Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Joseph Cooke, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2008-12-16
Citations: 57 A.D.3d 750
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Joseph Cooke, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 57
Pages: 750–751

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Joseph Cooke, Appellant.
[868 NYS2d 909]

Opinion:
A downward departure from the presumptive risk level recommended by the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders in the risk assessment instrument, in this case, risk level three, is warranted only upon a showing by the defendant, by clear and convincing evidence, that there were mitigating factors that were not properly taken into account by the guidelines. Since the defendant failed to make that showing, a downward departure was not warranted (see People v Guaman, 8 AD3d 545 [2004]). Mastro, J.P., Miller, Balkin and McCarthy, JJ., concur.