Matter of Shawndell F.
2013 NY Slip Op 00433 [102 AD3d 599]
January 29, 2013
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, February 27, 2013


In the Matter of Shawndell F., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant.

[*1] Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Raymond

E. Rogers of counsel), for appellant.

Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Jacob Gardener of counsel), for presentment agency.

Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Sidney Gribetz, J.), entered on or about January 20, 2012, which adjudicated appellant a juvenile delinquent upon a fact-finding determination that he committed acts that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crimes of attempted robbery in the second degree and menacing in the third degree, and placed him on probation for a period of nine months, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The court properly exercised its discretion when it denied appellant's request for an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, and instead adjudicated him a juvenile delinquent and placed him on probation, which was the least restrictive dispositional alternative consistent with appellant's needs and the community's need for protection (see Matter of Katherine W., 62 NY2d 947 [1984]). The nine-month period of supervision was warranted by the seriousness of the offense, in which appellant intentionally struck the victim and attempted to steal his property with accomplices present, as well as appellant's generally poor academic performance and behavior at school. These factors were not outweighed by the mitigating factors cited by appellant. Concur—Mazzarelli, J.P., Renwick, Richter, Gische and Clark, JJ.