People v. Garcia

• Decision Date: 16 February 1999
• Citation: 92 N.Y.2d 726,685 N.Y.S.2d 919,708 N.E.2d 992
• Parties: , 708 N.E.2d 992, 1999 N.Y. Slip Op. 1390 The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Raphael GARCIA, Appellant.
• Court: New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals

Page 919

685 N.Y.S.2d 919

92 N.Y.2d 726, 708 N.E.2d 992, 1999

N.Y. Slip Op. 1390

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Raphael GARCIA, Appellant.

Court of Appeals of New York.

Feb. 16, 1999.

Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York City, for appellant.

Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney of Kings County, Brooklyn (Florence M. Sullivan and Roseann B. MacKechnie of counsel), for respondent.

Jonathan E. Gradess, Albany, and Alfred O'Connor, for New York State Defenders Association, amicus curiae.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Chief Judge KAYE.

This appeal for the first time places before us the issue of defendant's right to counsel in certain court appearances under Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC), a program of drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration for nonviolent, drug-addicted offenders. We agree with the Appellate Division that defendant's right to counsel was not violated in the circumstances presented.

In November 1994, defendant sold two glassine envelopes of heroin and a vial of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer, and was indicted for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and several related offenses. On March 10, 1995, defendant withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree--the top count--in full satisfaction of the indictment. Represented by counsel, defendant entered the guilty plea with the understanding that he would be admitted into TASC, ^* and that upon successful completion of an approved drug treatment program the felony charges would be dismissed. The prosecutor and a TASC representative, both of whom were present, confirmed the terms of the agreement. Prior to accepting defendant's plea, the court underscored the terms of the bargain:

"If * * * you don't complete the program, or you commit some other crime between now and the eventual date of sentence or you fail to come back before me for sentence, then there is no promise between us and under your plea of guilty * * * [t]he minimum sentence I could give you is 4 1/2 years * * * [to] nine years."

Defendant stated that he understood the court's admonition and the terms and conditions of his guilty plea.

Thereafter, defendant participated in a TASC-approved program at Samaritan Village for nearly 18 months. In October 1996, however--prior to completion of the program--defendant was ejected from Samaritan Village for a rules violation, and remained at large for approximately three months, contacting neither TASC nor the court. On January 16, 1997, defendant was brought before the court on a bench warrant. He explained that he was ejected because he had violated the rules by returning late one night after unauthorized attendance at a banquet honoring members of Samaritan Village's championship softball team. Defendant was remanded and the matter adjourned so that TASC could consider another program for him.

On the following two court dates--January 21 and February 13--TASC requested adjournments to allow for a reassessment of defendant's participation in the program. Prior to granting an adjournment to the February 13 proceeding, however, the court made clear that, by the next court date, TASC would have to reach a final decision with regard to defendant's continued participation in the program. On February 20, 1997, TASC informed the court that it was willing to continue working with defendant but needed a further adjournment, to March 4th, because it could not find a bed for him. As the court was inquiring why defendant had left Samaritan Village, the TASC representative interjected: "Your honor, if you want to sentence this defendant, go ahead." The court then discharged TASC from the case and set the matter down for sentencing.

At all four appearances--January 16, January 21, February 13 and February 20--only defendant and a TASC representative were before the court. Neither the prosecutor nor defense counsel was present.

On March 6, with defendant, his counsel and the prosecutor present, the court noted that defendant had broken the Samaritan Village rules, had left the program and had remained at large for close to three months. "As a result," the court stated, "I don't consider myself bound by the promise and I'm prepared to sentence the defendant." Defense counsel recounted defendant's reason for leaving Samaritan Village and urged the court to give him another chance, noting his successful participation for a considerable period prior to his discharge. The court then sentenced defendant to the minimum term of 4 1/2 to 9 years. On appeal, defendant argued that his right to counsel was violated at the February 20 proceeding, when the court determined that he would be sentenced to jail. The Appellate Division rejected defendant's argument and affirmed the conviction, as do we.

The parameters of a criminal defendant's right to be represented by counsel are well defined (N.Y. Const., art. I, § 6; U.S. Const. 6th, 14th Amends.; People v. Settles, 46 N.Y.2d 154, 412 N.Y.S.2d 874, 385 N.E.2d 612). At the core of that right, which we have long recognized as inviolable and fundamental to our form of justice, is the recognition that defendants, confronted with both the intricacies of the criminal law and the experienced advocacy of the public prosecutor, require the " 'guiding hand of counsel' " to aid their defense (People v. Settles, supra, 46 N.Y.2d, at 161, 412 N.Y.S.2d 874, 385 N.E.2d 612; People v. Joseph, 84 N.Y.2d 995, 997, 622 N.Y.S.2d 505, 646 N.E.2d 807, quoting Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 69, 53 S.Ct. 55, 77 L.Ed. 158). In addition to the presence of counsel at trial, criminal defendants are guaranteed the assistance of counsel at any "critical stage" of the prosecution, where counsels' absence might prejudice due process rights (see, e.g., United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149 [pretrial lineup]; Coleman v. Alabama, 399 U.S. 1, 10, 90 S.Ct. 1999, 26...