Opinion
2016–03326
07-17-2019
The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Andre LALL, Appellant. (S.C.I. No. 377/13)
Paul Skip Laisure, New York, N.Y. (Kathleen Whooley of counsel), for appellant. John M. Ryan, Acting District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, and Christopher Blira–Koessler of counsel; Deanna Russo on the memorandum), for respondent.
Paul Skip Laisure, New York, N.Y. (Kathleen Whooley of counsel), for appellant.
John M. Ryan, Acting District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, and Christopher Blira–Koessler of counsel; Deanna Russo on the memorandum), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, ROBERT J. MILLER, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, HECTOR D. LASALLE, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
ORDERED that the amended sentence is affirmed.
The defendant's purported waiver of his right to appeal, conducted at the original plea proceeding on February 5, 2013, was invalid (see People v. Bradshaw , 18 N.Y.3d 257, 267, 938 N.Y.S.2d 254, 961 N.E.2d 645 ; People v. Brown , 122 A.D.3d 133, 145, 992 N.Y.S.2d 297 ). The Supreme Court conflated the right to appeal with the right to be indicted by a grand jury (see generally People v. Ortiz , 167 A.D.3d 658, 658, 86 N.Y.S.3d 914 ) and failed to confirm that the defendant understood the nature of the right to appeal and the consequences of waiving it (see People v. Brown , 122 A.D.3d at 142, 992 N.Y.S.2d 297 ). Thus, the purported waiver does not preclude appellate review of the defendant's excessive sentence claim (see People v. Johnson , 157 A.D.3d 964, 965, 67 N.Y.S.3d 492 ).
We decline to reduce the amended sentence in the interest of justice (see People v. Young , 125 A.D.3d 795, 795, 999 N.Y.S.2d 762 ; People v. Suitte , 90 A.D.2d 80, 455 N.Y.S.2d 675 ).
MASTRO, J.P., LEVENTHAL, MILLER, DUFFY and LASALLE, JJ., concur.