| People v Fenton |
| 2020 NY Slip Op 02428 [182 AD3d 1048] |
| April 24, 2020 |
| 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 James Fenton, Appellant. |
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, PLLC, Syracuse (John A. Cirando of counsel), for defendant-appellant.
Todd J. Casella, District Attorney, Penn Yan (R. Michael Tantillo of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Yates County Court (Jason L. Cook, J.), rendered February 15, 2018. The judgment convicted defendant upon a jury verdict of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
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 on each
count to a determinate term of 2
Memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting him following a jury trial of
criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (Penal Law
§ 220.39 [1]) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third
degree (§ 220.16 [1]), defendant contends, inter alia, that his sentence is
unduly harsh and severe. We agree. The evidence at trial established that defendant and
his son sold $50 worth of cocaine to a police informant. At the time, defendant was 56
years old and his criminal record consisted of two misdemeanor convictions, both of
which were for violating the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Defendant was not a known drug
dealer and was not targeted by the police. Defendant's son, who had arranged the drug
sale with the informant, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. Having contested
the charges at trial, defendant was sentenced to concurrent determinate terms of
imprisonment of 7
We have reviewed defendant's remaining contentions and conclude that none requires further modification or reversal of the judgment. Present—Smith, J.P., Carni, Lindley, Curran and DeJoseph, JJ.