PEOPLE v. TORRES (2021)

ORDERED that the judgment of conviction is modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, by vacating the imposition of the mandatory surcharge and DNA databank fee; as so modified, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

On appeal, defendant asks this court to waive the mandatory surcharge and DNA databank fee imposed upon him at sentencing.

Defendant was convicted before the enactment of CPL 420.35 (2-a), which permits, under certain circumstances, including the interests of justice (see CPL 420.35 [2-a] [c]), the waiver of mandatory surcharges and various fees, including the DNA databank fee, where the person who committed the offense was less than 21 years old at the time of the offense, as was defendant herein. The People consent to defendant's request for a waiver.

In the interest of justice, we waive the mandatory surcharge and DNA databank fee imposed upon defendant at sentencing (see CPL 420.35 [2-a] [c]; People v Henry P.-M., 196 AD3d 650 [2021]; People v Dyshawn B., 196 AD3d 638 [2021]; People v Johnson, 193 AD3d 1076, 1077 [2021]).

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is modified by vacating the imposition of the mandatory surcharge and DNA databank fee.

WESTON and GOLIA, JJ., concur. ELLIOT, J.P., taking no part.