KINGSTON – The Appellate Division, Third Department, of State Supreme Court has affirmed the June 2015 conviction of Ronald Wood, who pled guilty to aggravated criminal contempt.
Wood’s conviction stems from an October 2014 incident in which he punched the victim in the face in violation of an order of protection. As a result, he was sentenced to six months in the Ulster County Jail and five years of probation and a no-contact order of protection was issued in favor of the victim.
Two months later he was charged in connection with the same victim with two counts of aggravated criminal contempt, two counts of sexual abuse, and violating the conditions of his probation.
He pled guilty to aggravated criminal contempt, waived his right to appeal and admitted that he had violated certain terms and conditions of his probation.
County Court Judge Donald Williams revoked his probationary sentence and sentenced Wood as a second felony offender to 1 1/3 to five years in prison on the probation violation to be served consecutively to a 3½ to 7-year sentence for aggravated criminal contemp.
On appeal, Wood argued the waiver of appeal was not valid and that his plea was insufficient to establish his guilt.
The appellate court rejected his claims.
