Opinion
05-10-2024
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Derek YEARA, Defendant-Appellant.
ANDREW D. CORREIA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LYONS (BRADLEY E. KEEM OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. CHRISTINE CALLANAN, ACTING DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LYONS (CATHERINE A. MONIKOTZ OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Appeal from a judgment of the Wayne County Court (Daniel G. Barrett, J.), rendered April 7, 2022. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a guilty plea, of robbery in the first degree.
ANDREW D. CORREIA, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LYONS (BRADLEY E. KEEM OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
CHRISTINE CALLANAN, ACTING DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LYONS (CATHERINE A. MONIKOTZ OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CURRAN, MONTOUR, DELCONTE, AND KEANE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon a plea of guilty, of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15 [3]). We affirm.
Defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to appeal (see generally People. v. Lopez, 6 N.Y.3d 248, 256, 811 N.Y.S.2d 623, 844 N.E.2d 1145 [2006]), and the valid waiver encompasses his challenges to County Court’s suppression ruling (see People v. Sanders, 25 N.Y.3d 337, 342, 12 N.Y.S.3d 593, 34 N.E.3d 344 [2015]; People v. Giles, 219 A.D.3d 1706, 1707, 197 N.Y.S.3d 778 [4th Dept. 2023], lv denied 40 N.Y.3d 1039, 200 N.Y.S.3d 771, 223 N.E.3d 1247 [2023]) and to the severity of his sentence (see People v. Lollie, 204 A.D.3d 1430, 1431, 166 N.Y.S.3d 805 [4th Dept. 2022], lv denied 38 N.Y.3d 1134, 172 N.Y.S.3d 840, 193 N.E.3d 505 [2022]). We note that, although the written waiver form executed by defendant incorrectly portrays the waiver as an absolute bar to the taking of an appeal (see generally People v. Thomas, 34 N.Y.3d 545, 564-567, 122 N.Y.S.3d 226, 144 N.E.3d 970 [2019], cert denied — U.S. , 140 S.Ct. 2634, 206 L.Ed.2d 512 [2020]), the oral colloquy, "which followed the appropriate model colloquy, cured that defect" (People v. Clark, 221 A.D.3d 1550, 1551, 198 N.Y.S.3d 462 [4th Dept. 2023]).
Defendant also contends that the court erred in denying defense counsel’s request for a competency examination of defendant pursuant to CPL 730.30. That contention "survives the plea and the valid waiver of the right to appeal to the extent that it implicates the voluntariness of the plea" (People v. Chapman, 179 A.D.3d 1526, 1527, 119 N.Y.S.3d 343 [4th Dept. 2020], lv denied 35 N.Y.3d 968, 125 N.Y.S.3d 25, 148 N.E.3d 489 [2020]; see generally Lopez, 6 N.Y.3d at 255, 811 N.Y.S.2d 623, 844 N.E.2d 1145). Nevertheless, we reject defendant’s contention. A court must issue an order of examination "when it is of the opinion that the defendant may be an incapacitated person" (CPL 730.30 [1]). "The determination whether to order a competency examination, either sua sponte or upon defense counsel’s request, lies within the sound discretion of the court" (People v. Thorpe, 218 A.D.3d 1124, 1125, 193 N.Y.S.3d 776 [4th Dept. 2023], citing People v. Morgan, 87 N.Y.2d 878, 879-880, 638 N.Y.S.2d 942, 662 N.E.2d 260 [1995]). Here, we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in denying the request inasmuch as the court had ample opportunity to observe defendant prior to that request and the record supports its determination that defendant demonstrated an understanding of the proceedings and had the ability to assist in his own defense (see Thorpe, 218 A.D.3d at 1125, 193 N.Y.S.3d 776; People v. Watson, 45 A.D.3d 1342, 1344, 844 N.Y.S.2d 791 [4th Dept. 2007], lv denied 10 N.Y.3d 818, 857 N.Y.S.2d 51, 886 N.E.2d 816 [2008]).