the order, together with notice of entry, upon the losing party (see CPLR 2220 [b]; 5513 [a] … ). The losing party, once served with a copy of that entered order and notice of entry, has 30 days to take an appeal as of right (see CPLR 5513 [a]; see also Correction Law § 168-n [3]). Pursuant to SORA, “the district attorney, or his or her designee,” is statutorily required to appear at the SORA hearing on behalf of the state and bears the burden of proving the facts supporting the risk level determination being sought (Correction Law § 168-n [3]). Thus, the People bear the responsibility of ensuring that a written SORA order is entered and that notice of entry, along with a copy of that written order, is served on the defendant. People v Lane, 2021 NY Slip Op 07324, Third Dept 12-23-21

 

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THE SEXUAL ASSAULT REFORM ACT (SARA), WHICH PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE SEX OFFENDERS CAN RESIDE AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON, DOES NOT VIOLATE THE EX POST FACTO CLAUSE OF THE US CONSTITUTION (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court and agreeing with the First and Second Departments, determined the Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA), which prohibits petitioner-sex-offender from residing within 1000 feet of school grounds, did not violate the Ex Post Facto clause of the US Constitution:

Because petitioner was unable to locate housing in New York City that fulfilled the residency requirements imposed by SARA, even with respondents’ assistance (see Correction Law § 201 [5]), he remained incarcerated. * * *

We are guided … by a recent case concerning individuals in a situation akin to petitioner’s, in which the Court of Appeals held that “the temporary confinement of sex offenders in correctional facilities, while on a waiting list for SARA-compliant [New York City Department of Homeless Services] housing, is rationally related to a conceivable, legitimate government purpose of keeping level three sex offenders more than 1,000 feet away from schools,” and “[t]he existence of less restrictive methods of monitoring [individuals in these circumstances] during this period does not invalidate the use of correctional facilities” … . …

… “[i]n assessing the constitutionality of a statute, this Court does not review the merits or wisdom of the Legislature’s decisions on matters of public policy, and the fact that the restrictions are difficult and cumbersome is not enough to make them unconstitutional. Although one can argue that such laws are too extreme or represent an over-reaction to the fear of sexual abuse of children, they do not violate the [E]x [P]ost [F]acto [C]lause” … . People ex rel. Rivera v Superintendent, Woodbourne Corr. Facility, 2021 NY Slip Op 07044, Third Dept 12-16-21

 

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EVIDENCE OF OCCASIONAL MARIJUANA USE DID NOT SUPPORT THE ASSESSMENT OF 15 POINTS IN THIS SORA RISK-LEVEL PROCEEDING (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department determined the evidence did not support the SORA risk-level assessment of 15 points for drug and alcohol abuse:

Defendant admitted to occasional marijuana use, and there is no evidence that he had smoked marijuana at the time of the offense. The only evidence of prior drug treatment was as a condition of parole, on a nondrug-related conviction, that was completed in 2005. There is no evidence that defendant’s use of marijuana was established as anything more than occasional social use, and accordingly it does not warrant assessment of points under the risk factor for drug abuse. People v Baez, 2021 NY Slip Op 06771, First Dept 12-2-21

 

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DEFENDANT’S CHALLENGE TO CERTIFICATION AS A SEX OFFENDER WAS FIRST RAISED IN THE APPELLATE DIVISION AND WAS NOT PRESERVED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT OF APPEALS; THE ILLEGAL SENTENCE EXCEPTION TO THE PRESERVATION REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY BECAUSE SORA CERTIFICATION IS NOT PART OF THE SENTENCE (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, reversing the Appellate Division, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Cannataro, over a two-judge dissent, determined the challenge to the legality of defendant’s certification as a sex offender, first raised on appeal to the Appellate Division, was not preserved and the illegal sentence exception to the preservation requirement did not apply:

Defendant thereafter pleaded guilty to … burglary in the first degree as a sexually motivated felony … . … [T]he court … advised defendant that he would have to register pursuant to SORA upon his release from prison. * * *

On appeal to the Appellate Division, defendant argued for the first time that his certification as a sex offender was unlawful because his crime of conviction is not an enumerated registerable sex offense under Correction Law § 168-a (2) (a). * * *

The Appellate Division agreed with defendant that under the “clear and unambiguous” language of Correction Law § 168-a (2) (a) “burglary in the first degree as a sexually motivated felony is not a registerable sex offense under SORA” … . * * *

“We have recognized ‘a narrow exception to the preservation rule’ where a court exceeds its powers and imposes a sentence that is illegal in a respect that is readily discernible from the trial record” … . However, “not all claims arising during a sentencing proceeding fall within the exception” … . * * *

… [S]ex offender certification is effectuated by the court pursuant to Correction Law § 168-d and is not addressed in either the Criminal Procedure Law or Title E of the Penal Law. … SORA certification is not part of a sentence and the illegal sentence exception to the preservation requirement does not apply to challenges to certification as a sex offender. People v Buyund, 2021 NY Slip Op 06529, CtApp 11-23-21

 

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THERE WAS NO PROOF IN THE RECORD SUPPORTING THE FINDING THAT THE MISSOURI CONVICTION WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF A NEW YORK FELONY; THEREFORE THE RISK-LEVEL ASSESSMENT WAS REDUCED BY 10 POINTS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing County Court and remitting the matter, determined there was no proof in the record to support the finding that a Missouri conviction was the equivalent of a New York felony. The 15 points assessed for the foreign conviction was reduced to 5 points:

The Missouri statute under which defendant was convicted requires that a person “knowingly possesses a controlled substance” (Mo Ann Stat § 579.015 [1] … ), with no minimum drug quantity required … . Although criminal possession of a controlled substance is, most often, a felony in New York (see Penal Law §§ 220.21, 220.18, 220.16, 220.09, 220.06), the felony provisions all contain a weight element or require an intent to sell or a predicate conviction, whereas possession of a quantity of a controlled substance below the felony threshold constitutes a class A misdemeanor (see Penal Law § 220.03). Here, the facts and conduct underlying the Missouri conviction of criminal possession of a controlled substance are not in the record and, thus, it is unclear if the conduct underlying that conviction would constitute a felony in New York … . Accordingly, we are constrained to conclude that the record only supports the assessment of 5 points, not 15 points, under risk factor 9. Deducting 10 points from the total score of 110 results in a score of 100, placing defendant in the classification of a presumptive risk level two sex offender. However, the People expressly argued that, if defendant were found to be a risk level two sex offender, an upward departure would be warranted. In light of our holding that defendant is a presumptive risk level two sex offender, the matter must be remitted for County Court to consider whether an upward departure is warranted … . People v Smith, 2021 NY Slip Op 06403, Third Dept 11-18-21

 

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THE LEVEL-THREE RISK ASSESSMENT WAS NOT MANDATORY AND THE EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF A DOWNWARD DEPARTURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED; ON REMAND WRITTEN FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW ARE REQUIRED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the SORA court should not have considered the level three risk assessment mandatory and should have considered the evidence submitted in support of a downward department. On remand, the SORA court was directed to make findings of fact and conclusions of law in writing:

Where a “defendant’s prior felony conviction of a sex crime raised his [or her] presumptive risk level from level two to level three . . . , the [SORA] court is not mandated to apply the override but may, in appropriate circumstances, impose a lower risk level”… .

… Supreme Court, in its oral decision, incorrectly treated defendant’s presumptive level three classification as mandatory, and the court therefore never ruled on his downward departure application. We reject the People’s assertion that the court corrected that error in its subsequent written decision. … [T]he written decision explicitly “incorporates . . . [the] oral decision” and again failed to rule on defendant’s downward departure application. … [T]he “compelling evidence” line in the written decision merely summarized the findings of the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders and was not  … an independent holding or ruling by the court. People v Douglas, 2021 NY Slip Op 06229, Fourth Dept 11-12-21

 

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