People v. Singleton-Pradia

Full title: THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, v. BRENDYN J…

Court: SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

Date published: Mar 15, 2019

2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 1913 (N.Y. App. Div. 2019)

Opinion

210 KA 17-00128

03-15-2019

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, v. BRENDYN J. SINGLETON-PRADIA, ALSO KNOWN AS BRENDYN SINGLETON, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. (APPEAL NO. 1.)

TIMOTHY P. DONAHER, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER (JANET C. SOMES OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (LEAH R. MERVINE OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.

WHALEN, P.J., CENTRA, DEJOSEPH, CURRAN, AND WINSLOW, JJ.

PRESENT:

TIMOTHY P. DONAHER, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER (JANET C. SOMES OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (LEAH R. MERVINE OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Monroe County (Daniel J. Doyle, J.), rendered February 10, 2015. The judgment convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree.

It is hereby ORDERED that the case is held, decision is reserved and the matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Monroe County, for further proceedings in accordance with the following memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Penal Law § 220.16 [1]) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (§ 220.09 [1]). We agree with defendant that Supreme Court erred in failing to determine whether he should be afforded youthful offender status (see People v Rudolph, 21 NY3d 497, 501 [2013]; People v Willis, 161 AD3d 1584, 1584 [4th Dept 2018]). Defendant is an eligible youth and, as the People correctly concede, the sentencing court must make "a youthful offender determination in every case where the defendant is eligible, even where the defendant fails to request it" (Rudolph, 21 NY3d at 501; see People v Lester, 155 AD3d 1579, 1579 [4th Dept 2017]). We therefore hold the case, reserve decision, and remit the matter to Supreme Court to make and state for the record a determination whether defendant should be afforded youthful offender status (see Rudolph, 21 NY3d at 503; Lester, 155 AD3d at 1579).

Entered: March 15, 2019

Mark W. Bennett

Clerk of the Court