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People v. Conti

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 17, 1989
149 A.D.2d 607 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)

Opinion

April 17, 1989

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (Browne, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant contends that the determination of his status as a persistent violent felony offender was erroneous because the underlying 1976 conviction failed to meet the constitutional standards of Boykin v. Alabama ( 395 U.S. 238). In addition, the defendant contends that he showed good cause pursuant to CPL 400.21 for his failure to previously challenge the 1976 conviction. Specifically, he argues that his former trial and appellate counsels' failure to so challenge the prior conviction constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.

Since the defendant did not seek review of his adjudication as a second felony offender in 1980 by direct appeal or an appropriate postjudgment motion, he must be deemed to have waived that issue (see, People v. Loughlin, 66 N.Y.2d 633, 635-636; People v. Morcilio, 91 A.D.2d 1074).

Upon a review of the record we find that the defendant failed to demonstrate good cause for his failure to controvert the constitutionality of the 1976 conviction upon his sentencing as a second felony offender in 1980. The defendant was not deprived of effective assistance of either trial or appellate counsel with respect to such adjudication. The 1980 sentencing minutes clearly indicate that, after being shown a copy of the predicate felony statement, the defendant was advised that he would be sentenced as a second felony offender based upon his voluntary decision not to contest it. The defendant has, therefore, waived any allegation as to the constitutionality thereof (see, CPL 400.21; People v. Williams, 133 A.D.2d 871).

In any event, a review of the record shows that defendant's plea in 1976 was knowingly and voluntarily entered and was properly accepted (see, People v. Harris, 61 N.Y.2d 9). Thompson, J.P., Kunzeman, Eiber, Spatt and Balletta, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Conti

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Apr 17, 1989
149 A.D.2d 607 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)
Case details for

People v. Conti

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. DENNIS CONTI, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Apr 17, 1989

Citations

149 A.D.2d 607 (N.Y. App. Div. 1989)

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