People v. Swiderski

People v Swiderski (2023 NY Slip Op 03133) People v Swiderski 2023 NY Slip Op 03133 Decided on June 9, 2023 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 June 9, 2023 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., LINDLEY, CURRAN, BANNISTER, AND GREENWOOD, JJ. 429 KA 21-01241 [*1]THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT, v ALEC SWIDERSKI, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (ROBERT L. KEMP OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. JOHN J. FLYNN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUFFALO (HARMONY A. HEALY OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT. Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Christopher J. Burns, J.), rendered October 1, 2019. The judgment convicted defendant upon his plea of guilty of manslaughter in the first degree. It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of manslaughter in the first degree (Penal Law § 125.20 [1]), defendant contends that his waiver of the right to appeal is invalid and that his sentence is unduly harsh and severe. Even assuming, arguendo, that defendant's waiver of the right to appeal is invalid and therefore does not preclude our review of his challenge to the severity of his sentence (see People v Lopez, 196 AD3d 1157, 1157 [4th Dept 2021], lv denied 37 NY3d 1028 [2021]), we conclude that the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe. Entered: June 9, 2023 Ann Dillon Flynn Clerk of the Court