Opinion
2016–08055 S.C.I. No. 2891/15
06-26-2019
The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Franklyn MENA, Appellant.
Janet E. Sabel, New York, N.Y. (Adrienne M. Gantt of counsel; Daniel K. Phillips on the memorandum), for appellant. John M. Ryan, Acting District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, and Christopher Blira–Koessler of counsel; Lorrie A. Zinno on the memorandum), for respondent.
Janet E. Sabel, New York, N.Y. (Adrienne M. Gantt of counsel; Daniel K. Phillips on the memorandum), for appellant.
John M. Ryan, Acting District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, and Christopher Blira–Koessler of counsel; Lorrie A. Zinno on the memorandum), for respondent.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, SHERI S. ROMAN, JOSEPH J. MALTESE, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant, as limited by his motion, from a sentence of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Joseph A. Zayas, J.), imposed July 7, 2016, upon his plea of guilty, on the ground that the sentence was excessive.
ORDERED that the sentence is affirmed.
The defendant's purported waiver of his right to appeal was invalid and, therefore, does not preclude appellate review of his contention that the sentence imposed was excessive. The record reflects that the defendant executed a written appeal waiver form prior to the Supreme Court explaining the meaning of the right to appeal and the implication of waiving that right. However, the court did not ascertain on the record whether the defendant had actually read the waiver (see People v. Mendoza, 169 A.D.3d 717, 91 N.Y.S.3d 697 ; People v. Diasia F., 164 A.D.3d 913, 914, 83 N.Y.S.3d 181 ). Furthermore, in light of the defendant's young age and lack of prior experience with the criminal justice system, we conclude that the defendant did not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waive his right to appeal (see People v. Seaberg, 74 N.Y.2d 1, 11, 543 N.Y.S.2d 968, 541 N.E.2d 1022 ).
Nevertheless, the sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675 ).
DILLON, J.P., AUSTIN, ROMAN, MALTESE and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.