Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Robert Watson III, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2015-03-04
Citations: 126 A.D.3d 731
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Robert Watson III, Appellant.
Judges: Eng, P.J., Balkin, Dickerson, Chambers and Hinds-Radix, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 126
Pages: 731–731

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Robert Watson III, Appellant.
[2 NYS3d 376]

Opinion:
Appeal by the defendant, as limited by his motion, from a sentence of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Cohen, J.), imposed September 28, 2011.
Ordered that the sentence is affirmed.
The defendant's purported waiver of his right to appeal was invalid (see People v Bradshaw, 18 NY3d 257, 267 [2011 ]; People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256-257 [2006]) and, thus, does not preclude review of his claim that his sentence was excessive. However, the sentence imposed was not excessive (see People v Suitte, 90 AD2d 80 [1982]).
There is no relief that this Court can afford the defendant in connection with his request for a so-called "violent felony override" (see People v Lynch, 121 AD3d 717 [2014]). While the defendant's conviction of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree (Penal Law § 125.13) appears to render him ineligible for the temporary release program at issue (see 7 NYCRR 1900.4 [c] [2] [ii]), "[i]t is for [the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision], and not the court or the district attorney, to determine whether conviction under a particular section and subdivision disqualifies an inmate from eligibility" (People v Lynch, 121 AD3d at 718; see generally 7 NYCRR 1900.4).
Eng, P.J., Balkin, Dickerson, Chambers and Hinds-Radix, JJ., concur.