People v. Worley

57 A.D.3d 753, 870 N.Y.2d 385

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: December 16, 2008
• Status: Published

Opinion

The New York Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders (hereinafter the Board) completed a risk assessment instrument to determine the defendant’s sex offender status for purposes of the Sex Offender Registration Act (hereinafter SORA). The defendant was assessed a total of 75 points, making him a presumptive level two sex offender. However, the Board recommended an upward departure to a level three designation. After a hearing, the Supreme Court designated the defendant a level three sex offender. We affirm.

Contrary to the defendant’s contention on appeal, children depicted in pornographic images are “victims” within the meaning of SORA (see People v Johnson, 11 NY3d 416 [2008], affg 47 AD3d 140 [2007]; People v Villane, 49 AD3d 517 [2008]; People v Lawless, 44 AD3d 738 [2007]). Thus, the defendant was properly assessed points for the age of his victims. However, as correctly conceded by the People, the defendant was erroneously assessed points for a history of drug or alcohol abuse (see Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary, at 15 [2006]). Nevertheless, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in upwardly departing from the defendant’s presumptive sex offender level and designating him a level three sex offender based upon clear and convincing evidence of aggravating factors of a degree not taken into account by the risk assessment instrument and the guidelines (see People v Villane, 49 AD3d 517 [2008]; People v Fiol, 49 AD3d 834 [2008]).

The defendant’s remaining contentions are without merit. Rivera, J.E, Spolzino, Garni and Leventhal, JJ., concur.