Procedure for Resentencing Under Drug Law Reform Act Not Followed

County Court failed to comply with the statutory procedure for resentencing pursuant to the Drug Law Reform Act of 2004 (Criminal Procedure Law 440.46).  County Court did not issue a written order re: the new sentence, did not issue written findings of fact and reasons for the sentence, and did not inform the defendant of his right to appeal the resentence or his right to withdraw his motion for resentencing.  The Third Department wrote:

Resentencing under CPL 440.46 incorporates the detailed procedures of the Drug Law Reform Act of 2004 (L 2004, ch 738, § 23…). Those procedures require, as relevant here, that an order issued by  the court informing a defendant of the sentence it will impose in the event of resentencing “must include written findings of fact and reasons for such order” (L 2004, ch 738, § 23 …). Defendant must also be notified that he  or she has a right to appeal that written order of proposed resentencing as well as a right – which can be exercised after the appeal and upon remand – to be  given an  opportunity to withdraw  the application for resentencing before any resentence is imposed…. People v Delayo, 104402, 3rd Dept, 3-2-13