Opinion
2011-09-30
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,v.Candy BUSKE, Defendant–Appellant.
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse (Christine M. Cook of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (Susan C. Azzarelli of Counsel), for Respondent.
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse (Christine M. Cook of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (Susan C. Azzarelli of Counsel), for Respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting her upon her plea of guilty of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 265.02[1] ). We reject defendant's contention that her waiver of the right to appeal was invalid. “County Court's plea colloquy, together with the written waiver of the right to appeal, adequately apprised defendant that ‘the right to appeal is separate and distinct from those rights automatically forfeited upon a plea of guilty’ ” ( People v. Kulyeshie, 71 A.D.3d 1478, 1478, 895 N.Y.S.2d 909, lv. denied 14 N.Y.3d 889, 903 N.Y.S.2d 777, 929 N.E.2d 1012, quoting People v. Lopez, 6 N.Y.3d 248, 256, 811 N.Y.S.2d 623, 844 N.E.2d 1145). The further contention of
defendant that her plea was not knowing, voluntary, or intelligent because she did not recite the underlying facts of the crime to which she pleaded guilty is actually a challenge to the factual sufficiency of the plea allocution and thus is encompassed by the valid waiver of the right to appeal ( see People v. Simcoe, 74 A.D.3d 1858, 1859, 902 N.Y.S.2d 489, lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 778, 907 N.Y.S.2d 467, 933 N.E.2d 1060; People v. Jamison, 71 A.D.3d 1435, 1436, 896 N.Y.S.2d 780, lv. denied 14 N.Y.3d 888, 903 N.Y.S.2d 777, 929 N.E.2d 1012). We further note that defendant failed to preserve her contention for our review because she did not move to vacate the judgment of conviction, nor did she raise that ground in her motion to withdraw the plea ( see Jamison, 71 A.D.3d at 1436, 896 N.Y.S.2d 780). In any event, defendant's contention is without merit. “[T]here is no requirement that defendant recite the underlying facts of the crime to which he [or she] is pleading guilty” ( People v. Bailey, 49 A.D.3d 1258, 1259, 852 N.Y.S.2d 892, lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 932, 862 N.Y.S.2d 338, 892 N.E.2d 404; see People v. Williams, 291 A.D.2d 891, 893, 737 N.Y.S.2d 757, lv. denied 98 N.Y.2d 656, 745 N.Y.S.2d 515, 772 N.E.2d 618).
Finally, defendant contends that the court failed to conduct a sufficient inquiry before denying her motion to withdraw her guilty plea and abused its discretion in denying her motion. We reject those contentions. First, “[t]he defendant should be afforded [a] reasonable opportunity to present his [or her] contentions [in support of the motion] and the court should be enabled to make an informed determination” based thereon ( People v. Tinsley, 35 N.Y.2d 926, 927, 365 N.Y.S.2d 161, 324 N.E.2d 544; see People v. Strasser, 83 A.D.3d 1411, 919 N.Y.S.2d 454; People v. Harris, 63 A.D.3d 1653, 880 N.Y.S.2d 448, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 744, 886 N.Y.S.2d 98, 914 N.E.2d 1016), and the record establishes that such was the case here. Second, with respect to the merits of the motion, defendant's claim of innocence in support thereof was belied by her statements during the plea colloquy ( see People v. Gumpton, 81 A.D.3d 1441, 1442, 916 N.Y.S.2d 721; People v. Nichols, 77 A.D.3d 1339, 1340, 908 N.Y.S.2d 295, lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 954, 917 N.Y.S.2d 114, 942 N.E.2d 325). “The court was presented with a credibility determination when defendant moved to withdraw [her] plea and advanced [her] belated claim[ ] of innocence ..., and it did not abuse its discretion in discrediting th[at] claim[ ]” ( People v. Sparcino, 78 A.D.3d 1508, 1509, 911 N.Y.S.2d 523, lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 746, 917 N.Y.S.2d 628, 942 N.E.2d 1053).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.