Imposition of Enhanced Sentence for Defendant’s Tardiness Disallowed

The Second Department determined Supreme Court should not have imposed an enhanced sentence on the ground defendant was late appearing for his sentencing:

The transcript of the plea proceeding does not indicate that the defendant was given any instructions as to what time he was to appear for sentencing; rather, he was told that he must “com[e] to court on the sentence date.” Under these circumstances, the imposition of an enhanced sentence, without affording the defendant an opportunity to withdraw his plea of guilty, was error… . People v Blades, 2013 NY Slip Op 06584, 2nd Dept 10-9-13