Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
PEOPLE of the State of New York, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Jeremy L. WHITE, Defendant-Appellant.
Defendant was convicted upon his plea of guilty of attempted burglary in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 140.25 [1] ) and was sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration of 2 to 4 years and was ordered to pay $3,573.90 in restitution to the Probation Department. We agree with defendant that the amount of restitution awarded must be vacated and the matter remitted for a hearing regarding the amount of restitution. Where a defendant pleads guilty, “evidence to support the restitution amount generally can only be found in the [plea] agreement itself or the minutes of the plea allocution” (People v. Consalvo, 89 N.Y.2d 140, 144, 651 N.Y.S.2d 963, 674 N.E.2d 672). Here, defendant did not expressly agree to the amount of restitution at the plea allocution. Additionally, it was improper for County Court to rely exclusively on amounts recited in the presentence investigation report (see, People v. Bernier, 197 A.D.2d 882, 604 N.Y.S.2d 876). The fact that defendant neither requested a hearing nor objected to the amount does not constitute waiver “because of the ‘essential nature’ of the right to be sentenced in accordance with the law” (People v. Dickson, 260 A.D.2d 931, 690 N.Y.S.2d 282, quoting People v. Fuller, 57 N.Y.2d 152, 156, 455 N.Y.S.2d 253, 441 N.E.2d 563).
Additionally, remittitur is required because the itemized list supplied by the victim to the Probation Department provides dollar amounts for the losses suffered by the victim, but the total amount sought is inconsistent with the total of the individual items. Thus, it is not clear from the record how the court determined the amount of restitution (see, People v. Sommer, 105 A.D.2d 1052, 1053, 482 N.Y.S.2d 586). Nor is there sworn testimony sufficient to establish the amount of lost wages (see, People v. Morales, 256 A.D.2d 729, 682 N.Y.S.2d 681). The court's reliance on the victim impact statement was inappropriate because the statement was not sworn (see, People v. Welsher, 154 A.D.2d 915, 916, 545 N.Y.S.2d 870, lv. denied 74 N.Y.2d 952, 550 N.Y.S.2d 287, 549 N.E.2d 489). Thus, we modify the judgment by vacating the amount of restitution awarded, and we remit the matter to Lewis County Court for a hearing to determine the amount of restitution.
Judgment unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed and matter remitted to Lewis County Court for further proceedings.
MEMORANDUM:
Thank you for your feedback!
As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.
Decided: November 12, 1999
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)