Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Eric Fotiathis, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1993-11-19
Citations: 198 A.D.2d 896
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Eric Fotiathis, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 198
Pages: 896–896

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Eric Fotiathis, Appellant.
[604 NYS2d 447]

Opinion:
—Judgment unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed and matter remitted to Steuben County Court for further proceedings in accordance with the following Memorandum: Defendant pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the third degree and, in accordance with the plea bargain, was sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration of IVz to 3 years. On appeal, he contends that the court erred in sentencing him as a second felony offender because the People failed to file a second felony offender statement pursuant to CPL 400.21. We agree. Under the circumstances of this case, the filing of a second felony offender statement before the imposition of sentence was mandatory (see, CPL 400.21 [1], [2]) and the failure to comply with that requirement renders the sentence invalid as a matter of law (see, People v Scarbrough, 66 NY2d 673, revg on dissent of Boomer, J., 105 AD2d 1107; People v Gilchrist, 152 AD2d 923). Therefore, we modify the judgment by vacating the sentence and we remit the matter to County Court for the filing of a second felony offender statement pursuant to CPL 400.21 prior to resentencing. (Appeal from Judgment of Steuben County Court, Scudder, J. — Attempted Burglary, 3rd Degree.) Present — Denman, P. J., Pine, Lawton, Doerr and Davis, JJ.