Opinion
10-06-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Craig E. RHODES, Appellant.
Martin J. McGuinness, Saratoga Springs, for appellant. Chad W. Brown, Acting District Attorney, Johnstown (Christopher M. Stanyon of counsel), for respondent.
Martin J. McGuinness, Saratoga Springs, for appellant.
Chad W. Brown, Acting District Attorney, Johnstown (Christopher M. Stanyon of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, GARRY, CLARK and AARONS, JJ.
McCARTHY, J.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Fulton County (Giardino, J.), rendered September 8, 2014, convicting defendant upon his pleas of guilty of the crimes of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (two counts) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (two counts).
Defendant was charged in an indictment with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He initially pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in full satisfaction of the indictment, with the understanding that he would be sentenced, as a second felony offender, to four years in prison, to be followed three years of postrelease supervision. The plea agreement also included the waiver of the right to appeal. At the outset of the sentencing hearing, there was discussion regarding defendant's eligibility for a shock incarceration program. Ultimately, defendant agreed to enter an additional plea of guilty to the remaining three counts of the indictment as well. This agreement was made with the understanding that, as a result of both pleas, he would be sentenced, as a second felony offender, to four concurrent 4 ½–year prison terms, to be followed by three years of postrelease supervision, together with an order directing his enrollment in a shock incarceration program. This additional agreement also included the waiver of the right to appeal. County Court thereafter imposed the agreed-upon sentence, and defendant now appeals.
We affirm. Contrary to defendant's contention, his waivers of the right to appeal were valid. Based upon our review of the plea colloquies, County Court adequately distinguished the right to appeal from the rights automatically forfeited by a guilty plea, particularly in light of defendant's lengthy criminal history and his acknowledgment that he had previously executed an appeal waiver in regard to a previous guilty plea. Further, the court ensured that defendant understood the ramifications of the waivers and defendant executed a counseled written waiver in open court (see People v. Sanders, 25 N.Y.3d 337, 341–342, 12 N.Y.S.3d 593, 34 N.E.3d 344 [2015] ; People v. Lopez, 6 N.Y.3d 248, 256, 811 N.Y.S.2d 623, 844 N.E.2d 1145 [2006] ; People v. Butler, 134 A.D.3d 1349, 1349–1350, 22 N.Y.S.3d 617 [2015], lvs. denied 27 N.Y.3d 962, 963, 36 N.Y.S.3d 624, 56 N.E.3d 904 [2016] ). Accordingly, defendant knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to appeal his conviction and sentence. In light of his valid waivers of the right to appeal, his contention that the sentence imposed was harsh and excessive is precluded (see People v. Clark, 135 A.D.3d 1239, 1240, 23 N.Y.S.3d 481 [2016], lv. denied 27 N.Y.3d 995, 38 N.Y.S.3d 105, 59 N.E.3d 1217 [2016] ; People v. Donah, 127 A.D.3d 1413, 1413, 5 N.Y.S.3d 736 [2015] ).
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
PETERS, P.J., GARRY, CLARK and AARONS, JJ., concur.