Opinion ID: 2529828
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether the Appellate Division May Reduce a Defendant's Sentence on Appeal from a Resentencing to Correct a Sparber Error

Text: Because a trial court lacks discretion to reconsider the incarceratory component of a defendant's sentence at a resentencing to correct a Sparber error, the Appellate Division may not reduce the prison sentence on appeal in the interest of justice. The defendant's right to appeal is limited to the correction of errors or the abuse of discretion at the resentencing proceeding ( see CPL 470.15 [1]; 470.20). Since the resentencing court is not authorized to lower the prison sentence at a Sparber resentencing, appellate courts are likewise unauthorized to do thisi.e., the resentencing court's failure to consider a lesser sentence was not an error or defect subject to reversal or modification (CPL 470.20). [2] Accordingly, the order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed in each case addressed in this opinion except People v Sharlow , where the Appellate Division's order should be reversed and the resentence imposed by Supreme Court reinstated. CIPARICK, J. (dissenting in People v Sharlow and People v Rodriguez ). I join the majority opinion in only four of these cases, dissenting in People v Sharlow and People v Rodriguez.