People v. Sterling (Michael)

Opinion

The People of the State of New York, Respondent,

against

Michael Sterling, Defendant-Appellant.

Defendant appeals from a judgment of the Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York County (Michael D. Stallman, J.), rendered October 25, 2015, convicting him, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, and imposing sentence.

Per Curiam.

Judgment of conviction (Michael D. Stallman, J.), rendered October 25, 2015, reversed, on the law, accusatory instrument dismissed, and surcharge, if paid, remitted.

As the People concede, defendant's conviction must be vacated since the plea record lacks the requisite "affirmative showing" that defendant understood and waived his Boykin rights (see Boykin v Alabama, 395 US 238 [1969]). The People also agree that dismissal of the accusatory instrument is the appropriate corrective action in this particular case (cf. People v Conceicao, 26 NY3d 375, 385 n 1 [2015]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

I concur I concur I concur
Decision Date: March 12, 2020