PEOPLE v. VAHEDI (2005)

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Ulster County (Bruhn, J.), rendered October 23, 2003, which resentenced defendant following his conviction of the crime of robbery in the first degree.

Defendant pleaded guilty to robbery in the first degree and was sentenced to six years in prison followed by five years of postrelease supervision.   On a previous appeal, this Court reversed the judgment of conviction in the interest of justice, finding that defendant was not informed of the period of postrelease supervision, and remitted the matter to County Court to afford defendant an opportunity to withdraw his plea (305 A.D.2d 866, 758 N.Y.S.2d 874 [2003] ).   Thereafter, defendant did not withdraw his plea and was resentenced to a prison term of 5 1/212 years followed by five years of postrelease supervision.

We are unpersuaded by defendant's contention that his resentence was harsh and excessive and should be reduced in the interest of justice.   The record demonstrates that in resentencing defendant, County Court noted the impressive statement made by defendant and considered defendant's institutional achievements while imprisoned.   In addition, the court considered the violent nature of the crime, trauma to the victims, the terms of the plea agreement and defendant's criminal history motivated by drug use.   While defendant has made strides toward rehabilitation while incarcerated, the record fails to establish any clear abuse of discretion by the court in imposing the sentence nor does it demonstrate any extraordinary circumstances warranting the exercise of our discretion in the interest of justice (see People v. Jones, 11 A.D.3d 818, 783 N.Y.S.2d 165 [2004];  People v. Sczepankowski, 293 A.D.2d 212, 215-216, 746 N.Y.S.2d 46 [2002], lv. denied 99 N.Y.2d 564, 754 N.Y.S.2d 216, 784 N.E.2d 89 [2002];  People v. Saunders, 277 A.D.2d 512, 716 N.Y.S.2d 624 [2000], lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 763, 725 N.Y.S.2d 289, 748 N.E.2d 1085 [2001];  People v. Jimenez, 267 A.D.2d 615, 616, 700 N.Y.S.2d 406 [1999], lv. denied 94 N.Y.2d 921, 708 N.Y.S.2d 360, 729 N.E.2d 1159 [2000] ).   Accordingly, the prison term imposed upon resentence of defendant will not be disturbed.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.