People v. Fowara

Citation2015 N.Y. Slip Op. 04296,128 A.D.3d 932,9 N.Y.S.3d 390
Decision Date20 May 2015
Docket Number2013-09837
PartiesPEOPLE of State of New York, respondent, v. Anthony FOWARA, appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Robert C. Mitchell, Riverhead, N.Y. (James H. Miller III of counsel), for appellant.

Thomas J. Spota, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Marion M. Tang of counsel), for respondent.

PETER B. SKELOS, J.P., RUTH C. BALKIN, SHERI S. ROMAN, and SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, JJ.

Opinion

Appeal by the defendant from an order of the County Court, Suffolk County (Kahn, J.), dated September 27, 2013, which, after a hearing, designated him a level two sex offender pursuant to Correction Law article 6–C.

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

The County Court, in performing its risk level assessment pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Correction Law article 6–C), assessed 10 points against the defendant based on his use of forcible compulsion against the complainant. Although forcible compulsion was not an element of the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty (see Penal Law § 130.25[2] ), a written statement given to the police by the complainant provided clear and convincing evidence (see Correction Law § 168–n[3] ) that the defendant used “physical force” (Penal Law § 130.00[8] ) to compel the complainant to engage in sex acts with him. The court was not limited to considering the crime of which the defendant was convicted or the admissions he made upon pleading guilty, and it properly relied on the complainant's statement (see Correction Law § 168–n [3 ]; People v. Mingo, 12 N.Y.3d 563, 571–572, 883 N.Y.S.2d 154, 910 N.E.2d 983 ; People v. Johnson, 77 A.D.3d 548, 548–549, 909 N.Y.S.2d 716 ; People v. Feeney, 58 A.D.3d 614, 615, 871 N.Y.S.2d 340 ; People v. LaRock, 45 A.D.3d 1121, 1122, 846 N.Y.S.2d 685 ; Sex Offender Registration Act: Risk Assessment Guidelines and Commentary at 5 [2006] ).

Accordingly, the County Court properly assessed 10 points against the defendant based on his use of forcible compulsion against the complainant (see People v. Johnson, 77 A.D.3d at 548–549, 909 N.Y.S.2d 716 ; People v. Feeney, 58 A.D.3d at 615, 871 N.Y.S.2d 340 ; People v. LaRock, 45 A.D.3d at 1122–1123, 846 N.Y.S.2d 685 ). With those 10 points included in his risk assessment score, the defendant was properly designated a level two sex offender.

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25 cases
  • People v. Parris
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • June 28, 2017
    ...737, 999 N.Y.S.2d 760 ), and it properly relied upon the defendant's admissions and the complainant's statement (see People v. Fowara, 128 A.D.3d 932, 933, 9 N.Y.S.3d 390 ). Therefore, the Supreme Court properly assessed the defendant 25 points under risk factor 2.The defendant's remaining ......
  • People v. Gorostiza
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • November 30, 2022
    ...People v. Burrowes, 177 A.D.3d 1005, 113 N.Y.S.3d 264 ; People v. McClendon, 175 A.D.3d 1329, 1330, 108 N.Y.S.3d 36 ; People v. Fowara, 128 A.D.3d 932, 933, 9 N.Y.S.3d 390 ; People v. Snay, 122 A.D.3d 1012, 1013, 995 N.Y.S.2d 422 ; People v. Kost, 82 A.D.3d 729, 917 N.Y.S.2d 916 ). Although......
  • People v. McClendon
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • September 11, 2019
    ..., 27 N.Y.3d 683, 688–689, 37 N.Y.S.3d 39, 57 N.E.3d 1076 ; People v. Fontaine , 164 A.D.3d 533, 534, 77 N.Y.S.3d 867 ; People v. Fowara , 128 A.D.3d 932, 933, 9 N.Y.S.3d 390 ). Although forcible compulsion was not an element of the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty (see Penal La......
  • People v. Hightower
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • August 25, 2021
    ...37 N.Y.S.3d 39, 57 N.E.3d 1076 ; People v. McClendon, 175 A.D.3d 1329, 1330, 108 N.Y.S.3d 36 ; 150 N.Y.S.3d 591 People v. Fowara, 128 A.D.3d 932, 933, 9 N.Y.S.3d 390 ; People v. Snay, 122 A.D.3d 1012, 1013, 995 N.Y.S.2d 422 ).Further, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion i......
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