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. Gilbert BELL, Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Schenectady County (Eidens, J.), entered June 26, 2000, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Defendant was sentenced to a prison term of 4 1/212 to 13 1/212 years after pleading guilty to the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree in full satisfaction of a four-count indictment. He contends on this appeal that the sentence was unduly harsh and excessive in view of his youth (22 years of age at the time of sentencing) and his lack of a prior criminal record. We disagree. A sentence that falls within the permissible statutory ranges will not be disturbed unless the sentencing court abused its discretion or extraordinary circumstances exist warranting a modification in the interest of justice (see, People v. Carter, 267 A.D.2d 594, 595, 700 N.Y.S.2d 407, lv. denied 94 N.Y.2d 917, 708 N.Y.S.2d 356, 729 N.E.2d 1155; People v. Dolphy, 257 A.D.2d 681, 685, 685 N.Y.S.2d 485, lv. denied, 93 N.Y.2d 872, 689 N.Y.S.2d 434, 711 N.E.2d 648). No extraordinary circumstances have been shown to exist here nor can we discern any abuse of judicial discretion in light of the fact that a sentence of 8 1/313 to 25 years (see, Penal Law § 70.00[2][b]; [3][b] ) could have been imposed.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
LAHTINEN, J.
CREW III, J.P., PETERS, MUGGLIN and ROSE, 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: January 17, 2002
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)