Summary
finding sentence as persistent felony offender appropriate because defendant had multiple prior felonies and misdemeanors, had exhibited a pattern of behavior preying on the elderly, and was more culpable than his codefendants
Summary of this case from Brown v. GreinerOpinion
November 30, 2000.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Micki Scherer, J.), rendered September 23, 1998, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of grand larceny in the fourth degree, and sentencing him, as a persistent felony offender, to a term of 15 years to life, unanimously affirmed.
Christopher Sanders, for respondent.
Michael J. Mannheimer, for defendant-appellant.
Before: Sullivan, P.J., Nardelli, Ellerin, Lerner, Friedman, JJ.
The court properly exercised its discretion when it adjudicated defendant a persistent felony offender and sentenced him accordingly. Defendant's extensive criminal history included seven felony convictions and fifteen misdemeanor convictions in New York, as well as out-of-State convictions. Although the instant conviction and the prior convictions were not for crimes of violence, defendant exhibited a pattern of preying on elderly, vulnerable victims. Defendant's conduct required a lengthy prison sentence because every time he was sentenced to prison and paroled, he immediately again engaged in criminal conduct. Defendant's sentence was not disproportionate to those received by his codefendants. Although the codefendants were also multiple felony offenders, their records were less serious than that of defendant. Defendant's sentence is not unconstitutional (see, Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263; People v. Thompson, 83 N.Y.2d 477). There is nothing anomalous about the fact that a persistent felony offender, in certain situations, is subject to a higher minimum sentence than a persistent violent felony offender. A persistent violent felony sentence is based entirely on the fact of the prior convictions, whereas a persistent felony sentence requires additional findings (see, Penal Law § 70.10; CPL 400.20). In this case, the court properly found that defendant, in addition to having multiple felony convictions, was incorrigible.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.