PEOPLE v. HUGHES (2006)

On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of two counts of burglary in the second degree (Penal Law § 140.25[2] ), defendant contends that the sentence is illegal because he was improperly sentenced as a second felony offender.   We reject that contention.   Defendant was explicitly informed during the plea proceeding that he would be sentenced as a second felony offender.   He was given notice of the predicate felony during sentencing, and he admitted that he was sentenced to a term of incarceration of 17 years as a result of his conviction of armed burglary in Florida in 1988.   Although County Court did not formally ask defendant whether he wished to controvert the allegations in the second felony offender statement (see CPL 400.21[3] ), the record establishes that defendant had an opportunity to do so.   Under the circumstances of this case, we conclude that there was the requisite substantial compliance with CPL 400.21 (see People v. Chrysler, 260 A.D.2d 945, 690 N.Y.S.2d 291;  People v. Polanco, 232 A.D.2d 674, 675, 648 N.Y.S.2d 56;  see also People v. Mann, 258 A.D.2d 738, 739, 686 N.Y.S.2d 122, lv. denied 93 N.Y.2d 900, 689 N.Y.S.2d 712, 711 N.E.2d 988;  People v. Witherspoon, 155 A.D.2d 636, 547 N.Y.S.2d 681).

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

MEMORANDUM: