People v. Hart, 108570

Decision Date12 April 2018
Docket Number108570
Citation160 A.D.3d 1137,71 N.Y.S.3d 392 (Mem)
Parties The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Michael HART II, Appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Lisa A. Burgess, Indian Lake, for appellant.

Craig P. Carriero, District Attorney, Malone (Jennifer M. Hollis of counsel), for respondent.

Before: McCarthy, J.P., Egan Jr., Lynch, Mulvey and Pritzker, JJ.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Franklin County (Main Jr., J.), rendered May 3, 2016, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of grand larceny in the fourth degree.

Defendant pleaded guilty to a single-count indictment charging him with grand larceny in the fourth degree stemming from his participation in the theft of electronics equipment from a department store. He orally waived his right to appeal as part of the plea agreement. He was thereafter sentenced, in accordance with the terms of the plea agreement, to 1 to 3 years in prison. Defendant now appeals, challenging the severity of the sentence.

Initially, defendant is not precluded by his waiver of the right to appeal from raising this claim inasmuch as we find the appeal waiver to be invalid. Significantly, County Court did not advise defendant of the separate and distinct nature of the waiver or question him to ascertain that he understood its ramifications (see People v. Thompson, 157 A.D.3d 1141, 1141, 69 N.Y.S.3d 744 [2018] ; People v. Farrell, 156 A.D.3d 1062, 1062–1063, 65 N.Y.S.3d 465 [2017], lv denied 30 N.Y.3d 1115, ––– N.Y.S.3d ––––, –––N.E.3d –––– [2018] ). Notwithstanding the invalidity of the appeal waiver, we do not find that the sentence is either harsh or excessive. Defendant's criminal history discloses a number of prior convictions and probation violations. In addition, defendant consented to the sentence as part of the plea agreement and could have received a longer prison term if convicted after trial. In view of the foregoing, we find no extraordinary circumstances or any abuse of discretion warranting a reduction of the sentence in the interest of justice (see People v. Ero, 139 A.D.3d 1248, 1250, 32 N.Y.S.3d 674 [2016], lv denied 28 N.Y.3d 929, 40 N.Y.S.3d 357, 63 N.E.3d 77 [2016] ; People v. Lowe, 53 A.D.3d 982, 983, 863 N.Y.S.2d 275 [2008] ).

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

McCarthy, J.P., Egan Jr., Lynch, Mulvey and Pritzker, JJ., concur.

To continue reading

Request your trial
4 cases
  • People v. Wilson, 108815
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • October 4, 2018
    ...distinct nature of the waiver and County Court did not ascertain that he understood its many ramifications (see People v. Hart, 160 A.D.3d 1137, 1138, 71 N.Y.S.3d 392 [2018] ; People v. Thompson, 157 A.D.3d 1141, 1141, 69 N.Y.S.3d 744 [2018] ). Turning to the merits, "[t]he decision to gran......
  • People v. Rivera
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • September 20, 2018
    ...fully understood its many ramifications (see People v. Levielle, 161 A.D.3d 1391, 1392, 77 N.Y.S.3d 575 [2018] ; People v. Hart, 160 A.D.3d 1137, 1138, 71 N.Y.S.3d 392 [2018] ). Although defendant's challenge to the severity of his sentence is not precluded, we find that the sentence is nei......
  • People v. Mallard
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • July 26, 2018
    ...A.D.3d 1457, 1457–1458, 77 N.Y.S.3d 752 [2018] ; People v. Braye, 161 A.D.3d 1456, 1457, 77 N.Y.S.3d 754 [2018] ; People v. Hart, 160 A.D.3d 1137, 1138, 71 N.Y.S.3d 392 [2018] ). Although defendant also executed a terse written waiver, such waiver was executed after defendant was sentenced ......
  • Rivera v. Lee, 525592
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • April 12, 2018

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT