Opinion
2011-11-17
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,v.David R. DANIELS, Appellant.
Michael P. Graven, Owego, for appellant.Weeden A. Wetmore, District Attorney, Elmira (Susan Rider–Ulacco of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Chemung County (Hayden, J.), rendered April 16, 2010, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of driving while intoxicated.
In satisfaction of a three-count indictment, defendant pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated. Under the terms of the plea agreement, defendant was given the option of participating in Chemung County Drug Court, which would result in a sentence of five years of probation if he successfully completed it or a prison term of 2 to 6 years if he did not successfully complete it. Alternatively, defendant could elect not to participate in Drug Court and be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison. Defendant chose to participate in Drug Court, but was later deemed ineligible because he did not reside within Chemung
County. He subsequently indicated his desire to withdraw his guilty plea, but ultimately agreed to be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison, the alternative option proposed under the plea agreement. He now appeals.
We affirm. We are unpersuaded by defendant's claim that the sentence is harsh and excessive. Defendant has a long record of similar alcohol-related convictions and has exhibited that he is in total denial of his substance abuse problems. In view of this, and given that defendant agreed to the sentence imposed as an alternative to participation in Drug Court, we find no extraordinary circumstances or any abuse of discretion warranting a reduction of the sentence in the interest of justice ( see People v. Galagan, 85 A.D.3d 1490, 1491, 925 N.Y.S.2d 913 [2011]; People v. Thompson, 79 A.D.3d 1457, 1458, 912 N.Y.S.2d 457 [2010]; People v. Potter, 54 A.D.3d 444, 445, 862 N.Y.S.2d 650 [2008] ).
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
PETERS, J.P., SPAIN, MALONE JR., KAVANAGH and GARRY, JJ., concur.