PEOPLE v. GARCIA GONZALEZ (2020)

ORDERED that the appeal is held in abeyance, the application by assigned counsel for leave to withdraw as counsel is granted and new counsel is assigned pursuant to article 18-B of the County Law to prosecute the appeal;

Alan Ross, Esq.

P.O. Box 731

New York, NY 10007.

Relieved counsel is directed to turn over all papers in his possession to the newly assigned counsel. New counsel is directed to serve and file a brief within 90 days after the date of this order and decision. The People may serve and file a respondent's brief within 21 days after the service upon them of the appellant's brief. Appellant's new counsel, if so advised, may serve and file a reply brief within seven days after service of the respondent's brief.

Assigned counsel submitted an Anders brief setting forth the conclusion that there exist no nonfrivolous issues that could be raised on appeal (see Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 [1967]). A review of the record, however, reveals at least two nonfrivolous issues, i.e., whether, during defendant's plea allocution, the court explained his Boykin rights, and presented Peque warnings, sufficient to render the plea knowing, intelligent and voluntary, and whether defendant was sentenced in conformity with CPL 380.20.

Accordingly, we hold the appeal in abeyance, grant assigned counsel's application for leave to withdraw as counsel and assign new counsel to ascertain whether defendant desires to raise the issues set forth above, and to prosecute the appeal on defendant's behalf with respect to these issues or any other issue that can be identified.

WESTON, J.P., ELLIOT and TOUSSAINT, JJ., concur.