Opinion
March 16, 2000
Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Gerald Sheindlin, J.), rendered December 5, 1997, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of murder in the second degree, and sentencing him to a term of 15 years to life, unanimously affirmed.
David S. Weisel for respondent.
Eric Gottlieb for defendant-appellant.
Sullivan, P.J., Rosenberger, Mazzarelli, Buckley, Friedman, JJ.
The court properly exercised its discretion in denying defendant's application to withdraw his guilty plea, after sufficient inquiry wherein defendant was afforded a reasonable opportunity to present his contentions (see, People v. Frederick, 45 N.Y.2d 520). The court's familiarity with the proceedings, including the thorough plea allocution, permitted it to make an informed determination that defendant's claims of coercion and ineffective assistance were unfounded, and nothing in counsel's brief statement concerning defendant's application necessitated assignment of new counsel (see, People v. Rivera, 258 A.D.2d 426, lv denied 93 N.Y.2d 1005).
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.