X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Decided and Entered: March 2, 2006 15953 ________________________________ THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v MICHAEL T. SIMMONS, Appellant. ________________________________ Calendar Date: January 17, 2006 Before: Cardona, P.J., Spain, Carpinello, Mugglin and Lahtinen, JJ. __________ Paul R. Maher, Clifton Park, for appellant. James E. Conboy, District Attorney, Fonda (Pamela A. Ladd of counsel), for respondent. __________ Spain, J. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Montgomery County (Catena, J.), rendered August 2, 2004, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree. Defendant was charged in an indictment with one count of course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree in connection with his repeated sexual contact with a child under the age of 13. Following his successful motion to suppress certain admissions to police, defendant pleaded guilty to that charge with the understanding that he would be sentenced to four years in prison, followed by three years of postrelease supervision, and waived his right to appeal. County Court sentenced defendant as agreed and he now appeals. Initially, defendant’s claim that his guilty plea was not knowing, voluntary and intelligent, although not precluded by his appeal waiver, is not preserved for our review given his failure to move to withdraw his plea or vacate the judgment of conviction (see People v Nesbitt, 23 AD3d 836, 837 [2005]; People v Santalucia, 19 AD3d 806, 807 [2005], lv denied 5 NY3d 856 [2005]). While a challenge to a plea as involuntary survives an appeal waiver, defendant does not actually make any claims that the plea was involuntary or misunderstood. Rather, defendant’s claim amounts to no more than a generalized claim of “situational coercion,” which we reject, as “[n]othing requires a defendant to seek a plea bargain and there is nothing coercive in leaving with the defendant the option to accept or reject a bargain if one is offered” (People v Seaburg, 74 NY2d 1, 8-9 [1989]). Moreover, defendant’s factual recitation did not negate any element of this crime or call into doubt his guilt or the voluntariness of his plea, so as to require further inquiry by County Court (see People v Lopez, 71 NY2d 662, 665-666 [1988]). We thus conclude that County Court’s colloquy and acceptance of defendant’s plea and appeal waiver were in all respects proper. Additionally, defendant’s challenges to the sufficiency of his plea allocution are unpreserved and also precluded by his valid waiver of appeal (see People v Nesbitt, supra at 837; People v Tausinger, 21 AD3d 1181, 1182 [2005]; People v Bethea, 19 AD3d 813, 814 [2005]). Moreover, defendant fails to identify any aspect of the plea which was even arguably deficient. Next, while a challenge to a jurisdictional defect in an indictment survives a guilty plea and appeal waiver (see People v Hansen, 95 NY2d 227, 230 [2000]; People v Sayles, 292 AD2d 641, 643 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 681 [2002]), defendant’s challenge to the indictment raises no jurisdictional defects and we find none (see People v Hansen, supra at 231). Rather, defendant’s challenge is to the adequacy of the evidence before the grand jury premised upon the victim’s alleged subsequent recantation, and based upon the suppression of his oral statement to police. However, these arguments were not specifically raised in his omnibus motion or before the trial court, although known, and are foreclosed by his guilty plea (see id. at 233) and appeal waiver (see People v Keebler, 15 AD3d 724, 727 n 1 [2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 854 [2005]). Finally, to the extent that defendant’s allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel implicate the voluntariness of his plea, they survive the appeal waiver (see People v Bethea, supra at 814). However, the plea colloquy reflects that defendant acknowledged that he was entering a guilty plea because he was in fact guilty and that he understood that he was foregoing all trial rights, including those requiring the People to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and allowing defense counsel to cross-examine his accuser. Defendant expressly indicated his satisfaction with counsel’s representation and the record does not support any claim of a denial of meaningful representation; instead it evinces a favorable plea bargain for a previously convicted sex abuser. Cardona, P.J, Carpinello, Mugglin and Lahtinen, 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
April 29, 2024 - May 01, 2024
Aurora, CO

The premier educational and networking event for employee benefits brokers and agents.


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

Atlanta s John Marshall Law School is seeking to hire one or more full-time, visiting Legal WritingInstructors to teach Legal Research, Anal...


Apply Now ›

Shipman is seeking an associate to join our Labor & Employment practice in our Hartford, New Haven, or Stamford office. Candidates shou...


Apply Now ›

Evergreen Trading is a media investment firm headquartered in NYC. We help brands achieve their goals by leveraging their unwanted assets to...


Apply Now ›
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 ›
04/08/2024
Daily Report

Daily Report 1/2 Page Professional Announcement 60 Days


View Announcement ›