Opinion
2012-02-9
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Richard E. LITTLE, Appellant.
Hinman, Howard & Kattell, L.L.P., Binghamton (Jon S. Blechman of counsel), for appellant. Richard D. Northrup, District Attorney, Delhi (John L. Hubbard of counsel), for respondent.
Hinman, Howard & Kattell, L.L.P., Binghamton (Jon S. Blechman of counsel), for appellant. Richard D. Northrup, District Attorney, Delhi (John L. Hubbard of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, J.P., ROSE, LAHTINEN, KAVANAGH and GARRY, JJ.
ROSE, J.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Delaware County (Becker, J.), rendered January 31, 2011, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of reckless endangerment in the first degree (two counts).
Defendant was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree. Pursuant to a plea agreement, defendant pleaded guilty to both counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree and waived his right to appeal. Under the terms of the agreement, defendant was to be sentenced to five years of probation with the imposition of $1,500 in fines on each count. In addition, an order of protection would be issued for the benefit of the two victims of the crimes. After defendant entered his guilty plea, he moved to withdraw his plea arguing that he was innocent, his plea had been coerced and he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. County Court denied the motion without a hearing and sentenced defendant in accordance with the terms of the plea agreement. Defendant appeals.
The decision whether to grant a motion to withdraw a guilty plea rests within the sound discretion of the trial court and, generally, such relief will be permitted only where there is evidence of innocence, fraud or mistake in the inducement ( see People v. Ellis, 43 A.D.3d 485, 486, 840 N.Y.S.2d 241 [2007], lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 961, 848 N.Y.S.2d 29, 878 N.E.2d 613 [2007]; People v. Cherry, 12 A.D.3d 949, 949, 785 N.Y.S.2d 198 [2004], lv. denied 4 N.Y.3d 797, 795 N.Y.S.2d 172, 828 N.E.2d 88 [2005] ). A review of the record reveals that defendant was adequately informed of the rights he was giving up by pleading guilty and that he understood those rights, he asked for and received clarification on certain matters and he was able to confer with his family and counsel for as long as he needed during the plea proceedings ( see People v. Branton, 35 A.D.3d 1035, 1036, 826 N.Y.S.2d 489 [2006], lv. denied 8 N.Y.3d 982, 838 N.Y.S.2d 485, 869 N.E.2d 661 [2007]; People v. Bolden, 289 A.D.2d 607, 609, 733 N.Y.S.2d 775 [2001], lv. denied 98 N.Y.2d 649, 745 N.Y.S.2d 507, 772 N.E.2d 610 [2002] ). Defendant stated that he was pleading guilty freely and voluntarily, and his contention that his plea was involuntary due to the brief time that he took to decide whether to accept the plea is unavailing ( see People v. Ellis, 43 A.D.3d at 487, 840 N.Y.S.2d 241; People v. Branton, 35 A.D.3d at 1036, 826 N.Y.S.2d 489). Additionally, given defendant's unequivocal admission of facts sufficient to establish each element of the crimes, we are not persuaded that the affidavits of defendant and his wife submitted in support of his motion constitute evidence of his innocence such that a hearing was required ( see People v. Branton, 35 A.D.3d at 1036, 826 N.Y.S.2d 489). Finally, we find that nothing in the record casts doubt on the apparent effectiveness of counsel ( see People v. Ellis, 43 A.D.3d at 487, 840 N.Y.S.2d 241; People v. Lahon, 17 A.D.3d 778, 779–780, 793 N.Y.S.2d 238 [2005], lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 790, 801 N.Y.S.2d 811, 835 N.E.2d 671 [2005] ).
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.