People v. Speller (Dashawn)

People v Speller (2021 NY Slip Op 50891(U)) [*1] People v Speller (Dashawn) 2021 NY Slip Op 50891(U) [73 Misc 3d 128(A)] Decided on September 21, 2021 Appellate Term, First Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports. Decided on September 21, 2021 SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, FIRST DEPARTMENT PRESENT: Edmead P.J., Brigantti, Hagler, JJ. 570197/19 The People of the State of New York, Respondent, against Dashawn Speller, Defendant-Appellant. In consolidated criminal prosecutions, defendant appeals from three judgments of the Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York County (Cori H. Weston, J.), rendered October 15, 2018, convicting him, upon his pleas of guilty, of unlawful manufacture, distribution or sale of a synthetic cannabinoid or synthetic phenethylamine, and imposing sentence. Per Curiam. Judgments of conviction (Cori H. Weston, J.), rendered October 15, 2018, affirmed. In full satisfaction of three accusatory instruments charging, inter alia, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (see Penal Law § 220.06[1]), a class D felony, defendant pled guilty to three misdemeanor counts of unlawful manufacture, distribution or sale of a synthetic cannabinoid or synthetic phenethylamine (see Administrative Code of City of NY 10-203[a][1]), in exchange for a sentence of time served. Defendant personally confirmed that he was pleading guilty freely and voluntarily, that he had enough time to speak to his attorney, and that he understood that he was giving up his right to a trial where the People would have to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, to call witnesses and testify on his own behalf. Thus, the record establishes that defendant entered his pleas knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily (see People v Conceicao, 26 NY3d 375, 382-383 [2015]). There was nothing in the record to suggest that defendant's ability to make a decision to enter valid pleas was impaired in any way by drugs, and defendant's assertions in this regard rest on speculation (see People v Rodriguez, 83 AD3d 449 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 800 [2011]; People v Royster, 40 AD3d 885 [2007], lv denied 9 NY3d 881 [2007]). In any event, the only relief defendant requests is dismissal of the accusatory instruments, rather than vacatur of the pleas, and he expressly requests that this Court affirm his convictions if it does not grant dismissal. Since it cannot be said that no penological purpose would be served by reinstating the charges (see People v Conceicao, 26 NY3d at 385 n; People v Teron, 139 AD3d 450 [2016]), dismissal is not warranted and we therefore affirm. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT. I concur I concur I concur Decision Date: September 21, 2021