Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. James Rizzo, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2017-02-07
Citations: 147 A.D.3d 439
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v James Rizzo, Appellant.
Judges: Concur — Tom, J.P., Renwick, Saxe, Feinman and Gesmer, JJ.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 147
Pages: 439–439

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v James Rizzo, Appellant.
[46 NYS3d 580]

Opinion:
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Laura A. Ward, J.), rendered January 20, 2015, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of attempted robbery in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of IV2 to 3 years, unanimously modified, on the law, to remand for resentencing and for further proceedings on defendant's plea withdrawal motion in accordance with this decision.
The court and defense counsel were under the mistaken impression that defendant was proceeding pro se, with an attorney acting only as a legal advisor, at the time defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty plea was determined. Although defendant had represented himself at a suppression hearing, he had subsequently asked for the reinstatement of counsel, and he was represented by counsel when he pleaded guilty. The record does not reflect any subsequent request by defendant to return to pro se status. We have considered and rejected the People's preservation argument regarding this right-to-counsel issue. Accordingly, we remand the matter for resentenc-ing, with the assignment of counsel and resubmission of defendant's motion.
Concur — Tom, J.P., Renwick, Saxe, Feinman and Gesmer, JJ.