People v. Burton

• Decision Date: 08 March 2012
• Citation: 93 A.D.3d 949,939 N.Y.S.2d 717,2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 01695
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Quinten Xavier BURTON, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 01695

93 A.D.3d 949

939 N.Y.S.2d 717

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,

v.Quinten Xavier BURTON, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.

March 8, 2012.

William T. Morrison, Albany, for appellant.

P. David Soares, District Attorney, Albany (Steven M. Sharp of counsel), for respondent.

*718 Before: Peters, J.P., Rose, Kavanagh, Garry and Egan Jr., JJ.

PETERS, J.P.

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Albany County (Breslin, J.), rendered December 21, 2009, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of assault in the second degree.

Defendant was charged in an indictment with robbery in the first degree, robbery in the second degree, assault in the second degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree. He thereafter pleaded guilty to assault in the second degree in full satisfaction of the charges, in return for a sentence of no more than 5 1/2 years in prison. County Court thereafter sentenced defendant to five years in prison, to be followed by 1 1/2 years of postrelease supervision. Defendant now appeals and we affirm.

Initially, we agree with defendant that he did not validly waive his right to appeal. There was no mention of an appeal waiver when the terms of the plea were placed on the record and, although defendant acknowledged that he understood that he was waiving his right to appeal, there is no indication in the record that defendant understood the ramifications of the waiver or that he had discussed it with counsel. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that defendant knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waived his right to appeal ( see People v. Bradshaw, 18 N.Y.3d 257, 264–266, 938 N.Y.S.2d 254, 961 N.E.2d 645 [2011]; People v. Bolden, 78 A.D.3d 1419, 1420, 911 N.Y.S.2d 265 [2010], lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 828, 921 N.Y.S.2d 192, 946 N.E.2d 180 [2011]; People v. Headspeth, 78 A.D.3d 1418, 1419, 911 N.Y.S.2d 264 [2010] ).

Turning to his remaining arguments, defendant's claim that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel is unpreserved for our review in light of his failure to move to withdraw his plea or vacate the judgment of conviction ( see People v. Walker, 84 A.D.3d 1643, 1643–1644, 923 N.Y.S.2d 915 [2011]; People v. Belle, 74 A.D.3d 1477, 1480, 902 N.Y.S.2d 258 [2010], lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 918, 913 N.Y.S.2d 645, 939 N.E.2d 811 [2010] ). Finally, we reject defendant's contention that his sentence was harsh and excessive. Although defendant relies on being diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and gender identity disorder in support of his claim, these mental health problems do not mitigate his violent conduct ( see People v. Nelson, 56 A.D.3d 899, 899, 868 N.Y.S.2d 776 [2008], lv. denied 12 N.Y.3d 761, 876 N.Y.S.2d 712, 904 N.E.2d 849 [2009]; People v. Masters, 36 A.D.3d 959, 960–961, 826 N.Y.S.2d 835 [2007], lv. denied 8 N.Y.3d 925, 834 N.Y.S.2d 515, 866 N.E.2d 461 [2007] ). In view of this, and given that defendant...