PEOPLE v. KNOX (2008)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Dutchess County (Hayes, J.), rendered November 19, 2007, convicting him of robbery in the third degree, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, by vacating the sentence imposed thereon;  as so modified, the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to the County Court, Dutchess County, for resentencing in accordance herewith.

 Contrary to his contention, the defendant pleaded guilty to robbery in the third degree with a promised sentence that included restitution.   While it may have been improper to defer the amount of restitution to the time of sentencing, the court properly fixed the amount and terms of restitution at the time it pronounced sentence (cf. People v. Hong Ping Lou, 299 A.D.2d 559, 560-561, 751 N.Y.S.2d 44;  People v. Bauer, 229 A.D.2d 502, 645 N.Y.S.2d 323;  People v. Jackson, 180 A.D.2d 755, 580 N.Y.S.2d 390).   Furthermore, prior to sentencing, the defendant reached an agreement with the court as to, inter alia, the amount of restitution and, at sentencing, the defendant expressly agreed to the amount of restitution (see People v. Phillips, 247 A.D.2d 655, 656, 669 N.Y.S.2d 384).

 Although the court sentenced the defendant to probation, which was previously agreed to during the plea proceedings, it neglected at sentencing to recite the length of the term of probation.   Accordingly, in the interest of justice, we remit the matter to the County Court, Dutchess County, for resentencing to include such recitation.