Opinion
105675
03-26-2015
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Perry L. MILLER, Appellant.
Joseph Nalli, Fort Plain, for appellant, and appellant pro se. Robert M. Carney, District Attorney, Schenectady (Peter Willis of counsel), for respondent.
Joseph Nalli, Fort Plain, for appellant, and appellant pro se.
Robert M. Carney, District Attorney, Schenectady (Peter Willis of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., LAHTINEN, GARRY and LYNCH, JJ.
Opinion
LAHTINEN, J.Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Schenectady County (Drago, J.), rendered January 23, 2013, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of manslaughter in the first degree.
Defendant was charged with various crimes in connection with the stabbing death of the female victim. Pursuant to a plea agreement, defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree in full satisfaction of the charges and waived his right to appeal. Defendant thereafter moved to withdraw his plea, contending that it was not voluntarily entered because counsel did not fully advise him regarding a justification defense or inform him that the crime charged required an intent to cause serious physical injury. County Court denied the motion without a hearing and thereafter sentenced defendant, as a second felony offender, to 20 years in prison, to be followed by five years of postrelease supervision. Defendant was also required to pay restitution in the amount of $8,010 to cover the cost of the victim's funeral. Defendant now appeals.
We affirm. Initially, we reject defendant's contention that his waiver of the right to appeal was invalid. The record reflects that County Court distinguished the right to appeal from the rights automatically forfeited upon a guilty plea and defendant stated that he understood and was relinquishing the right voluntarily. He thereafter executed a counseled written waiver of appeal. As such, we are satisfied that defendant validly waived the right to appeal his conviction and sentence (see People v. Chavis, 117 A.D.3d 1193, 1193–1194, 987 N.Y.S.2d 111 [2014] ; People v. Marshall, 108 A.D.3d 884, 884, 968 N.Y.S.2d 409 [2013], lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 957, 977 N.Y.S.2d 188, 999 N.E.2d 553 [2013] ). In light of his valid appeal waiver, defendant's claim that his sentence is harsh and excessive is precluded from our review (see People v. White, 119 A.D.3d 1286, 1287, 990 N.Y.S.2d 726 [2014], lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 1222, 4 N.Y.S.3d 610, 28 N.E.3d 46 [2015] ; People v. Fligger, 117 A.D.3d 1343, 1344, 986 N.Y.S.2d 689 [2014], lv. denied 23 N.Y.3d 1061, 994 N.Y.S.2d 321, 18 N.E.3d 1142 [2014] ).
Defendant's contention that his plea was not knowingly, intelligently or voluntarily entered because he was not informed of the specific amount of restitution at the time of the plea is unpreserved for our review given his failure to make a proper postallocution motion on that ground (see People v. O'Neill, 116 A.D.3d 1240, 1241, 983 N.Y.S.2d 738 [2014] ; People v. Small, 82 A.D.3d 1451, 1452, 918 N.Y.S.2d 755 [2011], lv. denied 17 N.Y.3d 801, 929 N.Y.S.2d 109, 952 N.E.2d 1104 [2011] ), and the narrow exception to the preservation rule is not implicated (see People v. Lopez, 71 N.Y.2d 662, 665–666, 529 N.Y.S.2d 465, 525 N.E.2d 5 [1988] ). Moreover, his challenge to the propriety of the award of restitution is also unpreserved for our review, in light of his failure to request a restitution hearing or object to the amount awarded at sentencing (see People v. Ortolaza, 120 A.D.3d 843, 844, 991 N.Y.S.2d 171 [2014] ; People v. Bressard, 112 A.D.3d 988, 989, 976 N.Y.S.2d 302 [2013], lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 1137, 983 N.Y.S.2d 495, 6 N.E.3d 614 [2014] ).
Defendant's claim that his guilty plea was not voluntarily entered, due to counsel's failure to advise him as to the People's burden in the context of a justification defense and that the crime charged required an intent to cause serious physical injury, survives his appeal waiver and has been preserved by his motion to withdraw his plea (see People v. Morey, 110 A.D.3d 1378, 1379, 975 N.Y.S.2d 201 [2013], lv. denied 23 N.Y.3d 965, 988 N.Y.S.2d 572, 11 N.E.3d 722 [2014] ; People v. Wyant, 47 A.D.3d 1068, 1069, 849 N.Y.S.2d 357 [2008], lv. denied 10 N.Y.3d 873, 860 N.Y.S.2d 499, 890 N.E.2d 262 [2008] ). The record reflects that counsel did discuss a possible justification defense with defendant, and County Court confirmed that defendant understood that, by pleading guilty, he was giving up his right to make the People “meet their burden to prove charges beyond a reasonable doubt” and that he was “giving up [his] right to present any defenses that you may have with respect to this charge.” Moreover, prior to accepting the guilty plea, County Court inquired whether defendant was acting “with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person” when he stabbed the victim and defendant answered in the affirmative. Accordingly, defendant has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced by the alleged errors (see People v. Mercer, 105 A.D.3d 1091, 1093–1094, 962 N.Y.S.2d 514 [2013], lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 1017, 971 N.Y.S.2d 500, 994 N.E.2d 396 [2013] ; People v. Kreydatus, 305 A.D.2d 935, 936, 760 N.Y.S.2d 592 [2003], lv. denied 100 N.Y.2d 595, 766 N.Y.S.2d 171, 798 N.E.2d 355 [2003] ). Defendant's remaining contentions have been examined and found to be lacking in merit.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
PETERS, P.J., GARRY and LYNCH, JJ., concur.