THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. LESLIE HENDERSON DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2026)

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 guilty plea of two counts of attempted murder in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 125.25 [1]), three counts of kidnapping in the second degree (§ 135.20), one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (§ 265.03 [3]), and four counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree (§ 120.25).

Initially, we agree with defendant that his waiver of the right to appeal is invalid. County Court's oral colloquy failed to inform defendant that he would ordinarily retain the right to appeal and that the waiver of his right to appeal was separate and distinct from his guilty plea (see People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256 [2006]; see generally People v Thomas, 34 NY3d 545, 565-566 [2019], cert denied 589 US 1302 [2020]). Although the written waiver appropriately characterized the scope of the appellate rights waived, “the court failed to confirm that [defendant] understood the contents of the written waiver[ ]” (Thomas, 34 NY3d at 566). We are therefore not precluded from reviewing defendant's challenge to the severity of his sentence. Nevertheless, we reject defendant's contention that the sentence is unduly harsh and severe.

Entered: March 20, 2026

Ann Dillon Flynn

Clerk of the Court