SMITH, JOHN T., PEOPLE v ( 2013 )

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
1248
KA 12-01721
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., FAHEY, CARNI, VALENTINO, AND WHALEN, JJ.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
JOHN SMITH, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
JAMES S. KERNAN, PUBLIC DEFENDER, LYONS (RICHARD W. YOUNGMAN OF
COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
JOHN SMITH, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT PRO SE.
RICHARD M. HEALY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LYONS (JACQUELINE MCCORMICK OF
COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Appeal from a judgment of the Wayne County Court (Dennis M.
Kehoe, J.), rendered June 7, 2011. The judgment convicted defendant,
upon his plea of guilty, of burglary in the first degree.
It is hereby ORDERED that the case is held, the decision is
reserved and the matter is remitted to Wayne County Court for further
proceedings in accordance with the following Memorandum: On appeal
from a judgment convicting him, upon his plea of guilty, of burglary
in the first degree (Penal Law § 140.30 [2]), defendant contends that
County Court erred in failing to adjudicate him a youthful offender.
We note at the outset that the People do not dispute defendant’s
assertion that he is a “youth . . . eligible to be found a youthful
offender” (CPL 720.10 [2]). “Upon conviction of an eligible youth,
the court must order a [presentence] investigation of the defendant.
After receipt of a written report of the investigation and at the time
of pronouncing sentence the court must determine whether or not the
eligible youth is a youthful offender” (CPL 720.20 [1]; see People v
Rudolph, 21 NY3d 497, 503). Here, despite defendant’s application
during the plea colloquy to be found an eligible youth, the court
failed to address the issue of defendant’s eligibility during the
sentencing proceeding. Furthermore, “we cannot deem the court’s
failure to rule on the . . . [application] as a denial thereof”
(People v Spratley, 96 AD3d 1420, 1421, following remittal 103 AD3d
1211, lv denied 21 NY3d 1020; see People v Ingram, 18 NY3d 948, 949;
People v Chattley, 89 AD3d 1557, 1558). We therefore hold the case,
reserve decision, and remit the matter to County Court to make and
state for the record “a determination of whether defendant is a
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KA 12-01721
youthful offender” (Rudolph, 21 NY3d at 503).
Entered: December 27, 2013 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court