THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. KENNETH JONES DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2013)

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 his plea of guilty of assault in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.10[1] ).   Contrary to defendant's contention, the record establishes that he knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waived the right to appeal (see generally People v. Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256;  People v. Luper, 101 AD3d 1668, 1668, lv denied 20 NY3d 1101).   The valid waiver of the right to appeal, however, does not encompass defendant's contention regarding the denial of his request for youthful offender status because “[n]o mention of youthful offender status was made before defendant waived his right to appeal during the plea colloquy” (People v. Anderson, 90 AD3d 1475, 1476, lv denied 18 NY3d 991).   We nevertheless reject defendant's contention that County Court abused its discretion in denying his request for youthful offender status (see People v. Guppy, 92 AD3d 1243, 1243, lv denied 19 NY3d 961;  People v. Session, 38 AD3d 1300, 1301, lv denied 8 NY3d 990).   The valid waiver of the right to appeal encompasses defendant's challenge to the severity of his sentence (see Lopez, 6 NY3d at 255–256).

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court