People v. Falls, 2016–07035

• Decision Date: 19 September 2018
• Docket Number: 2016–07035,Ind. No. 15–00604
• Citation: 164 A.D.3d 1361,81 N.Y.S.3d 763 (Mem)
• Parties: The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Raiquan FALLS, appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

164 A.D.3d 1361

81 N.Y.S.3d 763 (Mem)

The PEOPLE, etc., respondent,

v.Raiquan FALLS, appellant.

2016–07035

Ind. No. 15–00604

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

September 19, 2018

Submitted—May 22, 2018

Thomas R.Villecco, Jericho, NY, for appellant.

David M. Hoovler, District Attorney, Goshen, N.Y. (Robert H. Middlemiss of counsel), for respondent.

CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, JEFFREY A. COHEN, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Orange County (Robert H. Freehill, J.), rendered May 31, 2016, convicting him of tampering with physical evidence, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the matter is remitted to the County Court, Orange County, for further proceedings on the defendant's motion to withdraw his plea of guilty, for which the defendant shall be appointed new counsel, and thereafter a report to this Court limited to the County Court's findings with respect to the motion and whether the defendant established his entitlement to the withdrawal of his plea, and the appeal is held in abeyance pending receipt of the County Court's report, which shall be filed with all convenient speed.

On April 5, 2016, the defendant pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence. Thereafter, he moved pro se to withdraw his plea of guilty. When the matter came on for sentencing, the defendant advised the County Court that he wanted to withdraw his plea. His attorney stated that there was no basis for the defendant to withdraw his plea, and the court proceeded to impose sentence. The defendant's right to counsel was adversely affected when his attorney took a position adverse to that of the defendant. The court should have appointed new counsel to represent the defendant with respect to the motion to withdraw his plea of guilty (see People v. Caputo , 163 A.D.3d 983, 82 N.Y.S.3d 457 ; People v. Howell , 146 A.D.3d 981, 45 N.Y.S.3d 552 ; People v. Loaiza , 142 A.D.3d 564, 36 N.Y.S.3d 487 ; People v. Hayes, 140 A.D.3d 1186, 33 N.Y.S.3d 752 ; People v. Elting , 2 A.D.3d 455, 767 N.Y.S.2d 828 ).

Accordingly, we remit the matter to the County Court, Orange County, for further proceedings on the defendant's motion to withdraw his plea of guilty, for which the defendant should be appointed new counsel, and thereafter a report to this Court on the motion and whether the defendant established his entitlement to withdrawal of the plea. We hold the appeal in...