Opinion
2012-04-27
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Joshua M. PERRIN, Defendant–Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the Ontario County Court (Frederick G. Reed, A.J.), rendered October 28, 2009. The judgment convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal sale of marihuana in the first degree, criminal possession of marihuana in the second degree and criminal possession of marihuana in the first degree.John E. Tyo, Shortsville, for defendant-appellant. R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua (Jeffrey L. Taylor of Counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Ontario County Court (Frederick G. Reed, A.J.), rendered October 28, 2009. The judgment convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal sale of marihuana in the first degree, criminal possession of marihuana in the second degree and criminal possession of marihuana in the first degree.John E. Tyo, Shortsville, for defendant-appellant. R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua (Jeffrey L. Taylor of Counsel), for respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of criminal sale of marihuana in the first degree (Penal Law § 221.55), criminal possession of marihuana in the second degree (§ 221.25) and criminal possession of marihuana in the first degree (§ 221.30). Contrary to defendant's contention, the three-year determinate term of imprisonment with two years of postrelease supervision imposed on counts one and three is not unduly harsh or severe. Although defendant does not challenge the legality of the sentence imposed on count two, i.e., a three-year determinate term of imprisonment, we cannot allow that illegal sentence to stand ( see People v. VanValkinburgh, 90 A.D.3d 1553, 1554, 934 N.Y.S.2d 904). In the interest of judicial economy, we exercise our inherent authority to correct the illegal sentence ( see generally People v. Savery, 90 A.D.3d 1505, 1505, 935 N.Y.S.2d 409). We therefore modify the judgment by vacating the sentence imposed on count two and imposing a sentence of a determinate term of imprisonment of 2 1/2 years on that count, to run concurrently with the sentences imposed on counts one and three. Because defendant has served the maximum term of 2 1/2 years of imprisonment and has been released from custody, a period of postrelease supervision may not now be imposed on that count ( see People v. Williams, 14 N.Y.3d 198, 217, 899 N.Y.S.2d 76, 925 N.E.2d 878, cert. denied ––– U.S. ––––, 131 S.Ct. 125, 178 L.Ed.2d 242).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by vacating the sentence imposed on count two of the indictment and imposing a sentence of a determinate term of 2 1/2 years on that count, to run concurrently with the sentences imposed on counts one and three, and as modified the judgment is affirmed.