People v. Benedict

—Appeal from *751a judgment of the County Court of Franklin County (Main, Jr., J.), rendered March 8, 1999, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of driving while intoxicated.

The record indicates that a three-count indictment was returned by a Grand Jury in May 1993 charging defendant with driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree and speeding. Defendant failed to appear at the scheduled arraignment and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Thereafter, defendant, who had absconded to Canada, voluntarily contacted the…