People v. Thompson
Opinion of the Court
Appeal by the defendant from an order of the County Court, Dutchess County (Forman, J.), dated October 4, 2011, which, upon a decision made after a hearing, designated him a level three sex offender pursuant to Correction Law article 6-C.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In establishing a defendant’s risk level pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (see Correction Law art 6-C [hereinafter SORA]), the People bear the burden of establishing, by clear and convincing evidence, the facts supporting the determinations sought (see Correction Law § 168-n [3]; see also Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 5 [2006]; People v Finizio, 100 AD3d 977, 977 [2012]). “In assessing points, evidence may be derived from the defendant’s admissions, the victim’s statements, evaluative reports completed by the supervising probation officer, parole officer, or corrections counselor, case summaries prepared by the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders ... or any other reliable source, including reliable hearsay” (People v Crandall, 90 AD3d 628, 629 [2011]; see Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 5 [2006]; see also People v Mingo, 12 NY3d 563, 571-572 [2009]).
The only points that the defendant unsuccessfully challenged before the County Court, and the only points he challenges on appeal, are the 25 points assessed under risk factor two, based on sexual intercourse with the victim, and the 20 points assessed under risk factor four, based on a continuing course of sexual misconduct. Contrary to the defendant’s contentions, the People established the facts supporting the assessment of these points by clear and convincing evidence. The information contained in the presentence investigation report prepared by the Michigan Department of Corrections Bureau of Probation and the case summary, which included statements made by the victim, demonstrated that the defendant engaged in at least two
The defendant’s remaining contentions are without merit.
Accordingly, based on the total of 120 points assessed, the County Court properly designated the defendant a level three sex offender. Angiolillo, J.E, Hall, Austin and Miller, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.