| People v Swain |
| 2007 NY Slip Op 09997 [46 AD3d 1157] |
| December 20, 2007 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Ricardo L.Swain, Appellant. |
—[*1] James A. Murphy III, District Attorney, Ballston Spa (Nicholas E. Tishler of counsel), forrespondent.
Mugglin, J. Appeal from an order of the County Court of Saratoga County (Scarano, J.),entered January 31, 2007, which classified defendant as a risk level three sex offender pursuantto the Sex Offender Registration Act.
In 1992, defendant pleaded guilty to attempted rape in the first degree by forcible compulsion(see Penal Law § 130.35 [1]) and was thereafter sentenced to an indeterminateterm of imprisonment. In anticipation of defendant's release from prison, the Board of Examinersof Sex Offenders evaluated defendant at a risk factor score of 130 which presumptively placedhim at a risk level three classification. Following a hearing at which defendant did not personallyappear, County Court determined defendant's score to be 115 and classified defendant as a risklevel three sex offender. Defendant appeals.
At the hearing pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act in County Court, defendant'sassigned attorney argued that under risk factor 1, the assignment of 30 points for being armedwith a dangerous instrument was error. It is undisputed that during the commission of theoffense, defendant was armed with a BB gun. In order for a BB gun to be classified as adangerous instrument (see Penal Law § 10.00 [13]), it must be shown that the BBgun was loaded and operable (see People v Wasson, 266 AD2d 701, 702 [1999];People v Espinoza, 253 AD2d 983, 983 [1998]) or that it was used as a bludgeoningobject (see People v Wilson, 252 AD2d [*2]241, 249[1998]; People v Colavito, 126 AD2d 554, 555 [1987], affd 70 NY2d 996[1988]). Here, the record does not contain clear and convincing evidence that the BB gun waseither loaded and operable or used as a bludgeoning device during the commission of the offense(see People v Dort, 18 AD3d23, 24 [2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 885 [2005]). However, since defendant did useforcible compulsion in the commission of the crime, risk factor 1 should have been scored as 10.
Next, defense counsel attacked the assignment of 25 points under risk factor 2, contendingthat the clear and convincing evidence did not establish that defendant engaged in sexualintercourse. County Court agreed, finding only sexual contact under clothing and appropriatelyscored this category at 10, not 25.
Defense counsel's challenge to the assignment of 15 points under risk factor 11 dealing witha history of drug or alcohol abuse is meritless. The case summary indicates that defendant wasstealing in order to support his drug habit. Although the case summary is hearsay, it may beconsidered and, in this case, provides clear and convincing evidence to support the assignment of15 points under risk factor 11 (seePeople v Warren, 42 AD3d 593, 594 [2007], lv denied 9 NY3d 810 [2007]).
Defendant is entitled to a reduction of 20 points as a result of the error regarding risk factor1, reducing his total risk factor score to 95, which makes defendant a presumptive level two sexoffender. We note, however, that the record contains some evidence that an upward departurefrom the presumptive level may be warranted because "there exists an aggravating. . . factor of a kind, or to a degree, that is otherwise not adequately taken intoaccount by the guidelines" (Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines andCommentary, at 4 [2006]). We further note that because defendant was determined to be a levelthree sex offender, County Court had no reason to consider whether clear and convincingevidence exists to warrant such a departure. Under these unique circumstances, we remit thematter to County Court for consideration of any factors which may warrant an upwardmodification (see People v Kraus,45 AD3d 826, 827 [2007]).
Mercure, J.P., Rose, Lahtinen and Kane, JJ., concur. Ordered that the order is reversed, onthe law, without costs, and matter remitted to the County Court of Saratoga County for furtherproceedings not inconsistent with this Court's decision.