THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. RUBEN JOSE BURGOS DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2015)

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 a jury verdict of three counts each of criminal contempt in the first degree (Penal Law § 215.51[b][iii] ) and aggravated harassment in the second degree (§ 240.30 [1][a] ).   Defendant contends that his rejection of the plea offer was not voluntary, knowing, and intelligent because County Court misinformed him of the maximum sentence he could receive after trial.   While we agree with defendant that the court's statement concerning his maximum sentencing exposure was erroneous, the record does not support his contention that reversal of the judgment of conviction is required (see People v. Lane, 221 A.D.2d 948, 948, lv denied 87 N.Y.2d 975, cert denied 519 U.S. 829).   Rather, the issue whether defendant would have accepted the plea offer absent the court's erroneous statement must be raised in a proceeding pursuant to CPL article 440, “wherein a record focused on this issue may be developed” (People v. Surowka, 103 AD3d 985, 986;  see e.g. People v. Ross, 123 AD3d 454, 454;  see also Matter of Dong Chong v Annucci, 50 AD3d 1331, 1332).

We reject defendant's further contention that his sentence is unduly harsh and severe.

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court