| People v Kendall |
| 2012 NY Slip Op 00425 [91 AD3d 1191] |
| Jnury 26, 2012 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Zachery W.Kendall, Appellant. |
—[*1] Weeden A. Wetmore, District Attorney, Elmira (Jeremy V. Murray of counsel), forrespondent.
Lahtinen, J. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Chemung County (Buckley, J.),rendered April 6, 2009, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of attemptedmurder in the second degree, assault in the first degree (two counts), burglary in the first degree(two counts), burglary in the third degree, attempted petit larceny and criminal mischief in thefourth degree.
Defendant, together with his girlfriend, broke into a commercial establishment in December2007 allegedly to, among other things, steal beer. As a result, he was indicted in January 2008 forthe crimes of burglary in the third degree, attempted petit larceny and criminal mischief in thefourth degree. While those charges were pending, he entered a residence in the middle of thenight carrying a 15-inch knife, which he used to slash a woman's neck as well as inflict otherinjuries upon her and a male occupant of the residence. The female victim, although seriouslyinjured and requiring extensive medical care, survived. For those acts, defendant was indicted inMay 2008 for attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degreeand two counts of burglary in the first degree. Examinations by four experts regardingdefendant's competency to stand trial resulted in conflicting opinions. After conducting a hearing,County Court determined that defendant was competent.[*2]
Shortly before the scheduled trial, defendant elected toplead guilty to all charges in both indictments with no promise as to sentencing. For the crimes inthe January 2008 indictment, he was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 2½ to 7 yearsfor the burglary conviction, 90 days for the attempted petit larceny conviction and one year forthe criminal mischief conviction. The sentences for the crimes in the May 2008 indictment,which were concurrent to each other but consecutive to the sentence for the crimes in the January2008 indictment, were 25 years for the attempted murder conviction, as well as 25 years on eachcount of assault and burglary, plus postrelease supervision. Defendant now appeals arguing thatCounty Court erred in finding him competent to stand trial, his plea allocution to the May 2008indictment was insufficient and his sentence was harsh and excessive.
"The key inquiry in determining whether a criminal defendant is fit for trial is 'whether he [orshe] has sufficient present ability to consult with his [or her] lawyer with a reasonable degree ofrational understanding—and whether he [or she] has a rational as well as factualunderstanding of the proceedings against him [or her]' " (People v Phillips, 16 NY3d 510, 516 [2011], quoting Dusky vUnited States, 362 US 402, 402 [1960]; see People v Morton, 173 AD2d 1081, 1083[1991], lv denied 78 NY2d 1129 [1991]). In making this determination, "a court may takeinto account the findings of any competency examination as well as its own observations of [the]defendant" (People v Passaro, 86AD3d 717, 718 [2011]; see People v Phillips, 16 NY3d at 517; People v Beander, 1 AD3d 632,633 [2003], lv denied 1 NY3d 568 [2003]), and the trial court's determination is accordedconsiderable deference (see People vSurdis, 77 AD3d 1018, 1018-1019 [2010], lv denied 16 NY3d 800 [2011];People v Campbell, 279 AD2d 797, 798 [2001], lv denied 96 NY2d 826 [2001]).
Defendant was examined by two psychiatrists and two psychologists. The two psychiatristsopined that he was competent, whereas the two psychologists concluded that defendant wasincompetent. All four experts testified at the competency hearing and all noted defendant'shistory of substance abuse as well as mental health issues. One psychiatrist who had concludedthat defendant was competent described his interaction with defendant during the examinationand stated that, in his opinion, defendant understood the roles of the court, his lawyer and theDistrict Attorney, he was aware of the potential consequences he faced for his conduct, and hehad the ability to assist in his defense. One of the psychologists who had reported defendant asincompetent acknowledged during cross-examination that defendant knew he was in serioustrouble and had a general understanding of the proceedings. County Court observed defendantduring many court appearances involving the two indictments and characterized him ascooperative with appropriate behavior in all his appearances. Although conflicting proof waspresented, the record supports County Court's determination that defendant was competent tostand trial.
Defendant's challenge to the sufficiency of his plea is unavailing. During the plea allocution,defendant made a statement tending to negate the intent element of the attempted murder charge.However, County Court followed up with pertinent questions, and defendant specificallyadmitted all elements of the crime of attempted murder in the second degree (see People vLopez, 71 NY2d 662, 666 [1988]; People v Karolys, 85 AD3d 1213 [2011], lv denied 17NY3d 818 [2011]; People v Clavie,28 AD3d 872, 873 [2006]). Defendant's further assertion that his drug use negated his intentas to all crimes in the May 2008 indictment is unpreserved and, in any event, is unpersuasive inlight of his assurance to County Court during the plea allocution that he remembered the relevantdetails surrounding his participation in the crimes and his recitation of such details (see People v Jones, 73 AD3d1386, 1387 [2010]; People [*3]v Lasher, 14 AD3d 943, 944 [2005]; People v Mahar, 12 AD3d 715,716 [2004]).
A sentence generally will not be disturbed on appeal unless the sentencing court abused itsdiscretion or there are extraordinary circumstances warranting a reduction in the interest ofjustice (see People v Welch, 71AD3d 1329, 1332 [2010], lv denied 15 NY3d 811 [2010]; People v Perkins, 56 AD3d 944,946 [2008], lv denied 12 NY3d 786 [2009]). The conduct that resulted in the May 2008indictment involved a senseless attack of a brutal and vicious nature that left the victim withpermanent physical and emotional scars. Defendant entered the victim's apartment at about 4:00a.m. by crawling through a window; he went to her bedroom where she was sleeping, put a handover her face and, using a 15-inch knife, he—in his own words—"sawed" her neck,causing injuries so severe that her surgeon reportedly described her survival as miraculous.County Court noted defendant's history of mental health issues, his extensive abuse of drugs andthe extent of his past criminal conduct, as well as the recent escalation of such conduct. Althoughdefendant received maximum sentences on the two indictments, we are unpersuaded that CountyCourt abused its discretion or that modification of the sentence is otherwise warranted (see People v Smith, 27 AD3d 894,898-899 [2006], lv denied 6 NY3d 898 [2006]; People v Wright, 22 AD3d 873, 876-877 [2005], lv denied6 NY3d 761 [2005]).
Mercure, A.P.J., Rose, Kavanagh and McCarthy, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment isaffirmed.