Case ID: ad3d_55/html/1424-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Joseph R. Spencer, Appellant.
    [864 NYS2d 339]
   case is held, the decision is reserved, the motion to relieve counsel of assignment is granted and new counsel is to be assigned. Memorandum: Defendant was convicted upon a guilty plea of burglary in the third degree (Penal Law § 140.20). Defendant’s assigned appellate counsel has moved to be relieved of the assignment pursuant to People v Crawford (71 AD2d 38 [1979]), and has submitted an affirmation in which he concludes that there are no nonfrivolous issues meriting this Court’s consideration. The record establishes that defendant moved prior to sentencing to withdraw his plea. The facts raise the issue of whether the court abused its discretion in denying defendant’s motion. Therefore, we relieve counsel of his assignment and assign new counsel to brief this issue, as well as any other issues that counsel’s review of the record may disclose. (Appeal from Judgment of Jefferson County Court, Kim H. Martusewicz, J.—Burglary, 3rd Degree.) Present—Scudder, PJ., Hurlbutt, Martoche, Smith and Lunn, JJ.