PEOPLE v. HINES (2005)

Appeal by the defendant from an order of the County Court, Nassau County (LaPera, J.), dated June 30, 2003, which, after a hearing pursuant to Correction Law article 6-C, designated him a level two sex offender.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed.

 A court, in the exercise of its discretion, may depart from the presumptive risk level determined by the Risk Assessment Instrument based upon the facts in the record (see People v. Inghilleri, 21 A.D.3d 404, 405, 799 N.Y.S.2d 793;  People v. Girup, 9 A.D.3d 913, 780 N.Y.S.2d 698;  People v. Guaman, 8 A.D.3d 545, 778 N.Y.S.2d 704).   However, “utilization of the risk assessment instrument will generally ‘result in the proper classification in most cases so that departures will be the exception not the rule’ ” (People v. Guaman, supra, quoting Sex Offender Registration Act:  Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 4 [1997 ed.] ).  “A departure from the presumptive risk level is warranted where ‘there exists an aggravating or mitigating factor of a kind or to a degree not otherwise taken into account by the guidelines' ” (People v. Inghilleri, supra at 405-406, 799 N.Y.S.2d 793, quoting Sex Offender Registration Act:  Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 4 [1997 ed.];   see People v. Mount, 17 A.D.3d 714, 715, 792 N.Y.S.2d 697;  People v. Girup, supra;  People v. Guaman, supra ).

 Contrary to the defendant's contention, the County Court properly relied on the statements in the case summary and probation report that the sexual offense occurred over a four-hour period as the basis for designating him a level two sex offender (see People v. Mitchell, 300 A.D.2d 377, 751 N.Y.S.2d 530;  People v. Dorato, 291 A.D.2d 580, 738 N.Y.S.2d 400;  People v. Scott, 288 A.D.2d 763, 733 N.Y.S.2d 744).  “Correction Law § 168-n(3) specifically authorizes a hearing court to utilize reliable hearsay evidence in reaching its determination” (People v. Brown, 7 A.D.3d 595, 775 N.Y.S.2d 885).   That the statements at issue may have constituted double hearsay did not necessarily render them unreliable for purposes of a Sex Offender Registration Act hearing.   Since the County Court's determination was supported by clear and convincing evidence, it will not be disturbed on appeal.