THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK RESPONDENT v. CHARLES JONES DEFENDANT APPELLANT (2026)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by vacating the sentence and as modified the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to Erie County Court for further proceedings in accordance with the following memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon his plea of guilty, of two counts of manslaughter in the first degree (Penal Law § 125.20 [1]). As a condition of his plea, defendant waived his right to a Penal Law § 60.12 hearing to determine his eligibility for an alternative sentence under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. Inasmuch as “section 60.12 hearings are not waivable as a condition of a plea agreement” (People v N.H., — NY3d —, —, 2026 NY Slip Op 02437, *1 [2026]), we agree with defendant that this matter must be remitted for further proceedings, including a Penal Law § 60.12 hearing should defendant request one (see id. at *7). We therefore modify the judgment by vacating the sentence, and we remit the matter to County Court for further proceedings.

Defendant's remaining contentions are academic in light of our determination.

Entered: June 5, 2026

Ann Dillon Flynn

Clerk of the Court