PEOPLE v. WILLIAMS (2006)

Appeal by the defendant from an order of the County Court, Orange County (DeRosa, J.), dated June 6, 2005, which, after a hearing pursuant to Correction Law article 6-C, designated him a level three sex offender.

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

The County Court's determination to designate the defendant a level three sex offender is supported by clear and convincing evidence (see Correction Law § 168-n[3] ).   The County Court properly assessed 15 points for the defendant's history of alcohol abuse in light of the defendant's admissions, as reflected in the pre-sentence report, that he consumed a six-pack of beer before the commission of one of the offenses, had been drinking alcohol since he was 17 years of age, and had been able to consume up to three six-packs at a time (see People v. Perser, 29 A.D.3d 767, 814 N.Y.S.2d 283).   He also ignored the advice of his therapist to stop drinking (see People v. Masters, 19 A.D.3d 387, 796 N.Y.S.2d 133).   The defendant failed to present clear and convincing evidence of the existence of special circumstances to warrant a downward departure from the presumptive risk level (see People v. Davis, 26 A.D.3d 364, 364-365, 809 N.Y.S.2d 547;  People v. Vaughn, 26 A.D.3d 776, 776-777, 809 N.Y.S.2d 718).