People v. Stahl

A finding of a violation of probation must be based upon a preponderance of the evidence (see CPL 410.70 [3]; People v Maldonado, 44 AD3d 793 , 794 [2007]; People v Mikulski, 225 AD2d 563 [1996]). Contrary to the defendant’s contention, the Supreme Court properly found, based upon a preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing, that he had violated the conditions of his probation by being in a location where persons under the age of 18 were likely to congregate without permission from his probation officer, possessing a laptop computer which had not been made known to the probation department, being in possession of “sexually oriented or sexually stimulating material” on that computer, and failing to successfully complete a sex offender treatment program. Accordingly, the County Court properly revoked the defendant’s sentence of probation and imposed sentences of imprisonment (see People v Wheeler, 99 AD3d 1168 , 1170 [2012]). Eng, P.J., Skelos, Dillon and Sgroi, JJ., concur.