People v. Lopez

The issue arises upon the People’s contention that sentences for consecutive terms in excess of the periods permitted by the applicable statute were imposed pursuant to a plea bargain and were valid as proper subjects of the plea-bargaining process. In unanimously reversing the judgments of conviction, the Appellate Division correctly held that the two crimes of which each defendant was convicted ‘ ‘ were committed as parts of a single * * * transaction” (Penal Law, § 70.25, subd. 3); the statute cited further providing that when, in such case, consecutive definite sentences of imprisonment…