THE PEOPLE DID NOT PROVE A VERMONT OFFENSE WAS EQUIVALENT TO A NEW YORK VIOLENT FELONY OFFENSE; THEREFORE THE PERSISTENT VIOLENT FELONY ADJUDICATION WAS VACATED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, vacating defendant’s persistent violent felony offender adjudication, determined the People did not prove that a Vermont assault and robbery offense was the equivalent to a New York violent felony offense:

While the defendant admitted at sentencing that he was the person convicted of two prior felonies … , the People failed to satisfy their burden of establishing that the defendant was convicted of an offense in a foreign jurisdiction that is equivalent to a violent felony in New York … . The People failed to demonstrate that the Vermont offense of assault and robbery with a dangerous weapon … is equivalent to a New York criminal offense designated as a violent felony … . Accordingly, we modify the judgment by vacating the defendant’s adjudication as a persistent violent felony offender and the sentences imposed thereon, and we remit the matter to the Supreme Court … for resentencing … . People v Parris, 2025 NY Slip Op 07028, Second Dept 12-17-25

Practice Point: If a foreign conviction is the basis of a persistent violent felony offender adjudication, the People must prove the foreign offense is the equivalent of a New York violent felony. If the People fail to prove the equivalence the adjudication will be vacated on appeal.