Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Jose Melendez, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1987-04-09
Citations: 129 A.D.2d 449
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Jose Melendez, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 129
Pages: 449–450

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Jose Melendez, Appellant.

Opinion:
Judgment, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Joseph Cerbone, J.), rendered August 27, 1985, which convicted defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of the crime of manslaughter in the first degree (Penal Law § 125.20), and sentenced him to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of from 8 Vs to 25 years, is unanimously modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, only to the extent of reducing the sentence to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of from 4 to 12 years, and otherwise affirmed.
We find the sentence to be excessive, as our examination of the record indicates that defendant, who is 50 years of age, with a steady record of employment, and who has no prior record, appears to be one who possesses the potential to be a productive and law-abiding member of society. Concur—Kupferman, J. P., Ross, Carro, Rosenberger and Wallach, JJ.