People v Coleman
2007 NY Slip Op 09144 [45 AD3d 1118]
November 21, 2007
Appellate Division, Third Department
As corrected through Wednesday, January 16, 2008


The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v William J.Coleman, Appellant.

[*1]Peter M. Torncello, Public Defender, Albany (Theresa M. Suozzi of counsel), forappellant.

P. David Soares, District Attorney, Albany (Brett M. Knowles of counsel), forrespondent.

Mugglin, J. Appeal from an order of the County Court of Albany County (Breslin, J.),entered July 28, 2006, which classified defendant as a risk level three sex offender pursuant tothe Sex Offender Registration Act.

Defendant pleaded guilty in 2005 to sexual abuse in the second degree of a four-year-oldchild and was sentenced to a one-year jail term. Upon completion of his sentence, the Board ofExaminers of Sex Offenders prepared a risk assessment instrument pursuant to the Sex OffenderRegistration Act (see Correction Law art 6-C), calculating a score of 135 points,including 30 points under the risk factor for having a prior youthful offender adjudication for asex crime, and recommending that defendant be classified as a risk level three sex offender.Following a hearing, County Court agreed and issued an order classifying him as such. Defendantnow appeals.

While defendant contends that County Court's risk level three classification is not supportedby clear and convincing evidence, we disagree (see People v Lesch, 38 AD3d 1129, 1130 [2007], lv denied8 NY3d 816 [2007]; People vDickison, 24 AD3d 980, 981 [2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 709 [2006]).Defendant's claim that his prior youthful offender adjudication for sexual abuse in the seconddegree should not be scored against him is meritless, as such adjudications are considered crimesfor the purposes of determining the likelihood of reoffense [*2]and danger to the public (see People v Whaley, 38 AD3d 1106, 1107 [2007]; People v Dort, 18 AD3d 23, 26[2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 885 [2005]; People v Moore, 1 AD3d 421, 421 [2003], lv denied 2NY3d 743 [2004]). Defendant's other claims, concerning the assessment of 10 points based onhis failure to accept responsibility and 15 points for being released without supervision, were notraised before County Court and, therefore, are not preserved for our review (see CPL470.05 [2]; People v Oginski, 35AD3d 952, 953 [2006]). In any event, these claims are also meritless as the record supportsCounty Court's assessments in that defendant failed to accept responsibility during thepresentence investigation and he is admittedly not subject to any form of parole or probationsupervision (see People v Hyson, 27AD3d 919, 920 [2006]; People vSwackhammer, 25 AD3d 892, 892 [2006]). Finally, defendant has failed to demonstratethe required special circumstances to justify a downward departure from the Board'srecommendation (see People v Dickison, 24 AD3d at 981; People v Douglas, 18 AD3d 967,968 [2005], lv denied 5 NY3d 710 [2005]).

Mercure, J.P., Rose, Lahtinen and Kane, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is affirmed,without costs.


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