Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
The PEOPLE, etc., Respondent, v. Hopeton MINOTT, Appellant.
Appeal by the defendant, as limited by his motion, from an amended judgment of the County Court, Westchester County (Leavitt, J.), rendered May 8, 1997, which, upon vacating a judgment of the same court rendered February 5, 1996, imposing a sentence of five years probation as a youthful offender upon his conviction of manslaughter in the first degree, imposed a sentence of an indeterminate term of imprisonment of three to nine years.
ORDERED that the amended judgment is affirmed.
The circumstances of this case are accurately recited in the decision and order of the County Court revoking the defendant's original probationary sentence as a youthful offender (see, People v. Minott, 172 Misc.2d 916, 660 N.Y.S.2d 317). Upon our review of the record we agree with the determination of the County Court that defense counsel, in the defendant's presence, affirmatively and voluntarily misled the court as to the defendant's innocence on other charges then pending in Kings County, to induce the County Court to impose a probationary sentence as a youthful offender upon the defendant's conviction for manslaughter in the first degree. The defendant thereafter entered a plea of guilty in satisfaction of the Kings County indictment. Accordingly, the County Court had the inherent authority to revoke the youthful offender sentence as having been obtained by fraud and deceit (see, People v. Calderon, 79 N.Y.2d 61, 580 N.Y.S.2d 163, 588 N.E.2d 61; Matter of Lockett v. Juviler, 65 N.Y.2d 182, 490 N.Y.S.2d 764, 480 N.E.2d 378; People v. Jason, 240 A.D.2d 760, 660 N.Y.S.2d 143; People v. Moss, 234 A.D.2d 610, 652 N.Y.S.2d 298; Matter of Klein v. Cowhey, 161 A.D.2d 643, 555 N.Y.S.2d 420; People v. Barnes, 160 A.D.2d 342, 553 N.Y.S.2d 413; People v. Joyner, 171 Misc.2d 544, 655 N.Y.S.2d 300, affd. 247 A.D.2d 945, 669 N.Y.S.2d 1017). Furthermore, the County Court did not improvidently exercise or abuse its discretion in resentencing the defendant to a period of incarceration of three to nine years on his conviction for manslaughter in the first degree (see, Penal Law §§ 125.20, 70.02[3][a], [4] ).
The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.
MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: October 05, 1998
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)