Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, v. DAKOTA MIX, DEFENDANT–APPELLANT.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon a plea of guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (Penal Law § 220.31), defendant contends that County Court abused its discretion in denying his request to adjudicate him a youthful offender. We reject that contention. “ ‘The determination ․ whether to grant ․ youthful offender status rests within the sound discretion of the court and depends upon all the attending facts and circumstances of the case’ “ (People v. Dawson, 71 AD3d 1490, 1490, lv denied 15 NY3d 749). Here, the record reflects that the court considered the relevant facts and circumstances in denying defendant's request. Although the crime was not particularly grave and did not involve violence, the remaining factors to be considered upon the application for youthful offender treatment weighed against such a determination (cf. People v. Shrubsall, 167 A.D.2d 929, 930). Defendant has been involved with probation since he was 12 years old based on orders adjudicating him to be a person in need of supervision and juvenile delinquency adjudications and has been offered many services, but he continued to violate probation and was ultimately placed with the Office of Children and Family Services for 18 months. Defendant did not take responsibility for the instant offense and was uncooperative during his presentence interview. Defendant dropped out of school after the 10 th grade and, although he was 19 years old at the time of sentencing, he had no verifiable employment and no plans for future employment in the area. The probation officer recommended against probation and believed that defendant's prospects for rehabilitation and hope for a future constructive life were poor. We therefore conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant's request.
Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: KA 12–00387
Decided: November 15, 2013
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)