THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. RONALD STILES DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2010)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

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

Memorandum:  On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of rape in the third degree (Penal Law § 130.25[2] ) and criminal sexual act in the third degree (§ 130.40[2] ), defendant contends that County Court erred in imposing a greater sentence than that agreed to at the time of the plea.   We reject that contention.   The court “retains discretion in fixing an appropriate sentence up until the time of the sentencing” (People v. Schultz, 73 N.Y.2d 757, 758).   Indeed, it is well established that “the sentencing decision is a matter committed to the exercise of the court's discretion and that it can be made only after careful consideration of all facts available at the time of sentencing” (People v. Farrar, 52 N.Y.2d 302, 305).   Here, the court received information in the presentence report warranting enhancement of the negotiated sentence and properly afforded defendant the opportunity to withdraw his plea before imposing the enhanced sentence (see People v. Herber, 24 AD3d 1317, lv denied 6 NY3d 814;  People v. Langworthy, 1 AD3d 1013, lv denied 2 NY3d 763;  People v. Jackson, 216 A.D.2d 950, lv denied 86 N.Y.2d 796).

Contrary to defendant's further contention, the court properly directed that the sentence imposed for rape in the third degree run consecutively to the sentence imposed for criminal sexual act in the third degree, inasmuch “as each count involved a separate sexual act constituting a distinct offense” (People v. Colon, 61 AD3d 772, 773, lv denied 13 NY3d 743;  see People v. Lussier, 298 A.D.2d 763, 765, lv denied 99 N.Y.2d 630;  People v. Benn, 213 A.D.2d 489, lv denied 85 N.Y.2d 969).   The sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.   We have reviewed defendant's remaining contention and conclude that it is without merit.

Patricia L. Morgan

Clerk of the Court