A divided appeals court said a trial judge failed to inquire with specificity whether a defendant understood the rights he was waiving when pleading guilty to burglary.

The Appellate Division, Third Department, ruled 3-2 in People v. Mones, 105753, that Sullivan County Court Judge Frank LaBuda did not get acknowledgement that Adam Mones knew the implications of his guilty plea. LaBuda accepted the plea and sentenced Mones to 8 1/2 years in prison.