SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
53
KA 11-00580
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., FAHEY, PERADOTTO, CARNI, AND WHALEN, JJ.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
PIERRE C. WILSON, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
TIMOTHY P. DONAHER, PUBLIC DEFENDER, ROCHESTER (JANET C. SOMES OF
COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
SANDRA DOORLEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROCHESTER (ERIN TUBBS OF COUNSEL),
FOR RESPONDENT.
Appeal from a judgment of the Monroe County Court (Frank P.
Geraci, Jr., J.), rendered November 3, 2010. The judgment convicted
defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of robbery in the first degree
(six counts) and robbery in the second degree (23 counts).
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is
unanimously modified as a matter of discretion in the interest of
justice and on the law by vacating the sentence and as modified the
judgment is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to Monroe County
Court for further proceedings in accordance with the following
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his
plea of guilty of six counts of robbery in the first degree (Penal Law
§ 160.15 [3]) and 23 counts of robbery in the second degree (§ 160.10
[1]; [2] [a], [b]). We reject defendant’s contention that his
sentence is unduly harsh and severe. We agree with defendant,
however, that, because restitution was not part of the plea agreement,
County Court should have afforded him the opportunity to withdraw his
plea before ordering him to pay restitution (see People v Ponder, 42
AD3d 880, 882, lv denied 9 NY3d 925; People v Robinson, 21 AD3d 1356,
1357). Although defendant failed to preserve his contention for our
review, we exercise our power to review it as a matter of discretion
in the interest of justice (see Ponder, 42 AD3d at 882). We therefore
modify the judgment by vacating the sentence, and we remit the matter
to County Court to impose the promised sentence or to afford defendant
the opportunity to withdraw his plea.
Entered: February 6, 2015 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court