PEOPLE v. THEN (2014)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Murphy, J.), rendered December 19, 2012, convicting him of robbery in the third degree, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is modified, on the law, by vacating the sentence imposed; as so modified, the judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for further proceedings consistent herewith.

The defendant contends that the sentencing court failed to determine whether he should be treated as a youthful offender pursuant to CPL 720.20(1). Contrary to the People's contention, the sentencing court failed to adequately place on the record its reasons for denying the defendant youthful offender status (see People v. Pacheco, 110 AD3d 927; People v. Rivera, 27 AD3d 491; People v. Martinez, 301 A.D.2d 615, 616). Therefore, the defendant's sentence must be vacated and the matter remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for resentencing after determining whether the defendant should be sentenced as a youthful offender. We express no opinion as to whether the Supreme Court should afford youthful offender status to the defendant.

The defendant's remaining contentions have been rendered academic in light of our determination (see People v. Pacheco, 110 AD3d at 927).