Opinion
550 KA 17–00839
04-27-2018
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Joseph LLOYD, Defendant–Appellant.
DAVID J. FARRUGIA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LOCKPORT (THERESA L. PREZIOSO OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT–APPELLANT. CAROLINE A. WOJTASZEK, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LOCKPORT (THOMAS H. BRANDT OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
DAVID J. FARRUGIA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LOCKPORT (THERESA L. PREZIOSO OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT–APPELLANT.
CAROLINE A. WOJTASZEK, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LOCKPORT (THOMAS H. BRANDT OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., CENTRA, LINDLEY, AND NEMOYER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Memorandum:
Defendant appeals from a judgment revoking the sentence of probation previously imposed upon his conviction of grand larceny in the third degree ( Penal Law § 155.35[1] ) and scheme to defraud in the first degree (§ 190.65[1][b] ) and sentencing him to consecutive indeterminate terms of imprisonment. We agree with defendant that his waiver of the right to appeal, which was entered when he pleaded guilty to the underlying offenses, "does not encompass his challenge to the severity of the sentence imposed following his violations of probation" ( People v. Giuliano, 151 A.D.3d 1958, 1959, 54 N.Y.S.3d 904 [4th Dept. 2017], lv denied 30 N.Y.3d 949, 67 N.Y.S.3d 133, 89 N.E.3d 523 [2017] ). We also agree with defendant that the sentence imposed by County Court is unduly harsh and severe. The sole basis for the declaration of delinquency was defendant's failure to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes, and the declaration was filed approximately four months after defendant was placed on probation. Defendant admitted to the violation and, by the time of sentencing, he had paid $2,500 of the $17,775 he owed in restitution. The court nevertheless revoked probation and sentenced defendant to the maximum term of imprisonment for each offense with the sentences running consecutively, for an aggregate sentence of 3 ? to 10 years.
Inasmuch as defendant's crimes are nonviolent and he had no prior criminal record aside from a misdemeanor charge to which he pleaded guilty the day before his plea in this case, we modify the judgment as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice by directing that the sentences run concurrently, thus reducing the aggregate sentence to 2 ? to 7 years (see CPL 470.15[6][b] ; People v. Maracle, 97 A.D.3d 1165, 1166, 947 N.Y.S.2d 354 [4th Dept. 2012] ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice by directing that the sentences shall run concurrently, and as modified the judgment is affirmed.