PEOPLE v. SPRATLEY (2019)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by determining that defendant is a level one risk pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act and as modified the order is affirmed without costs.

Memorandum:  Defendant appeals from an order classifying him as a level two sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law § 168 et seq.).  We agree with defendant that County Court erred in assessing him 30 points under risk factor 5. Insofar as relevant here, that risk factor allows the court to assess 30 points if any of the victims is 10 years of age or less, or 20 points if any of the victims is between 11 and 16 years of age (see Sex Offender Registration Act:  Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 11 [2006] ).  Defendant was convicted of possessing a sexual performance by a child (Penal Law § 263.16), which requires proof, inter alia, that defendant possessed a play, motion picture, or photograph depicting sexual conduct involving a child who is less than 16 years of age (see §§ 263.00[1], [4];  263.16).  Consequently, defendant's plea of guilty to that charge does not constitute clear and convincing evidence that 30 points should be assessed under risk factor 5 (cf. People v. Hayes, 166 A.D.3d 1533, 1533–1534, 85 N.Y.S.3d 836 [4th Dept. 2018], lv denied 32 N.Y.3d 915, 2019 WL 690506 [2019]; People v. Asfour, 148 A.D.3d 1669, 1670, 50 N.Y.S.3d 648 [4th Dept. 2017], lv. denied 29 N.Y.3d 914, 2017 WL 2743243 [2017]).  Additionally, the evidence submitted by the People, including the presentence report, did not constitute clear and convincing evidence that any of the victims was 10 years of age or less (see generally People v. Cephus, 128 A.D.3d 656, 656, 7 N.Y.S.3d 605 [2d Dept. 2015], lv denied 26 N.Y.3d 901, 2015 WL 5123362 [2015]).  The clear and convincing evidence, including the references to the children in the images possessed by defendant in the presentence report as preadolescent or prepubescent, coupled with the report's definition of such children as being between 10 and 13 years of age, however, supports the imposition of 20 points under risk factor 5 (see People v. Jean–Bart, 145 A.D.3d 690, 691, 41 N.Y.S.3d 906 [2d Dept. 2016], lv denied 29 N.Y.3d 904, 2017 WL 1224029 [2017];  People v. Caban, 61 A.D.3d 834, 835, 877 N.Y.S.2d 403 [2d Dept. 2009], lv denied 13 N.Y.3d 702, 2009 WL 2762650 [2009]).  When the 30 points assessed under risk factor 5 is reduced to 20 points, defendant's score on the relevant risk factors is 70 points, making him a presumptive level one risk, and there is no basis in the record for granting an upward departure based on an aggravating factor not taken into account by the risk assessment guidelines (see generally People v. Grady, 81 A.D.3d 1464, 1464, 917 N.Y.S.2d 798 [4th Dept. 2011]).  We therefore modify the order accordingly.