People v. McElwee

People v McElwee (2021 NY Slip Op 04317) People v Mcelwee 2021 NY Slip Op 04317 Decided on July 9, 2021 Appellate Division, Fourth Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. Decided on July 9, 2021 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., CARNI, CURRAN, WINSLOW, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ. 654 KA 19-00734 [*1]THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, v JAMES MCELWEE, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. CARA A. WALDMAN, FAIRPORT, FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. TODD J. CASELLA, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PENN YAN (R. MICHAEL TANTILLO OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT. Appeal from a judgment of the Yates County Court (Jason L. Cook, J.), rendered November 26, 2018. The judgment convicted defendant upon a plea of guilty of reckless endangerment in the first degree. It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of reckless endangerment in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.25). Contrary to defendant's contention, his waiver of the right to appeal was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent (see generally People v Thomas, 34 NY3d 545, 564 [2019], cert denied — US &mdash, 140 S Ct 2634 [2020]; People v Taylor, 192 AD3d 1683, 1684 [4th Dept 2021]). That valid waiver forecloses defendant's challenge to the severity of the sentence (see People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 255 [2006]; People v Hidalgo, 91 NY2d 733, 737 [1998]). Entered: July 9, 2021 Mark W. Bennett Clerk of the Court