PEOPLE v. MCPHERSON (2022)

Judgment of conviction (Phyllis Chu, J.), rendered April 3, 2017, affirmed.

In view of defendant's knowing waiver of his right to prosecution by information, the accusatory instrument only had to satisfy the reasonable cause requirement (see People v Dumay, 23 NY3d 518, 522 [2014]). So viewed, the accusatory instrument was jurisdictionally valid because it described facts of an evidentiary nature establishing reasonable cause to believe that defendant was guilty of unlicensed driving (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 509[1]). Sworn police allegations that defendant operated a motor vehicle, and that a computer check by the officer of the records of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles revealed that defendant's license had been revoked and was not reinstated, were sufficient to establish the elements of the offense, including that defendant was not “duly licensed” to operate the vehicle he was driving (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 509[1]; see People v Rivera, 70 Misc 3d 136[A], 2021 NY Slip Op 50042[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2021], lv denied 36 NY3d 1100 [2021]; People v Foster, 57 Misc 3d 136[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 51272[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2017], lv denied 30 NY3d 1060 [2017]). Allegations that defendant knew or should have known that his license was suspended or revoked were not required to support the offense of unlicensed driving (see People v Stoute, 59 Misc 3d 126[A], 2018 NY Slip Op 50338[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2018], lv denied 31 NY3d 1122 [2018]).

Since the instrument was jurisdictionally valid with respect to the offense to which defendant pleaded guilty, he is not aggrieved by any alleged defects in the other charged offense (see People v Ruiz, 146 AD3d 417 [2017], lv denied 28 NY3d 1188 [2017]).

The record establishes that defendant's guilty plea was knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently entered with the aid of counsel, and after the court sufficiently advised defendant of the constitutional rights he would be giving up by pleading guilty (see People v Conceicao, 26 NY3d 375 [2015]; People v Sougou, 26 NY3d 1052 [2015]). Since knowledge that his license had been suspended or revoked was not an element of the offense (see People v Stoute, 59 Misc 3d 126[A]), defendant's statement during his plea allocution that he was unaware that his license had been suspended did not call into question the voluntariness of the guilty plea or require a sua sponte inquiry by the court. In any event, the only relief defendant requests is vacatur of his conviction and the dismissal of the accusatory instrument, and he expressly requests that this Court affirm his conviction if it does not grant dismissal. Since it cannot be said that no penological purpose would be served by remanding the matter, dismissal is not warranted and we affirm on this basis (see People v Conceicao, 26 NY3d at 385 n).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

Per Curiam.

All concur.