| People v Lago |
| 2019 NY Slip Op 00499 [168 AD3d 1281] |
| January 24, 2019 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| The People of the State of New York,
Respondent, v James S. Lago, Appellant. |
Rural Law Center of New York, Castleton (Kelly L. Egan of counsel), for appellant.
Gary M. Pasqua, District Attorney, Canton (Matthew L. Peabody of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of St. Lawrence County (Champagne, J.), rendered May 16, 2016, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.
Defendant pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree
in satisfaction of a two-count indictment as well as other charged and uncharged crimes. As part
of his guilty plea, he waived his right to appeal, both orally and in writing. Thereafter, he was
sentenced as a second felony offender to 3
Defendant contends that his appeal waiver is invalid and does not preclude review of his sentence, which he claims is harsh and excessive. We disagree. The record discloses that County Court provided a thorough explanation of the consequences of the appeal waiver, listing specific rights that were unaffected by the waiver, including the right to challenge a speedy trial violation, the legality of the sentence, defendant's competency to stand trial and the voluntariness of the waiver (see People v Nichols, 155 AD3d 1186, 1187 [2017]). The court further advised defendant that the right to appeal was separate and distinct from other rights that he was forfeiting by pleading guilty. The court then presented defendant with a comprehensive written appeal waiver that he reviewed with his attorney and signed in open court after confirming that he understood its contents and was voluntarily giving up his right to appeal. Under these circumstances, we find that the appeal waiver is valid and forecloses any challenge to the severity of the sentence (see People v Martinez, 166 AD3d 1376, 1377 [2018]; People v Carter, 166 AD3d 1212, 1213 [2018]).
Garry, P.J., Clark, Mulvey, Rumsey and Pritzker, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.