PEOPLE v. BERRAHO (2023)

Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Ellen N. Biben, J. at plea;  Ann E. Scherzer, J. at sentencing), rendered September 21, 2018, convicting defendant of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and sentencing him to a conditional discharge for a period of one year, unanimously modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, to the extent of vacating the surcharge imposed at sentencing, and otherwise affirmed.

Defendant made a valid waiver of his right to appeal, which forecloses review of his claim that he substantially complied with the conditions of an agreement that entitled him to replead to a traffic infraction (see People v. Thomas, 34 N.Y.3d 545, 559, 122 N.Y.S.3d 226, 144 N.E.3d 970 [2019], cert denied 589 U.S. ––––, 140 S.Ct. 2634, 206 L.Ed.2d 512 [2020]).  Regardless of whether defendant's appeal waiver forecloses his present claim, we find that the sentencing court providently exercised its discretion in determining that defendant failed to satisfy the conditions of his plea agreement and thereby forfeited the opportunity to replace his misdemeanor conviction with a plea to a traffic infraction.  The principal condition of the agreement was defendant's completion of three programs.  Even if his noncompletion of one of these programs may have been de minimis, he failed to complete the other two.

Based on our own interest of justice powers, we vacate the surcharge and fees imposed at sentencing.  We note the People's consent.