Opinion
681 KA 18-01543
11-13-2020
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Thomas BROOKS, Defendant-appellant.
THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (SHERRY A. CHASE OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. JOHN J. FLYNN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUFFALO (DANIELLE E. PHILLIPS OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (SHERRY A. CHASE OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
JOHN J. FLYNN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUFFALO (DANIELLE E. PHILLIPS OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, NEMOYER, WINSLOW, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of rape in the first degree (Penal Law
§ 130.35 [1] ). We reject defendant's contention that the waiver of the right to appeal is invalid. The oral waiver, together with the written waiver, establishes that defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived the right to appeal (see People v. Sanders , 180 A.D.3d 1327, 1328, 115 N.Y.S.3d 727 [4th Dept. 2020], lv denied 35 N.Y.3d 973, 125 N.Y.S.3d 18, 148 N.E.3d 482 [2020] ; People v. Adams , 177 A.D.3d 1334, 1334-1335, 110 N.Y.S.3d 387 [4th Dept. 2019], lv denied 34 N.Y.3d 1125, 118 N.Y.S.3d 503, 141 N.E.3d 459 [2020] ; see generally People v. Thomas , 34 N.Y.3d 545, 560-563, 122 N.Y.S.3d 226, 144 N.E.3d 970 [2019], cert denied ––– U.S. ––––, 140 S.Ct. 2634, ––– L.Ed.2d –––– [2020] ). The valid waiver of the right to appeal encompasses defendant's challenge to the severity of the sentence (see People v. Lopez , 6 N.Y.3d 248, 255-256, 811 N.Y.S.2d 623, 844 N.E.2d 1145 [2006] ; People v. Hidalgo , 91 N.Y.2d 733, 737, 675 N.Y.S.2d 327, 698 N.E.2d 46 [1998] ).