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 of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Gerard B. REILLY, Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Broome County (Smith, J), rendered May 10, 2006, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree.
In 2005, this Court reversed defendant's convictions of forcible touching and sexual abuse in the first degree, and remitted the matter for a new trial (19 A.D.3d 736, 796 N.Y.S.2d 726 [2005] ). During jury selection, defendant advised County Court that he wished to accept the plea offer that had been extended to him. Following a plea colloquy, the court accepted defendant's plea of guilty to sexual abuse in the first degree in full satisfaction of the charges pending against him. After defendant orally moved to withdraw his plea at his sentencing hearing, County Court repeatedly adjourned the matter to permit defendant to file a written motion to vacate the plea. At defendant's request, however, counsel did not file a motion; instead, defendant informed the court that he did not wish to withdraw his plea. He was sentenced, in accordance with the plea agreement, to five years in prison to be followed by five years of postrelease supervision. Defendant now appeals.
We affirm. Defendant's challenges to the voluntariness of his plea are not preserved for our review inasmuch as he unequivocally rescinded his oral motion to withdraw the plea, informed County Court that he wished to go forward with sentencing and thereafter failed to move for vacatur of the judgment of conviction (see People v. Terrell, 41 A.D.3d 1044, 1044-1045, 839 N.Y.S.2d 812 [2007]; People v. Denson, 40 A.D.3d 1266, 1266, 836 N.Y.S.2d 346 [2007]; People v. Perez, 35 A.D.3d 1030, 1031, 826 N.Y.S.2d 488 [2006], lv. denied 9 N.Y.3d 868, 840 N.Y.S.2d 897, 872 N.E.2d 1203 [2007] ). Further, the narrow exception to the preservation requirement is not applicable because the plea colloquy does not cast doubt upon or call into question the voluntariness of his plea (see People v. Lopez, 71 N.Y.2d 662, 666-667, 529 N.Y.S.2d 465, 525 N.E.2d 5 [1988]; cf. People v. Louree, 8 N.Y.3d 541, 545-546, 838 N.Y.S.2d 18, 869 N.E.2d 18 [2007] ). Contrary to defendant's assertions, any failure by County Court to advise him during the plea colloquy that he might be subject to enhanced sentencing for future crimes or that he would be required to register as a sex offender did not undermine the voluntariness of his plea (see People v. Folk, 43 A.D.3d 1229, 1230, 842 N.Y.S.2d 108 [2007]; People v. Coss, 19 A.D.3d 943, 943, 798 N.Y.S.2d 170 [2005], lv. denied 5 N.Y.3d 805, 803 N.Y.S.2d 34, 836 N.E.2d 1157 [2005]; People v. Keebler, 15 A.D.3d 724, 726, 789 N.Y.S.2d 547 [2005], lv. denied 4 N.Y.3d 854, 797 N.Y.S.2d 428, 830 N.E.2d 327 [2005]; cf. People v. Louree, 8 N.Y.3d at 545-546, 838 N.Y.S.2d 18, 869 N.E.2d 18). Moreover, reversal in the interest of justice is unwarranted here inasmuch as the record belies defendant's contentions that he was unaware of his status as a second violent felony offender and that his plea was coerced.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
MERCURE, J.
CARDONA, P.J., CREW III, CARPINELLO and LAHTINEN, JJ., concur.
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: December 20, 2007
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third 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)