Opinion
2014-12-9
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert BRAZIL, etc., Defendant–Appellant.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Mark W. Zeno of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Patrick J. Hynes of counsel), for respondent.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Mark W. Zeno of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Patrick J. Hynes of counsel), for respondent.
SWEENY, J.P., RENWICK, SAXE, RICHTER, JJ.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Robert M. Stoltz, J.), rendered March 9, 2011, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony drug offender previously convicted of a violent felony, to a term of 2 1/2 years, unanimously affirmed.
Defendant claims that his plea was involuntary because the court did not advise him that if he was not a United States citizen, he could be deported as a result of his plea, as required under People v. Peque, 22 N.Y.3d 168, 980 N.Y.S.2d 280, 3 N.E.3d 617 (2013), cert. denied ––– U.S. ––––, 135 S.Ct. 90, 190 L.Ed.2d 75 (2014). The People argue that Peque is a new rule within the meaning of People v. Pepper, 53 N.Y.2d 213, 440 N.Y.S.2d 889, 423 N.E.2d 366 (1981), cert. denied454 U.S. 967, 102 S.Ct. 510, 70 L.Ed.2d 383 (1981), and therefore should apply prospectively only, and not to cases that were on direct appeal when Peque was decided. Contrary to the People's contention, we find that Peque is a rule of federal constitutional law. Peque was primarily based on federal constitutional principles. Indeed, Peque relied mainly on federal case law and state authorities grounded in federal constitutional principles ( see People v. Harnett, 16 N.Y.3d 200, 206, 920 N.Y.S.2d 246, 945 N.E.2d 439 [2011]; People v. Gravino, 14 N.Y.3d 546, 553–554, 902 N.Y.S.2d 851, 928 N.E.2d 1048 [2010] ). Any new rule of criminal procedure mandated by the federal constitution must apply to the cases still on direct appeal (People v. Martello, 93 N.Y.2d 645, 650, 695 N.Y.S.2d 525, 717 N.E.2d 684 [1999] citing Griffith v. Kentucky, 479 U.S. 314, 107 S.Ct. 708, 93 L.Ed.2d 649 [1987] ). Accordingly, Peque is applicable to this case, since it is on direct appeal (Griffith v. Kentucky, 479 U.S. 314, 107 S.Ct. 708, 93 L.Ed.2d 649 [1987] ).
Although the plea court did not advise defendant of potential deportation consequences, we see no reason to extend relief under People v. Peque, in light of the fact that defendant affirmatively misrepresented to the court that he was a United States citizen. We have considered and rejected defendant's arguments to the contrary. Given the prior bail proceeding at which defendant's immigration status was discussed, it is highly unlikely that defendant mistakenly believed he was an American citizen. In any event, if that was his belief, he would not have had any reason to be concerned about deportation.