Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Allen Wiggins, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2005-12-22
Citations: 24 A.D.3d 263
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Allen Wiggins, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 24
Pages: 263–264

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Allen Wiggins, Appellant.
[806 NYS2d 496]

Opinion:
Judgment of resentence, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Alexander W. Hunter, Jr., J.), rendered September 22, 2003, convicting defendant, after a jury trial, of murder in the first degree, and resentencing him to a term of life without parole, modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, to reduce the sentence to a term of 25 years to life, and otherwise affirmed.
We find nothing to indicate that the resentencing court misunderstood the purpose of the remand upon our prior modification (304 AD2d 322, 323 [2003], Iv denied 100 NY2d 625 [2003]). However, we are empowered to reverse or modify a sentence, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, where we conclude that the sentence, "though legal, was unduly harsh or severe" (CPL 470.15 [6] [b]; People v Thompson, 60 NY2d 513, 519 [1983]). Moreover, we may exercise this power, "if the interest of justice warrants, without deference to the sentencing court" (People v Delgado, 80 NY2d 780, 783 [1992]). In our view, considering all the circumstances, the sentence was excessive, and the interest of justice will be adequately served by a reduction of the sentence to the extent indicated. Concur— Mazzarelli, Ellerin and Catterson, JJ.