THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. APPEAL NO (2015)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

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

Memorandum:  In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree (Penal Law § 170.25) and, in appeal No. 2, he appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (§§ 110.00, 220.31).   We previously determined in each appeal that County Court did not rule on defendant's pro se motion to withdraw his guilty plea (People v. Hallmark, 122 AD3d 1438, 1439), and we therefore held the case, reserved decision, and remitted the matter to County Court to rule on defendant's motion (id.).   On remittal, however, defendant withdrew his motion.   Thus, the only issue remaining for us to address is the severity of the sentence and, contrary to defendant's contention in each appeal, we conclude that the sentence is not unduly harsh and severe.

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court