Opinion
2013-10-31
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Alonzo T. POWELL, Appellant.
James P. Ferratella, Horseheads, for appellant. Weeden A. Wetmore, District Attorney, Elmira (John R. Thweatt of counsel), for respondent.
James P. Ferratella, Horseheads, for appellant. Weeden A. Wetmore, District Attorney, Elmira (John R. Thweatt of counsel), for respondent.
Before: STEIN, J.P., McCARTHY, SPAIN and EGAN JR., JJ.
EGAN JR., J.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Chemung County (Hayden, J.), rendered December 7, 2012, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, and violating the terms of his probation.
Defendant was charged in two separate indictments with various drug-related offenses and, in connection therewith, applied for participation in the judicial diversion program ( see CPL art. 216). After considering the submissions tendered by defendant and the People, County Court denied defendant's application. Thereafter, in full satisfaction of both indictments, as well as a probation violation, defendant pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree and, further, admitted violating the terms of his probation. Defendant then was sentenced, as a second felony offender, to the agreed-upon aggregate prison term of 4 1/2 years followed by three years of postrelease supervision. This appeal by defendant ensued.
Defendant's sole argument upon appeal is that County Court abused its discretion in denying his application for participation in the judicial diversion program. To the extent that defendant did not abandon this issue by failing to request a hearing in this regard ( seeCPL 216.05[3][a] ), we nonetheless find defendant's argument to be lacking in merit. “Courts are afforded great deference in making judicial diversion determinations ...” ( People v. Williams, 105 A.D.3d 1428, 1428, 963 N.Y.S.2d 899 [2013],lv. denied21 N.Y.3d 1021, 971 N.Y.S.2d 503, 994 N.E.2d 399 [2013] [citations omitted]; see People v. Buswell, 88 A.D.3d 1164, 1165, 931 N.Y.S.2d 543 [2011];see also Matter of Carty v. Hall, 92 A.D.3d 1191, 1192, 939 N.Y.S.2d 609 [2012] ). Inasmuch as the record before us reflects that County Court denied defendant's application based upon his extensive criminal history and threat to public safety, we discern no abuse of discretion here ( see People v. Williams, 105 A.D.3d at 1428, 963 N.Y.S.2d 899). Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.