People v. Vandemark

—Yesawich Jr., J.

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Ulster County (Eidens, J.), rendered January 7, 1997, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crime of assault in the first degree.

On August 27, 1995, defendant was arrested after he stabbed his girlfriend during an argument; he was thereafter indicted on counts of assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Although defendant was represented by counsel during certain pretrial proceedings, on August 19, 1996 a new attorney (hereinafter defense counsel) was assigned to represent…