People v. Adams

Jun 15, 2012
Versions:96 A.D.3d 1588
946 N.Y.S.2d 771

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Christopher J. Burns, J.), rendered July 6, 2010. The judgment convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of burglary in the first degree.

It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.

Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of burglary in the first degree (Penal Law § 140.30 [2]), defendant contends that the waiver of the right to appeal is not valid and challenges the severity of the sentence. Although the record establishes that defendant knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waived the right to appeal (see generally People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256 [2006]), we conclude that the valid waiver of the right to appeal does not encompass the challenge to the severity of the sentence because Supreme Court failed to advise defendant of the potential periods of incarceration or the potential maximum term of incarceration (see People v Newman, 21 AD3d 1343 [2005]; People v McLean, 302 AD2d 934 [2003]; cf. People v Lococo, 92 NY2d 825, 827 [1998]; People v Hidalgo, 91 NY2d 733, 737 [1998]), and there was no specific sentence promise at the time of the waiver (cf. People v Semple, 23 AD3d 1058, 1059 [2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 852 [2006]). Nevertheless, on the merits, we conclude that the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe. Present—Smith, J.P., Fahey, Peradotto, Sconiers and Martoche, JJ.