Opinion
January 4, 2001.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of St. Lawrence County (Nicandri, J.), rendered June 21, 1999, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
Richard V. Manning, Parishville, for appellant.
Jerome J. Richards, District Attorney (Thomas Finnerty of counsel), Canton, for respondent.
Before: Cardona, P.J., Mercure, Peters, Mugglin and Rose, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
After pleading guilty, defendant waived his right to appeal and was sentenced as a second felony offender to a prison term of 1 1/2 to 3 years. Defense counsel seeks to be relieved of his assignment on the ground that no nonfrivolous issue can be raised on appeal. Upon our review of the record, we disagree. Given defendant's request at sentencing to amend his plea to an Alford plea and his protestation of innocence while addressing County Court, we find that the record reveals potential issues that defendant should be permitted to argue on appeal. Accordingly, defense counsel's application to be relieved is granted and new counsel will be assigned to address any issues that the record may disclose (see, People v. Cruwys, 113 A.D.2d 979, lv denied 67 N.Y.2d 650).
ORDERED that the decision is withheld, application to be relieved of assignment granted and new counsel to be assigned.