Opinion
2012-07-19
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Herbert JUNIOR, Appellant.
John Ferrara, Monticello, for appellant. James R. Farrell, District Attorney, Monticello (Bonnie M. Mitzner of counsel), for respondent.
John Ferrara, Monticello, for appellant. James R. Farrell, District Attorney, Monticello (Bonnie M. Mitzner of counsel), for respondent.
Before: MERCURE, J.P., ROSE, LAHTINEN, STEIN and McCARTHY, JJ.
LAHTINEN, J.
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Sullivan County (LaBuda, J.), rendered September 21, 2010, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
Defendant was questioned by police and eventually confessed to killing the victim, who had been repeatedly stabbed. In a superceding indictment, defendant was charged with murder in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, murder in the second degree and four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He moved to suppress his statements to police as well as evidence seized pursuant to search warrants. Following Huntley and Mapp hearings, County Court denied his motion. As part of a negotiated agreement, defendant pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree and one count of criminal possession of a weapon. He waived his right to appeal verbally on the record and in writing. County Court sentenced him consistent with the terms of the negotiated plea agreement to an aggregate prison term of 23 years to life. Defendant appeals.
We affirm. Defendant contends that County Court erred in denying his motion to suppress his confession to police. Review of County Court's suppression ruling is precluded by defendant's waiver of his right to appeal ( see People v. Kemp, 94 N.Y.2d 831, 833, 703 N.Y.S.2d 59, 724 N.E.2d 754 [1999];People v. Spruill, 90 A.D.3d 1242, 1243, 934 N.Y.S.2d 355 [2011],lv. denied18 N.Y.3d 998, 945 N.Y.S.2d 653, 968 N.E.2d 1009 [2012];People v. Martin, 16 A.D.3d 767, 767–768, 790 N.Y.S.2d 753 [2005] ). The record reveals that defendant's waiver of the right to appeal was knowing, voluntary and intelligent. The waiver was made with the assistance of counsel and it was distinguished from other rights that defendant forfeited upon pleading guilty. Preplea rulings were specifically included as part of the waiver ( see People v. Johnson, 14 A.D.3d 730, 730, 786 N.Y.S.2d 850 [2005] ).
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.