Opinion
2014-03-21
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Lamar DAVIS, Defendant–Appellant.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Robert B. Hallborg, Jr., of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Ashley R. Small of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Robert B. Hallborg, Jr., of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frank A. Sedita, III, District Attorney, Buffalo (Ashley R. Small of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., CENTRA, FAHEY, PERADOTTO, and WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15[4] ), defendant contends that County Court failed to apprehend the extent of its sentencing discretion. We agree. Contrary to the People's contention, defendant's contention survives his waiver of the right to appeal and does not require preservation ( see People v. Dunham, 83 A.D.3d 1423, 1424–1425, 919 N.Y.S.2d 258,lv. denied17 N.Y.3d 794, 929 N.Y.S.2d 102, 952 N.E.2d 1097). The court informed defendant during the plea proceeding that the minimum sentence it could impose was 5 years of incarceration and 5 years of postrelease supervision, when in fact the court had the authority to impose a period of postrelease supervision of between 2 1/2 years and 5 years ( see § 70.45[2] [f] ). “The failure of the court to apprehend the extent of its discretion deprived defendant of the right to be sentenced as provided by law” ( People v. Hager, 213 A.D.2d 1008, 1008, 625 N.Y.S.2d 972;see People v. Slattery, 81 A.D.3d 1415, 1416, 916 N.Y.S.2d 871). We therefore modify the judgment by vacating the sentence, and we remit the matter to County Court for resentencing.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by vacating the sentence and as modified the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to Erie County Court for resentencing.