The People, etc., respondent, v. Ronald E. McGuire, Jr., appellant. (2014)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

The People, etc., respondent, v. Ronald E. McGuire, Jr., appellant.

2012–01732 (Ind.No. 998–11)

Decided: November 26, 2014

RANDALL T. ENG, P.J. JEFFREY A. COHEN SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX HECTOR D. LASALLE, JJ.

Maureen Galvin Dwyer, Northport, N.Y., for appellant. Thomas J. Spota, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Marcia R. Kucera of counsel), for respondent. The defendant's pro se written motion for leave to withdraw his plea was properly denied without a hearing.   The motion was based upon unsupported claims of innocence (see People v Haffiz, 19 NY3d 883, 884;  People v Dixon, 29 N.Y.2d 55, 57;  People v Bennett, 115 AD3d 973), and claims of ineffective assistance of counsel which were refuted by the defendant's admissions in his motion papers and other documents in the record (see People v Bennett, 115 AD3d 973;  People v Howard, 109 AD3d 487, 488;  People v Gully, 17 AD3d 382).   By pleading guilty, “a defendant forfeits appellate review of any claim of ineffective assistance of counsel which does not directly involve the plea bargaining process” (People v Collier, 71 AD3d 909, 910;  see People v Turner, 40 AD3d 1018).   Under the circumstances, the County Court properly exercised its discretion when it denied the defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty plea upon its consideration of the plea minutes and the parties' written submissions, without further inquiry (see People v Mitchell, 21 NY3d 964, 965;  People v Tinsley, 35 N.Y.2d 926, 927;  People v Mudd, 41 AD3d 281;  People v Carbone, 40 AD3d 347).   As noted by the County Court, the record indicates that the defense counsel afforded the defendant effective representation in negotiating a very favorable plea bargain (see People v Henry, 95 N.Y.2d 563, 565–566;  People v Baldi, 54 N.Y.2d 137, 147).