NORWICH – Two sex offenders, one convicted of sodomy in the first degree and the other for possessing child pornography, attended their sex offender risk level determination hearings on Jan. 12 in Chenango County Court.
The risk level determined is based on the court's assessment of whether or not a sex offender is likely to repeat the same or a similar offense and the level of danger they may or may not pose to the community.
• Charles C. Moran, 61, was assessed to determine his sex offender risk level based on a sex crime he had previously committed.
Moran was convicted of sodomy in the first degree, a class A felony, in the state of Alabama. He was incarcerated in an Alabama state prison for said crime and later released.
According to Alabama state law, a person commits the crime of sodomy in the first degree if they engage in deviate sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion; or engage in deviate sexual intercourse with a person who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless or mentally incapacitated; or being 16 years old or older, engage in deviant sexual intercourse with a person who is less than 12 years old.
Moran moved to Chenango County in Aug. of 2014. He is required by law to register as a sex offender and have his risk level determined in the county where he resides.
First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese requested there be no deviation from the risk level assessment report.
Moran's risk level, based on the report, is a level II, which denotes a moderate level of risk.
Moran's public defender, John D. Cameron, said he received a different risk level report than the DA's Office did. Cameron received a report with a lower score, which he believes was based on his client only having one victim. He believes the score the DA Office received was based on Moran having two victims.
Cameron and Ferrarese believe there were two victims.
Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. said the report he received had a score of 75 and if he added 20 more points for a second victim, it would be a score of 95. Both scores fall under risk level II.
Revoir will review all of the information related to Moran's risk level assessment and make a determination at a later date.
• Darren L. Pollock, 28, Norwich, is currently incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility for being convicted of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a class E felony.
Pollock was arrested in February of 2014 and indicted in May of 2014 for five counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a class D felony, and six counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a class E felony.
It is alleged on Sept. 11, 2013 in Norwich, Pollock – knowing the character and content thereof – did promote a performance of sexual conduct by a child less than 17 years old by sharing still images of child pornography and was in possession of said still images of child pornography.
Pollock was arrested following in-depth joint investigation by the New York State Police, Norwich City Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He was remanded on a $5,000 cash bail and later released after posting bail.
Pollock pleaded guilty to the class E felony of possessing a sexual performance of a child on Nov. 10, 2014 and was sentenced to a split sentence of six month incarceration and 10 years probation.
Since Pollock has nearly completed his six-month term of incarceration and will be released, his risk level needed to be determined.
According to the risk level assessment report, Pollock received a score of 65, which falls under risk level I. Risk level I denotes a low level of risk.
DA intern from Syracuse Law School, Steve Williams, requested there be no deviation from the risk level assessment report.
Cameron said he believes a level I is an appropriate risk level for his client.
Revoir will review all of the information related to Pollock's risk level assessment and make a written determination at a later date.