X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Erin C. Morigerato, Albany, for appellant. David J. Clegg, District Attorney, Kingston (Joan Gudesblatt Lamb of counsel), for respondent. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Ulster County (Williams, J.), rendered June 20, 2018, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of burglary in the second degree. In satisfaction of a two-count indictment, defendant pleaded guilty to burglary in the second degree and purportedly waived his right to appeal. County Court sentenced defendant to the agreed-upon prison term of 10 years, to be followed by five years of postrelease supervision. Defendant appeals. We affirm. Defendant argues that his waiver of the right to appeal was invalid. We disagree. The record reflects that defendant was advised that a waiver of the right to appeal was a condition of the plea agreement and County Court advised defendant of the separate and distinct nature of the right to appeal and distinguished it from the trial-related rights that are automatically forfeited by pleading guilty, and defendant affirmed his understanding thereof (see People v. Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256-257 [2006]; People v. Thaxton, 191 AD3d 1166, 1167 [2021], lv denied 37 NY3d 960 [2021]). Defendant also executed a written waiver after reviewing it with counsel and assuring County Court that he understood it (see People v. Botts, 191 AD3d 1044, 1044-1045 [2021], lv denied 36 NY3d 1095 [2021]; People v. Burnett, 186 AD3d 1837, 1838 [2020], lvs denied 36 NY3d 969, 970 [2020]). Although defendant contends that the provision in the written waiver that it applied “to all legal issues that can be waived under the law” erroneously advised him of an absolute bar to the pursuit of potential remedies, “we are satisfied that ‘the counseled defendant understood the distinction that some appellate review survived’” (People v. Thomas, 190 AD3d 1157, 1158 [2021], quoting People v. Thomas, 34 NY3d 545, 561 [2019]; compare People v. Brito, 184 AD3d 900, 900-901 [2020]). Accordingly, we find that defendant knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to appeal (see People v. Hemingway, 192 AD3d 1266, 1266-1267 [2021], lvs denied 37 NY3d 956, 960 [2021]; People v. Thomas, 190 AD3d at 1158-1159). Given the valid appeal waiver, defendant’s challenge to the severity of the sentence is precluded (see People v. Carter, 191 AD3d 1168, 1170 [2021]; People v. Pribble, 190 AD3d 1194, 1195 [2021]). Although defendant’s assertion that his guilty plea was not knowing, intelligent and voluntary survives his appeal waiver, this claim has not been preserved for our review as the record does not disclose that he made an appropriate postallocution motion despite having ample time to do so (see People v. Payson, 189 AD3d 1820, 1820 [2020], lv denied 36 NY3d 1099 [2021]; People v. Almonte, 179 AD3d 1222, 1224 [2020], lv denied 35 NY3d 940 [2020]). Defendant’s contention that he received ineffective assistance of counsel, to the extent that it implicates the voluntariness of his plea, also survives the appeal waiver but is similarly unpreserved (see People v. Vilbrin, 183 AD3d 1012, 1013 [2020], lv denied 35 NY3d 1049 [2020]; People v. White, 172 AD3d 1822, 1823-1824 [2019], lv denied 33 NY3d 1110 [2019]). Moreover, defendant did not make any statements during the plea colloquy that were inconsistent with his guilt, negated an essential element of the charged crime or otherwise called into question the voluntariness of his plea and, therefore, the narrow exception to the preservation requirement does not apply (see People v. Crossley, 191 AD3d 1046, 1047 [2021], lv denied ___ NY3d ___ [Aug. 24, 2021]; People v. Weidenheimer, 181 AD3d 1096, 1097 [2020]). As such, defendant’s contention that County Court failed to advise him of the constitutional trial-related rights that were automatically forfeited by pleading guilty was not preserved (see People v. Conceicao, 26 NY3d 375, 382 [2015]; People v. Weidenheimer, 181 AD3d at 1097). In any event, the record reflects that defendant was fully advised of and understood the waiver of his trial- related rights (see People v. Conceicao, 26 NY3d at 381-384; People v. Evans, 159 AD3d 1226, 1227 [2018], lv denied 31 NY3d 1081 [2018]). Finally, the balance of defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim, including that counsel failed to investigate the facts of his case, research the applicable law or advise him of potential defenses, involve matters outside the record that are more properly the subject of a CPL article 440 motion (see People v. Drake, 179 AD3d 1221, 1222 [2020], lv denied 35 NY3d 941 [2020]; People v. White, 172 AD3d at 1824 [2019]). Garry, P.J., Aarons, Pritzker and Reynolds Fitzgerald, JJ., concur. ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
September 05, 2024
New York, NY

The New York Law Journal honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.


Learn More
May 15, 2024
Philadelphia, PA

The Legal Intelligencer honors lawyers leaving a mark on the legal community in Pennsylvania and Delaware.


Learn More
May 16, 2024
Dallas, TX

Consulting Magazine recognizes leaders in technology across three categories Leadership, Client Service and Innovation.


Learn More

We are seeking an associate to join our Employee Benefits practice. Candidates should have three to six years of employee benefits experienc...


Apply Now ›

Associate attorney position at NJ Immigration Law firm: Leschak & Associates, LLC, based in Freehold, NJ, is looking for a full time ass...


Apply Now ›

Duane Morris LLP has an immediate opening for a senior level, highly motivated litigation associate to join its dynamic and growing Employme...


Apply Now ›
04/29/2024
The National Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
04/15/2024
Connecticut Law Tribune

MELICK & PORTER, LLP PROMOTES CONNECTICUT PARTNERS HOLLY ROGERS, STEVEN BANKS, and ALEXANDER AHRENS


View Announcement ›
04/11/2024
New Jersey Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›