People State New York v. Sun Choi

Defendant asserts on appeal that the plea was not sufficiently supported by a factual basis and that the Court failed to specifically inform him of each of his Boykin rights (Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238). We disagree. Review of the plea allocution shows that the plea was knowing and voluntary, (People v. Harris, 61 N.Y.2d 9; see People v. Nixon, 21 N.Y.2d 338, cert den. sub. nom Robinson v. New York, 393 U.S. 1067), and that there was a sufficient factual basis to support the plea (People v. LaPorte, 41 A.D.2d 863). The validity of a plea does not hinge on a catechismic recital of rights, but on whether the plea as a whole was knowing and voluntary (People v. Harris, supra.).