Opinion
07-08-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Nicolas WEATHINGTON, Defendant–Appellant. (Appeal No. 2.)
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Barbara J. Davies of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Michael J. Flaherty, Jr., Acting District Attorney, Buffalo (Nicholas T. Texido of Counsel), for Respondent.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Barbara J. Davies of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Michael J. Flaherty, Jr., Acting District Attorney, Buffalo (Nicholas T. Texido of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: PERADOTTO, J.P., CARNI, CURRAN, TROUTMAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM: In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of robbery in the second degree (Penal Law § 160.10[1] ) and burglary in the second degree (§ 140.25[2] ) and, in appeal No. 2, he appeals from the resentence on that conviction. We note at the outset that, inasmuch as the sentence in appeal No. 1 was superseded by the resentence in appeal No. 2, the appeal from the judgment in appeal No. 1 insofar as it imposed sentence must be dismissed (see People v. Primm, 57 A.D.3d 1525, 1525, 870 N.Y.S.2d 188, lv. denied 12 N.Y.3d 820, 881 N.Y.S.2d 27, 908 N.E.2d 935 ).
We otherwise affirm the judgment in appeal No. 1 and affirm the resentence in appeal No. 2. Contrary to defendant's contention, the record establishes that he knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waived the right to appeal, and that waiver encompasses his challenge to the severity of the resentence in this case (see People v. Lopez, 6 N.Y.3d 248, 256, 811 N.Y.S.2d 623, 844 N.E.2d 1145 ; People v.
Matsulavage, 121 A.D.3d 1581, 1581, 993 N.Y.S.2d 423, lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 1045, 998 N.Y.S.2d 315, 23 N.E.3d 158 ; People v. O'Harrow, 107 A.D.3d 1601, 1601–1602, 966 N.Y.S.2d 730, lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 1076, 974 N.Y.S.2d 325, 997 N.E.2d 150 ). “Defendant waived his right to appeal both orally and in writing, and the record demonstrates that County Court engage[d] ... defendant in an adequate colloquy to ensure that the waiver of the right to appeal was a knowing and voluntary choice” (People v. Burt, 101 A.D.3d 1729, 1730, 955 N.Y.S.2d 906, lv. denied 20 N.Y.3d 1060, 962 N.Y.S.2d 610, 985 N.E.2d 920 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). As the People correctly concede, however, no mention of youthful offender status was made on the record before defendant waived his right to appeal, and thus defendant's valid waiver does not encompass his challenge to the court's denial of youthful offender status (see People v. Gibson, 134 A.D.3d 1517, 1518, 21 N.Y.S.3d 905 ; People v. Anderson, 90 A.D.3d 1475, 1476, 935 N.Y.S.2d 237, lv. denied 18 N.Y.3d 991, 945 N.Y.S.2d 646, 968 N.E.2d 1002 ). We nonetheless conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant defendant youthful offender status (see People v. Digges, 10 A.D.3d 769, 769–770, 781 N.Y.S.2d 794 ; People v. Mettler, 259 A.D.2d 834, 835, 687 N.Y.S.2d 205 ). Despite the existence of some factors weighing in favor of such an adjudication, the record establishes that defendant, in concert with other individuals, engaged in a planned home invasion burglary and robbery of an 84–year–old woman during which defendant grabbed the victim by her face and mouth, causing her pain, restrained her against the rocking chair in which she was sitting, and demanded to know the location of her money (see Digges, 10 A.D.3d at 769–770, 781 N.Y.S.2d 794 ; Mettler, 259 A.D.2d at 835, 687 N.Y.S.2d 205 ). Defendant and the other individuals subsequently used the victim's credit card to make several fraudulent purchases. In addition, under these circumstances, we decline to exercise our interest of justice jurisdiction to adjudicate defendant a youthful offender (see e.g. People v. Phillips, 289 A.D.2d 1021, 1022, 735 N.Y.S.2d 311 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the resentence so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.