People v Reede
2014 NY Slip Op 00212 [113 AD3d 663]
January 15, 2014
Appellate Division, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, March 5, 2014


The People of the State of New York, Respondent,
v
Thomas Reede, Appellant.

[*1] Kent V. Moston, Hempstead, N.Y. (Jeremy L. Goldberg and Dori Cohen of counsel), for appellant.

Kathleen M. Rice, District Attorney, Mineola, N.Y. (Laurie K. Gibbons and Jacqueline Rosenblum of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Calabrese, J.), dated August 8, 2011, which, after a hearing, designated him a level two sex offender pursuant to Correction Law article 6-C.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.

Contrary to the defendant's contention, he was properly assessed 15 points under risk factor 11 (history of drug or alcohol abuse) based on information contained in the presentence report (see People v Boykin, 102 AD3d 937 [2013]; People v Murphy, 68 AD3d 832, 832-833 [2009]; People v Masters, 19 AD3d 387 [2005]). In light of the defendant's contradictory statements, including his denial of his guilt when interviewed by the Nassau County Probation Department, the defendant was also properly assessed 10 points under risk factor 12 for failure to accept responsibility for his criminal conduct (see People v Mosley, 106 AD3d 1067, 1068 [2013]; People v Vega, 79 AD3d 718, 719 [2010]).

The Supreme Court properly denied the defendant's application for a downward departure from his presumptive risk level two designation. Since the defendant failed to identify a mitigating factor not otherwise adequately taken into account by the Sex Offender Registration Act Guidelines, the Supreme Court lacked the discretion to grant such a downward departure (see People v Martinez, 104 AD3d 924, 924-925 [2013]; People v Whidbee, 101 AD3d 840 [2012]; People v Peeples, 98 AD3d 491, 491-492 [2012]).

The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court deprived him of due process by using a Risk Assessment Instrument in determining his risk level is without merit (see People v Guitard, 57 AD3d 751 [2008]; People v Washington, 47 AD3d 908, 909 [2008]; People v Flowers, 35 AD3d 690, 690-691 [2006]). Mastro, J.P., Chambers, Lott and Miller, JJ., concur.