PEOPLE v. POWELL (2007)

 In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Penal Law § 265.02[4] ) and, in appeal No. 2, he appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon his plea of guilty, of attempted arson in the second degree (§§ 110.00, 150.15).   We note at the outset that defendant's waiver of the right to appeal was knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently entered with respect to each plea (see People v. Kemp, 94 N.Y.2d 831, 833, 703 N.Y.S.2d 59, 724 N.E.2d 754), and that waiver encompasses defendant's contentions concerning Supreme Court's suppression ruling and the severity of the sentence (see id.;  People v. Pointer, 43 A.D.3d 1413, 841 N.Y.S.2d 921).   Although the further contention of defendant that the court abused its discretion in denying his pro se motion to withdraw the pleas on the ground that they were not voluntarily entered survives the waiver of the right to appeal (see People v. Wilson, 38 A.D.3d 1326, 832 N.Y.S.2d 726, lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 853, 840 N.Y.S.2d 779, 872 N.E.2d 892), we conclude that defendant's contention lacks merit (see People v. Branton, 35 A.D.3d 1035, 1036, 826 N.Y.S.2d 489, lv. denied 8 N.Y.3d 982, 838 N.Y.S.2d 485, 869 N.E.2d 661;  People v. Spikes, 28 A.D.3d 1101, 1102, 813 N.Y.S.2d 602, lv. denied 7 N.Y.3d 818, 822 N.Y.S.2d 493, 855 N.E.2d 809;  see also People v. Price, 309 A.D.2d 1259, 765 N.Y.S.2d 563, lv. denied 1 N.Y.3d 578, 775 N.Y.S.2d 794, 807 N.E.2d 907).   The record establishes that, during the respective plea colloquies, defendant acknowledged that he committed acts that constituted the elements of the crimes to which he was pleading guilty, and he answered the court's questions concerning the underlying facts.   In addition, he stated that he had sufficient time in which to discuss the matters with his attorneys and was satisfied with their representation, and he stated that he was not coerced into pleading guilty.   To the extent that the contention of defendant that he was denied effective assistance of counsel survives his guilty pleas and his waiver of the right to appeal with respect to each plea (see People v. Eastman, 45 A.D.3d 1411, 844 N.Y.S.2d 820), we conclude that his contention lacks merit (see generally People v. Ford, 86 N.Y.2d 397, 404, 633 N.Y.S.2d 270, 657 N.E.2d 265).

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from be and the same hereby is unanimously affirmed.

MEMORANDUM: