Opinion
112233
11-10-2022
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Aaron M. CURRY, Appellant.
Erin C. Morigerato, Albany, for appellant. Andrew J. Wylie, District Attorney, Plattsburgh (Kerianne Morrissey of counsel), for respondent.
Erin C. Morigerato, Albany, for appellant.
Andrew J. Wylie, District Attorney, Plattsburgh (Kerianne Morrissey of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Egan Jr., J.P., Clark, Pritzker, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Ceresia, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Clark, J. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Clinton County (Timothy J. Lawliss, J.), rendered December 18, 2019, which revoked defendant's probation and imposed a sentence of imprisonment.
In April 2018, upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of grand larceny in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree, defendant was sentenced to concurrent six-month jail terms to be followed by five years of probation. In September 2019, defendant was charged with violating several terms of his probation. On the day scheduled for a hearing on the violation petition, following an off-the-record conference, defendant admitted to willfully violating two conditions of probation, namely, failing to report to his probation officer and failing to report for an alcohol test as directed. County Court made no sentencing promises but advised defendant of the maximum potential resentence that could be imposed on the convictions. The court thereafter found that defendant had willfully violated the terms of his probation and, consequently, revoked his probation and resentenced him to concurrent prison terms of 2 to 6 years on the grand larceny in the third degree conviction and 1? to 4 years on the grand larceny in the fourth degree conviction. Defendant appeals. We affirm. Defendant's challenge to the voluntariness of his admission to the probation violations is unpreserved for our review, as the record does not reflect that he made an appropriate postallocution motion (see CPL 220.60[3] ; People v. Purdie, 205 A.D.3d 1225, 1225, 168 N.Y.S.3d 190 [3d Dept.. 2022], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 1135, 172 N.Y.S.3d 849, 193 N.E.3d 514 [2022] ; People v. Feltz, 190 A.D.3d 1027, 1028, 138 N.Y.S.3d 727 [3d Dept. 2021] ), despite ample time to do so during the month following his admission, prior to sentencing (see People v. Williams, 27 N.Y.3d 212, 214, 32 N.Y.S.3d 17, 51 N.E.3d 528 [2016] ; People v. Conceicao, 26 N.Y.3d 375, 381–382, 23 N.Y.S.3d 124, 44 N.E.3d 199 [2015] ; compare People v. Miazga, 171 A.D.3d 1358, 1359, 100 N.Y.S.3d 389 [3d Dept. 2019] ). Were we to review this claim, we would find that defendant was advised of the consequences of his admissions and the maximum potential sentence, and that his sworn admissions were knowing, voluntary and intelligent (see People v. Miazga, 171 A.D.3d at 1359, 100 N.Y.S.3d 389 ). Moreover, defendant was advised that, if he admitted the allegations, he would be forgoing an evidentiary hearing and the rights associated with a hearing, all of which were explained and which he waived (see People v. McMillan, 166 A.D.3d 1231, 1232, 88 N.Y.S.3d 603 [3d Dept. 2018] ; see also CPL 410.70 ).
Defendant also pleaded guilty to four misdemeanors, for which fines were imposed.
Defendant argues that defense counsel did not provide the effective assistance of counsel. Notably, the substance of the off-the-record conference held just prior to defendant's admissions is unknown, and defendant consented to not being present. Defendant's assertions as to what counsel investigated or what counsel advised or failed to advise him regarding making admissions, waiving a hearing, possible defenses to the violation petition and the strength of the People's case are outside of the record on direct appeal and, as such, are more properly raised in a motion to vacate pursuant to CPL article 440, in conjunction with his record-based claims (see People v. Taylor, 135 A.D.3d 1237, 1238, 23 N.Y.S.3d 590 [3d Dept. 2016], lv denied 27 N.Y.3d 1075, 38 N.Y.S.3d 846, 60 N.E.3d 1212 [2016] ; see e.g. People v. Goodwalt , 205 A.D.3d 1070, 1072–1073, 167 N.Y.S.3d 250 [3d Dept. 2022], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 1071, 171 N.Y.S.3d 452, 191 N.E.3d 404 [2022] ; People v. Johnson, 194 A.D.3d 1267, 1269, 147 N.Y.S.3d 258 [3d Dept. 2021] ). Sentencing was left to the discretion of County Court and defense counsel argued, albeit unsuccessfully, the relevant mitigating factors in favor of probation or jail time instead of prison. Although the court ultimately imposed a lengthy prison sentence – one which was below the maximum permitted for the grand larceny in the third degree conviction (see Penal Law § 70.00[2][d] ; [3][b]) – counsel's strategy did not render the representation ineffective (see People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 713–714, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584 [1998] ; People v. Ballard, 200 A.D.3d 1476, 1478, 159 N.Y.S.3d 242 [3d Dept. 2021], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 925, 164 N.Y.S.3d 6, 184 N.E.3d 827 [2022] ). Finally, upon consideration of the relevant factors and underlying conduct, we are not persuaded by defendant's contention that the sentence was "unduly harsh or severe" ( CPL 470.15[6][b] ) given his significant criminal history. Defendant's remaining claims have been considered and found to be without merit.
Defendant's arguments regarding a waiver of appeal are misplaced as no oral or written waiver was contemplated or executed with regard to these admissions.
Egan Jr., J.P., Pritzker, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Ceresia, JJ., concur. ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.