| People v Zakrzewski |
| 2025 NYSlipOp 07166 [244 AD3d 1798] |
| December 23, 2025 |
| 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 Matthew T. Zakrzewski, Appellant. |
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Kerry A. Conner of counsel), for defendant-appellant.
Kevin T. Finnell, District Attorney, Batavia (William G. Zickl of counsel), for respondent.
Crimes
- Appeal
- Waiver of Right to Appeal
Appeal from a judgment of the Genesee County Court (Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini, J.), rendered October 18, 2022. The judgment convicted defendant upon a plea of guilty of arson in the second degree and arson in the third degree.
It is hereby ordered that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon his plea of guilty of arson in the second degree (Penal Law § 150.15) and arson in the third degree (§ 150.10 [1]). Contrary to defendant's contention, a waiver of the right to appeal is not unconscionable per se (see People v Brinkman, 240 AD3d 1431, 1431-1432 [4th Dept 2025], lv denied 44 NY3d 1027 [2025]; People v Barr, 192 AD3d 1571, 1571 [4th Dept 2021], lv denied 37 NY3d 954 [2021]; see also People v Thomas, 34 NY3d 545, 557-558 [2019], cert denied 589 US 1302 [2020]). Further, the record establishes that defendant's waiver of the right to appeal was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent (see Brinkman, 240 AD3d at 1432). The valid waiver encompasses defendant's challenge to the severity of his sentence (see People v Lopez, 6 NY3d 248, 256 [2006]; People v Hoose, 236 AD3d 1294, 1296 [4th Dept 2025], lv denied 44 NY3d 993 [2025]). Present—Whalen, P.J., Curran, Montour, Smith and DelConte, JJ.