People v Gossom (2025 NY Slip Op 06480)
People v Gossom
2025 NY Slip Op 06480 [243 AD3d 1343]
November 21, 2025
Appellate Division, Fourth Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Tuesday, March 3, 2026


[*1]
 The People of the State of New York, Respondent,
v
Roqawn Gossom, Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.)

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Allison V. McMahon of counsel), for defendant-appellant.

Michael J. Keane, District Attorney, Buffalo (Mindy F. Vanleuvan of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Erie County (Deborah A. Haendiges, J.), rendered February 9, 2022. The judgment convicted defendant upon his plea of guilty of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.

Memorandum: In appeal No. 1, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 265.03 [1] [b]). In appeal No. 2, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of rape in the second degree (former § 130.30 [1]). In appeal No. 3, defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (§ 265.03 [3]). There were two plea hearings, with appeal Nos. 2 and 3 stemming from the same plea hearing. In all three appeals, defendant contends that his waiver of the right to appeal is invalid and that his sentence is unduly harsh and severe. We conclude on these records that defendant's waivers of the right to appeal were knowing, voluntary, and intelligent (see People v Bundscho, 239 AD3d 1261, 1261 [4th Dept 2025]; People v Foumakoye, 229 AD3d 1380, 1380 [4th Dept 2024], lv denied 42 NY3d 970 [2024]; see generally People v Thomas, 34 NY3d 545, 559-564 [2019], cert denied 589 US 1302 [2020]). Defendant's valid waivers of the right to appeal encompass his challenges to the severity of the sentences (see People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 255-256 [2006]; People v Hidalgo, 91 NY2d 733, 737 [1998]). Present—Bannister, J.P., Montour, Smith, Greenwood and Hannah, JJ.