PEOPLE v. GREEN (2010)

 Defendant appeals from an order determining that he is a level two risk pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law § 168 et seq.).   Contrary to the contention of defendant, County Court's assessment of 15 points against him under the risk factor for drug or alcohol abuse is supported by clear and convincing evidence (see § 168-n[3] ).  “An assessment of 15 points is warranted under that risk factor where ‘an offender has a substance abuse history or was abusing drugs and or alcohol at the time of the offense’ ” (People v. McClam, 63 A.D.3d 1588, 1589, 880 N.Y.S.2d 432, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 704, 2009 WL 2871188, quoting Sex Offender Registration Act:  Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary, at 15 [2006] ).   Here, the record establishes that defendant has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, including three prior convictions for driving while ability impaired and several relapses following substance abuse treatment.   In addition, the victim of the underlying offense reported that defendant was “drunk or high” when he committed the offense.   In any event, defendant's presumptive classification as a level two risk would not change even if those points were deducted, and the court properly concluded that a downward departure from that risk level was not warranted (see People v. Vaughn, 26 A.D.3d 776, 809 N.Y.S.2d 718).

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

MEMORANDUM: