| People v Ligammari |
| 2016 NY Slip Op 04528 [140 AD3d 1631] |
| June 10, 2016 |
| Appellate Division, Fourth Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| The People of the State of New York,
Respondent, v Alfred L. Ligammari, Jr., Appellant. |
Evan Lumley, Buffalo, for defendant-appellant.
Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Scott Myles of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Monroe County (Francis A. Affronti, J.), rendered May 26, 2009. The judgment convicted defendant, upon a jury verdict, of criminal sexual act in the first degree (six counts), criminal sexual act in the third degree (six counts), sexual abuse in the first degree, attempted rape in the first degree, attempted rape in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a child.
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified as a
matter of discretion in the interest of justice by reducing the sentence imposed for
attempted rape in the first degree to a determinate term of imprisonment of
3
Contrary to defendant's contention, Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion by continuing the trial in defendant's absence when defendant did not appear in court on the final day of trial. The record establishes that the court had given defendant the requisite warnings (see People v Parker, 57 NY2d 136, 141 [1982]), and he therefore waived his right to be present at trial (see People v Zafuto, 72 AD3d 1623, 1623-1624 [2010], lv denied 15 NY3d 758 [2010]; People v Jones, 31 AD3d 1193, 1193 [2006], lv denied 7 NY3d 868 [2006]). Contrary to defendant's further contention, "[t]he fact that defendant was arrested [in another state] for other charges while the jury was deliberating did not restore his right to be present" (People v Larkin, 281 AD2d 915, 916 [2001], lv denied 96 NY2d 864 [2001]; see People v Herrera, 219 AD2d 511, 511 [1995], lv denied 87 NY2d 847 [1995]).
Finally, we agree with defendant that the sentence of incarceration is unduly harsh
and severe. Thus, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice (see generally
CPL 470.15 [6] [b]), we modify the judgment by reducing the sentence imposed for
attempted rape in the first degree to a determinate term of incarceration of
3