SPAIN, J.
We previously assigned new counsel to represent defendant on this appeal ( 301 A.D.2d 751, 751) and now defendant's sole legal argument is that his guilty plea was not knowing, voluntary or intelligent. This issue, however, has not been preserved for our review because defendant did not move to withdraw the plea or vacate the judgment of conviction (see People v. Thomas, 307 A.D.2d 592, 592, lv denied 100 N.Y.2d 625; People v. De Berardinis, 304 A.D.2d 914, 915, lv denied 100 N.Y.2d 580). Although defendant was initially hesitant to accept the negotiated plea agreement, County Court properly made further and repeated inquiries to ensure that defendant understood the nature of the charge and that the plea was intelligently and voluntarily entered and, thus, the narrow exception to the preservation rule is inapplicable (see People v. Lopez, 71 N.Y.2d 662, 666-667; People v. Camp, 302 A.D.2d 629, 630, lv denied 100 N.Y.2d 593).
In any event, considering defendant's claim, we find it to be without merit. The transcript of the plea proceedings discloses that County Court went to great lengths to explain to defendant the ramifications of pleading guilty, taking special care to specifically address those matters about which defendant initially expressed confusion. After the court clarified these matters, defendant indicated that he understood them and conferred with counsel. While defendant initially professed ignorance of the circumstances of the crime, he ultimately admitted that he sold cocaine in Ulster County in August 1999. As the record makes clear, "[a]ny reluctance on the part of defendant in entering his guilty plea is attributable not to threats or coercion but to defendant's `unhappiness with the harsh realities of his situation'" (People v. Wilmer, 191 A.D.2d 850, 850-851, lv denied 81 N.Y.2d 1022, quotingPeople v. Jimenez, 179 A.D.2d 840, lv denied 79 N.Y.2d 949; see People v. Evans, 193 A.D.2d 960, 961).
Cardona, P.J., Peters, Carpinello and Kane, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.