THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. ZACHARY BENTLEY DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2024)

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 his guilty plea of robbery in the second degree (Penal Law § 160.10 [1]). Assuming, arguendo, that defendant's waiver of the right to appeal is invalid and therefore does not preclude our review of any of defendant's contentions (see People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256 [2006]; People v Henry, 207 AD3d 1062, 1062-1063 [4th Dept 2022], lv denied 39 NY3d 940 [2022]; see generally People v Thomas, 34 NY3d 545, 561-562 [2019], cert denied — US —, 140 S Ct 2634 [2020]), we reject defendant's contention that the sentence is unduly harsh and severe.

We conclude that defendant failed to preserve for our review his contention regarding the voluntariness of his plea (see People v Secrist, 74 AD3d 1853, 1853 [4th Dept 2010], lv denied 16 NY3d 863 [2011]). In any event, we conclude that the contention lacks merit (see People v Alicea, 148 AD3d 1662, 1663 [4th Dept 2017], lv denied 29 NY3d 1122 [2017]).

In his reply brief, defendant has withdrawn his further contention that County Court violated his right to be physically present at sentencing (see CPL 380.40). We have reviewed defendant's remaining contentions and conclude that none warrants modification or reversal of the judgment.

Entered: June 14, 2024

Ann Dillon Flynn

Clerk of the Court