People v. Johnson, 20 N.Y.3d 990

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

The Appellate Division correctly held that the resentencing court’s error in allowing defendant to proceed pro se was harmless in these narrow circumstances, where the proceeding involved a single question of law and standby counsel argued that issue on defendant’s behalf (see People v Wardlaw, 6 NY3d 556, 559 [2006]; People v Adams, 52 AD3d 243, 243-244 [1st Dept 2008]).

Defendant’s argument that the People were not entitled to withdraw their consent to a resentence without a period of post-release supervision (PRS) should be rejected (see Penal Law § 70.85). After the consent was given, defendant requested an adjournment and the court informed him that it was holding its resentencing decision “in abeyance.” The People were under no continuing obligation to consent to a resentence that did not include PRS. When the People withdrew their consent, the resentencing court was compelled to impose PRS in accordance with Penal Law § 70.45 (see People v Sparber, 10 NY3d 457, 471-472 [2008]).

Chief Judge Lippman and Judges Graffeo, Read, Smith and Pigott concur.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.11 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.11), order affirmed, in a memorandum.

Case Details

Case Name: People v. Johnson

Court Name: New York Court of Appeals

Date Published: Jan 8, 2013

Citations: 20 N.Y.3d 990; 983 N.E.2d 1239

Court Abbreviation: N.Y.