Opinion
03-24-2017
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Orlando J. ALICEA, also known as Capo Alicea, Defendant–Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.).
Leanne Lapp, Public Defender, Canandaigua, D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (Bradley E. Keem Of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Orlando J. Alicea, Defendant–Appellant pro se. R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua, for Respondent.
Leanne Lapp, Public Defender, Canandaigua, D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (Bradley E. Keem Of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Orlando J. Alicea, Defendant–Appellant pro se.
R. Michael Tantillo, District Attorney, Canandaigua, for Respondent.
PRESENT: CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, DeJOSEPH, TROUTMAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his guilty plea of four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (Penal Law § 220.39[1] ) and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (§ 220.16 [1] ). In appeal No. 2, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his guilty plea of one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (§ 220.39[1] ). The two pleas were entered in a single plea proceeding.
Defendant contends in each appeal that his respective guilty pleas were not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered. We note, however, that he failed to preserve that contention for our review inasmuch as he did not move to withdraw his respective pleas or to vacate the respective judgments of conviction on that ground (see People v. Brinson, 130 A.D.3d 1493, 1493, 11 N.Y.S.3d 788, lv. denied 26 N.Y.3d 965, 18 N.Y.S.3d 601, 40 N.E.3d 579 ). This case does not fall within the rare exception to the preservation doctrine because "nothing in the plea colloqu [ies] casts significant doubt on defendant's guilt or the voluntariness of the plea[s]" (id. [internal quotation marks omitted]; see generally People v. Lopez, 71 N.Y.2d 662, 666, 529 N.Y.S.2d 465, 525 N.E.2d 5 ). In any event, defendant's contention lacks merit. We conclude that County Court and the prosecutor did not coerce defendant's guilty pleas merely by informing him of the range of sentences he faced if he was convicted after trial, committed additional offenses, or violated the plea agreement (see People v. Pitcher, 126 A.D.3d 1471, 1472, 6 N.Y.S.3d 352, lv. denied 25 N.Y.3d 1169, 15 N.Y.S.3d 301, 36 N.E.3d 104 ). In addition, we conclude that defendant's " ‘yes' and ‘no’ answers during the plea colloquies do not invalidate his guilty pleas" (People v. Russell, 133 A.D.3d 1199, 1199, 20 N.Y.S.3d 760, lv. denied 26 N.Y.3d 1149, 32 N.Y.S.3d 63, 51 N.E.3d 574 ). To the contrary, the record shows that " ‘[d]efendant admitted each element of the offense[s] during his plea [colloquies]’ " (People v. Newsome, 140 A.D.3d 1695, 1696, 34 N.Y.S.3d 295, lv. denied 28 N.Y.3d 973, 43 N.Y.S.3d 260, 66 N.E.3d 6 ; see Russell, 133 A.D.3d at 1199, 20 N.Y.S.3d 760 ). Moreover, the record "do [es] not indicate that he lacked an understanding of the nature and consequences of his plea[s]" (People v. Emm, 23 A.D.3d 983, 984, 804 N.Y.S.2d 880, lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 775, 811 N.Y.S.2d 342, 844 N.E.2d 797 ).
Contrary to the contention concerning both appeals in defendant's pro se supplemental brief, we conclude that the court had jurisdiction to accept his guilty pleas inasmuch as the entry of those pleas complied with CPL 220.10 (see generally People v. Johnson, 89 N.Y.2d 905, 907, 653 N.Y.S.2d 265, 675 N.E.2d 1217 ). In appeal No. 1, the court properly accepted defendant's plea of guilty to five class B felonies that were charged in the indictment and dismissed the remaining counts (see CPL 220.10[4], [5][a] [iii] ). In appeal No. 2, the court properly accepted defendant's plea of guilty to a class B felony, which constituted the sole count charged in the superior court information (see CPL 200.10, 220.10[2], [5][a][iii] ).
Finally, the sentence in each appeal is not unduly harsh or severe.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.