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70.80 – Sentences of imprisonment for conviction of a felony sex offense

§ 70.80 Sentences of imprisonment for conviction of a felony sex
offense.

  1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, a “felony sex
    offense” means a conviction of any felony defined in article one hundred
    thirty of this chapter, including a sexually motivated felony, or
    patronizing a person for prostitution in the first degree as defined in
    section 230.06 of this chapter, patronizing a person for prostitution in
    the second degree as defined in section 230.05 of this chapter,
    aggravated patronizing a minor for prostitution in the third degree as
    defined in section 230.11 of this chapter, aggravated patronizing a
    minor for prostitution in the second degree as defined in section 230.12
    of this chapter, aggravated patronizing a minor for prostitution in the
    first degree as defined in section 230.13 of this chapter, incest in the
    second degree as defined in section 255.26 of this chapter, or incest in
    the first degree as defined in section 255.27 of this chapter, or a
    felony attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above.
    (b) A felony sex offense shall be deemed a “violent felony sex
    offense” if it is for an offense defined as a violent felony offense in
    section 70.02 of this article, or for a sexually motivated felony as
    defined in section 130.91 of this chapter where the specified offense is
    a violent felony offense as defined in section 70.02 of this article.
    (c) For the purposes of this section, a “predicate felony sex
    offender” means a person who stands convicted of any felony sex offense
    as defined in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, other than a class A-I
    felony, after having previously been subjected to one or more predicate
    felony convictions as defined in subdivision one of section 70.06 or
    subdivision one of section 70.04 of this article.
    (d) For purposes of this section, a “violent felony offense” is any
    felony defined in subdivision one of section 70.02 of this article, and
    a “non-violent felony offense” is any felony not defined therein.
  2. In imposing a sentence within the authorized statutory range for
    any felony sex offense, the court may consider all relevant factors set
    forth in section 1.05 of this chapter, and in particular, may consider
    the defendant’s criminal history, if any, including any history of sex
    offenses; any mental illness or mental abnormality from which the
    defendant may suffer; the defendant’s ability or inability to control
    his sexual behavior; and, if the defendant has difficulty controlling
    such behavior, the extent to which that difficulty may pose a threat to
    society.
  3. Except as provided by subdivision four, five, six, seven or eight
    of this section, or when a defendant is being sentenced for a conviction
    of the class A-II felonies of predatory sexual assault and predatory
    sexual assault against a child as defined in sections 130.95 and 130.96
    of this chapter, or for any class A-I sexually motivated felony for
    which a life sentence or a life without parole sentence must be imposed,
    a sentence imposed upon a defendant convicted of a felony sex offense
    shall be a determinate sentence. The determinate sentence shall be
    imposed by the court in whole or half years, and shall include as a part
    thereof a period of post-release supervision in accordance with
    subdivision two-a of section 70.45 of this article. Persons eligible for
    sentencing under section 70.07 of this article governing second child
    sexual assault felonies shall be sentenced under such section and
    paragraph (j) of subdivision two-a of section 70.45 of this article.
  4. (a) Sentences of imprisonment for felony sex offenses. Except as
    provided in subdivision five, six, seven, or eight of this section, the
    term of the determinate sentence must be fixed by the court as follows:
    (i) for a class B felony, the term must be at least five years and
    must not exceed twenty-five years;
    (ii) for a class C felony, the term must be at least three and
    one-half years and must not exceed fifteen years;
    (iii) for a class D felony, the term must be at least two years and
    must not exceed seven years; and
    (iv) for a class E felony, the term must be at least one and one-half
    years and must not exceed four years.
    (b) Probation. The court may sentence a defendant convicted of a class
    D or class E felony sex offense to probation in accordance with the
    provisions of section 65.00 of this title.
    (c) Alternative definite sentences for class D and class E felony sex
    offenses. If the court, having regard to the nature and circumstances of
    the crime and to the history and character of the defendant, is of the
    opinion that a sentence of imprisonment is necessary but that it would
    be unduly harsh to impose a determinate sentence upon a person convicted
    of a class D or class E felony sex offense, the court may impose a
    definite sentence of imprisonment and fix a term of one year or less.
  5. Sentence of imprisonment for a predicate felony sex offender. (a)
    Applicability. This subdivision shall apply to a predicate felony sex
    offender who stands convicted of a non-violent felony sex offense and
    who was previously convicted of one or more felonies.
    (b) Non-violent predicate felony offense. When the court has found,
    pursuant to the provisions of the criminal procedure law, that a person
    is a predicate felony sex offender, and the person’s predicate
    conviction was for a non-violent felony offense, the court must impose a
    determinate sentence of imprisonment, the term of which must be fixed by
    the court as follows:
    (i) for a class B felony, the term must be at least eight years and
    must not exceed twenty-five years;
    (ii) for a class C felony, the term must be at least five years and
    must not exceed fifteen years;
    (iii) for a class D felony, the term must be at least three years and
    must not exceed seven years; and
    (iv) for a class E felony, the term must be at least two years and
    must not exceed four years.
    (c) Violent predicate felony offense. When the court has found,
    pursuant to the provisions of the criminal procedure law, that a person
    is a predicate felony sex offender, and the person’s predicate
    conviction was for a violent felony offense, the court must impose a
    determinate sentence of imprisonment, the term of which must be fixed by
    the court as follows:
    (i) for a class B felony, the term must be at least nine years and
    must not exceed twenty-five years;
    (ii) for a class C felony, the term must be at least six years and
    must not exceed fifteen years;
    (iii) for a class D felony, the term must be at least four years and
    must not exceed seven years; and
    (iv) for a class E felony, the term must be at least two and one-half
    years and must not exceed four years.
    (d) A defendant who stands convicted of a non-violent felony sex
    offense, other than a class A-I or class A-II felony, who is adjudicated
    a persistent felony offender under section 70.10 of this article, shall
    be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of section 70.10 or pursuant to
    this subdivision.
  6. Sentence of imprisonment for a violent felony sex offense. Except
    as provided in subdivisions seven and eight of this section, a defendant
    who stands convicted of a violent felony sex offense must be sentenced
    pursuant to the provisions of section 70.02, section 70.04, subdivision
    six of section 70.06, section 70.08, or section 70.10 of this article,
    as applicable.
  7. Sentence for a class A felony sex offense. When a person stands
    convicted of a sexually motivated felony pursuant to section 130.91 of
    this chapter and the specified offense is a class A felony, the court
    must sentence the defendant in accordance with the provisions of:
    (a) section 60.06 of this chapter and section 70.00 of this article,
    as applicable, if such offense is a class A-I felony; and
    (b) section 70.00, 70.06 or 70.08 of this article, as applicable, if
    such offense is a class A-II felony.
  8. Whenever a juvenile offender stands convicted of a felony sex
    offense, he or she must be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of
    sections 60.10 and 70.05 of this chapter.
  9. Every determinate sentence for a felony sex offense, as defined in
    paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section, imposed pursuant to
    any section of this article, shall include as a part thereof a period of
    post-release supervision in accordance with subdivision two-a of section
    70.45 of this article.

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