People v. Bruzzo

Feb 24, 2016
2013-05904
Versions:136 A.D.3d 1050
25 N.Y.S.3d 611

Appeal by the defendant, as limited by her motion, from a sentence of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Kron, J.), imposed May 24, 2013, upon her plea of guilty, on the ground that the sentence was excessive.

Ordered that the sentence is affirmed.

The defendant’s purported waiver of her right to appeal was invalid (see People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256 [2006]; People v Chavez, 133 AD3d 611 [2015]; People v Quezada, 122 AD3d 948 [2014]; People v Brown, 122 AD3d 133 [2014]). The record does not demonstrate that she understood “the nature of the right to appeal and the consequences of waiving it” (People v Cantarero, 123 AD3d 841, 842 [2014], quoting People v Brown, 122 AD3d at 140; see People v Quezada, 122 AD3d 948 [2014]). Therefore, notwithstanding the defendant’s execution of the written waiver form, it cannot be said that she knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived her right to appeal (see People v Brown, 122 AD3d at 145-146).

Nevertheless, contrary to the defendant’s contention, the sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]). Eng, P.J., Dillon, Sgroi, Hinds-Radix and Barros, JJ., concur.