STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. MARC D. SCHULTZ (17-08-1151, BERGEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2019 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-4812-17T1
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
MARC D. SCHULTZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
___________________________
Argued April 9, 2019 – Decided September 11, 2019
Before Judges Rothstadt and Gilson.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Law Division, Bergen County, Indictment No. 17-08-
1151.
Kathleen Mary Theurer argued the cause for appellant.
William P. Miller, Special Deputy Attorney General/
Acting Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause for
respondent (Dennis Calo, Acting Bergen County
Prosecutor, attorney; William P. Miller, of counsel;
Catherine A. Foddai, Legal Assistant, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant Marc D. Schultz appeals from the Law Division's judgment of
conviction (JOC) that it entered after defendant pled guilty to one count of
second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1). At
sentencing, the trial court found that the mitigating factors outweighed any
aggravating factors and sentenced defendant to two years' probation as
permitted by an earlier order entered under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.2, which waived
the mandatory minimum period to which defendant was exposed under the
Graves Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(c). On appeal, defendant challenges a
December 6, 2017 order rejecting his appeal from the prosecutor's denial of his
admission to the Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI). See N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12;
R. 3:28.1 In his appeal, defendant argues the prosecutor's rejection of his
application "was a patent and gross abuse of discretion due to its reliance upon
irrelevant and inappropriate factors, inaccurate information and [a]
misapplication of [the] law." We disagree and affirm.
Defendant, a resident of Indiana, pled guilty to the one charge of
possession of a weapon after his arrest by Mahwah police on February 22,
1
Rule 3:28 contained guidelines to assist in a determination of whether a
defendant was amenable to PTI. The Rule was repealed effective July 1, 2018.
However, "many of [the Guidelines'] prescriptions -- with significant
variations -- are [now] contained in Rules 3:28-1 to -10." State v. Johnson,
238 N.J. 119, 128 (2019).
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2017, when an officer stopped defendant and his two passengers for a traffic
violation. In response to questioning by the officer, defendant disclosed that
he had a handgun in his possession. At the time, defendant also advised the
officer that he held a concealed carry permit from Indiana. The police
retrieved defendant's loaded gun and hollow-point bullets from his vehicle's
glovebox. Defendant also disclosed that there was marijuana in the car and
police recovered a small amount of the controlled substance together with
paraphernalia related to its use.
Defendant was arrested and later charged in an indictment with the
second-degree weapons offense and fourth-degree possession of prohibited
ammunition, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f)(1) and (2). He was also charged in a
summons complaint with two disorderly persons offenses related to his
possession of marijuana and paraphernalia under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(4) and
N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2.
After his arrest, defendant applied for entry into PTI. On October 18,
2017, the PTI director rejected defendant's application, citing to the fact that
defendant was an out-of-state resident and that a required home inspection
could not be conducted due to his not residing in New Jersey. The director
concluded that in defendant's case the "early rehabilitative services and the
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supervision offered by the PTI program would not best serve the interest of the
victim and/or the State of New Jersey."
Defendant immediately filed a motion with the Law Division to reverse
the director's determination. He did so prior to any input from the County
Prosecutor.
On November 6, 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor also rejected
defendant's application. In his letter stating his reasons, the prosecutor cited to
what he found were the applicable statutory factors set forth in N.J.S.A.
2C:43-12(e) and the Guidelines under Rule 3:28.
The prosecutor cited to "the nature of the offense" and "the facts of the
case," N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e)(1) and (2), and concluded that PTI was not
appropriate because defendant was charged with a second-degree offense and
possession of marijuana. Citing to 18 U.S.C. § 926A, 2 he also noted that the
manner in which defendant transported his handgun violated federal law. The
prosecutor also considered under Guideline 3(b) that defendant was an out-of-
state resident and, under N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e)(9), that at the time of his arrest,
2
The federal statute permits a person to transport a firearm in the trunk of a
vehicle only "for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully
possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully
possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firear m is
unloaded." § 926A.
A-4812-17T1
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defendant had a prior criminal record consisting of out-of-state convictions for
selling cocaine in 1989 3 and in 2003 for possession of marijuana. Finally, the
prosecutor considered N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e)(14), whether the value of
supervisory treatment outweighed "the public need for prosecution," and (17),
"[w]hether . . . the harm done to society by abandoning criminal prosecution
would outweigh the benefits to society from channeling [defendant] into a
supervisory program," and concluded "society would be harmed" if defendant
was not prosecuted.
On December 4, 2017, Judge Margaret M. Foti considered the parties'
oral arguments. On December 6, 2017, she issued an order denying
defendant's appeal from the denial of his admission to PTI. The judge set forth
her reasons on the same date in a seven-page written decision. The judge
found that defendant did "not demonstrate[] that the prosecutor failed to
consider all relevant factors before making [his] decision." She concluded that
defendant's contentions about his background, including that "he is a 52-year-
old family man and business owner who [is] willing to report in person as
3
At the December 4, 2017 oral argument on defendant's appeal from the
rejection of his application, the prosecutor conceded that the letter inaccurately
stated the prior conviction and clarified that it was for a "misdemeanor" an d
not a "felony."
A-4812-17T1
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required by PTI supervision [were] not enough to convince [the judge] that
[the prosecutor's] decision was based on a patent and gross abuse of
discretion."
In response to the prosecutor's subsequent motion, on January 16, 2018,
Judge Foti entered the order waiving the mandatory minimum defendant would
be exposed to for his weapons offense under the Graves Act, allowing him to
be sentenced to a period of probation. Defendant pled guilty the same day to
the one charge and, on June 1, 2018, another judge sentenced defendant and
stayed imposition of probation pending appeal. This appeal followed.
On appeal, in support of his contention that the prosecutor's rejection of
his application was a patent and gross abuse of discretion, defendant contends
that the challenged decision failed to consider a 2014 memorandum from the
Attorney General setting forth a "clarification" to an earlier Attorney General
Directive. The memorandum addressed the prosecution of matters involving
an out-of-state resident's transport of a weapon while in New Jersey and
applied to situations where a Graves Act offense is committed in New Jersey
based on conduct that would be lawful in the offender's home-state and the
"out-of-state visitor[ did] not realize that [his or her] authority to carry a
weapon in their home state [did] not extend into New Jersey." In the
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memorandum, the Attorney General directed that "in the absence of case-
specific aggravating circumstances, these defendants should not be sentenced
to incarceration," and instead prosecutors should pursue PTI, or if "PTI is not
appropriate," they should make "an initial plea offer" of "non-custodial"
probation.
The memorandum also directed that when a prosecutor pursues PTI for a
non-resident who is licensed to carry a weapon in his or her home state, certain
unique factors should be considered along with the statutory factors applicable
to PTI admission. Those unique factors include whether the manner of
possession minimize the risk of harm to others, such as keeping the weapon in
the trunk of the car as compared to "the passenger cabin of a vehicle." Other
factors include: (1) whether the incident "was [i]solated and [a]berrational,"
and "[d]efendant is otherwise a law-abiding person," as demonstrated by
whether defendant was found to be committing a separate offense; (2) whether
defendant disclosed the firearm to police "on his or her own initiative;" and,
(3) whether there existed "[c]ircumstances [c]oncerning [c]onfusion of New
Jersey and Other-State [l]aw."
According to defendant, the prosecutor's rejection of his application
because he was a non-resident was inconsistent with the memorandum, even
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though as he concedes, "traditionally out of State residents are regularly denied
admission to the [PTI] program." Moreover, defendant argues the prosecutor's
reliance on federal law was misplaced and his reliance upon the second-degree
nature of the weapons offense was inconsistent with the memorandum that
contemplated the diversion of defendants charged with the same offense to
PTI. Finally, defendant contends that contrary to the prosecutor's assertion, he
was not convicted of distribution of cocaine in 1989. We find no merit to
defendant's contentions.
"PTI is a 'diversionary program through which certain offenders are able
to avoid criminal prosecution by receiving early rehabilitative services
expected to deter future criminal behavior.'" Johnson, 238 N.J at 127 (quoting
State v. Roseman, 221 N.J. 611, 621 (2015)). "PTI programs are 'governed
simultaneously by the Rule and the statute which "generally mirror[ ]" each
other.'" Roseman, 221 N.J. at 621 (quoting State v. Wallace, 146 N.J. 576, 582
(1996)).
At the time of defendant's application for PTI, "[t]he assessment of a
defendant's suitability for PTI [was] conducted under the Guidelines for PTI
provided in Rule 3:28, along with consideration of factors listed in N.J.S.A.
2C:43-12(e)." Johnson, 238 N.J at 128 (quoting Roseman, 221 N.J. at 621).
A-4812-17T1
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Under the Rule and statute, "acceptance into PTI [was] dependent upon an
initial recommendation by the Criminal Division Manager and consent of the
prosecutor." Roseman, 221 N.J. at 621.
A court's review of a prosecutor's rejection of a PTI application is
"'severely limited[,]' and interference by reviewing courts is reserved for those
cases where needed 'to check [] the "most egregious examples of injustice and
unfairness."'" State v. Lee, 437 N.J. Super. 555, 563 (App. Div. 2014)
(alterations in original) (quoting State v. Negran, 178 N.J. 73, 82 (2003)).
"[O]n appeal, [we] review[] PTI decisions with 'enhanced deference.'" Ibid.
We afford prosecutors a "great deal of deference" in deciding whether to admit
defendants to PTI, because the decision for admission to "PTI is essentially an
extension of the charging decision, therefore the decision to grant or deny PTI
is a 'quintessentially prosecutorial function.'" Johnson, 238 N.J at 128
(quoting Roseman, 221 N.J. at 624).
"A court reviewing a prosecutor's decision to deny PTI may overturn
that decision only if the defendant 'clearly and convincingly' establishes the
decision was a 'patent and gross abuse of discretion.'" Johnson, 238 N.J. at
128-29 (quoting Wallace, 146 N.J. at 583). "Where a defendant can make that
showing, a trial court may admit a defendant, by order, into PTI over the
A-4812-17T1
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prosecutor's objection." Roseman, 221 N.J. at 625. "In cases concerning legal
error by the prosecutor, . . . [which] raise issues akin to questions of law, . . . a
remand to the prosecutor may be appropriate so she or he may rightly
reconsider the application." Johnson, 238 N.J. at 129 (citation omitted).
In reaching their decisions, prosecutors are tasked with making
individualized assessments of each defendant, particularly his or her
"amenability to correction" and likely "responsiveness to rehabilitation." Id. at
127-28 (quoting State v. Watkins, 193 N.J. 507, 520 (2008)). Prosecutors are
granted "wide latitude in deciding whom to divert into the PTI program and
whom to prosecute through a traditional trial." Negran, 178 N.J. at 82.
A prosecutor must evaluate PTI applications by considering the factors
defined by statute and court rule and conduct an "individualized assessment"
of the applicant. The Supreme Court explained the evaluation process as
follows:
The assessment of a defendant's suitability for PTI
must be conducted under the Guidelines for PTI
provided in Rule 3:28, along with consideration of
factors listed in N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e). These factors
include "the details of the case, defendant's motives,
age, past criminal record, standing in the community,
and employment performance[.]" Watkins, 193 N.J. at
520; see N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e). Additionally, a PTI
determination requires that the prosecutor make an
individualized assessment of the defendant
A-4812-17T1
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considering his or her "'amenability to correction' and
potential 'responsiveness to rehabilitation.'" Watkins,
193 N.J. at 520 (quoting N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(b)).
[Roseman, 221 N.J. at 621-22.]
However, in cases involving first- or second-degree offenses, there is a
presumption against admission. See R. 3:28 Guideline 3(i)(3); see also
Johnson, 238 N.J. at 131 ("hold[ing] the presumption against PTI for first- and
second-degree offenders . . . no longer" applicable to certain drug offenses);
Watkins, 193 N.J. at 523. The presumption may be overcome only upon a
defendant demonstrating "compelling reasons justifying the applicant's
admission and establishing that a decision against enrollment would be
arbitrary and unreasonable." R. 3:28 Guideline 3(i)(4); see also Johnson, 238
N.J. at 128.
A patent and gross abuse of discretion occurs when
a prosecutorial veto (a) was not premised upon a
consideration of all relevant factors, (b) was based
upon a consideration of irrelevant or inappropriate
factors, or (c) amounted to a clear error in judgement
[sic]. In order for such an abuse of discretion to rise
to the level of "patent and gross," it must further be
shown that the prosecutorial error complained of will
clearly subvert the goals underlying [PTI].
[Johnson, 238 N.J. at 129 (quoting Roseman, 221 N.J.
at 625).]
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Applying these principles, we conclude defendant failed to demonstrate
that his rejection from PTI was the result of a patent or gross abuse of
discretion. Thus, there is no basis to disturb the trial court's decision
sustaining the prosecutor's denial. Although defendant certainly has a number
of mitigating factors in his favor, the reasons for the prosecutor's denial were
premised on consideration of relevant factors, which weighed against his
admission. Defendant failed to clearly and convincingly establish that the
prosecutor's decision went so wide of the mark sought to be accomplished by
PTI that fundamental fairness and justice required judicial intervention.
We find defendant's arguments to the contrary are without sufficient
merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(2). Suffice it to
say, "a court's scrutiny of a prosecutor's denial of consent is normally limited
to the reasons given by the prosecutor for his [or her] action[,]" State v. Kraft,
265 N.J. Super. 106, 112 (App. Div. 1993), and "[a]bsent evidence to the
contrary, it is [to be] presumed that the prosecutor considered all relevant
factors before rendering a decision." Ibid. (alteration in original) (quoting
State v. Dalglish, 86 N.J. 503, 509 (1981)). We offer only the following
additional comments.
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Here, the prosecutor appropriately referred to the undisputed facts that
were relevant to the applicable PTI factors, and his statement of reasons
clearly evidences a substantive analysis of valid considerations. Those
considerations included defendant being simultaneously found in possession of
marijuana, his gun being loaded with hollow-point bullets and not stored in the
vehicle's trunk, 4 his not having demonstrated any confusion over not being
allowed to carry his gun in New Jersey, and his prior criminal record, even
limited to the 2003 misdemeanor conviction. These factors clearly
distinguished defendant from the type of defendant contemplated by the
Attorney General Guidelines.
While reasonable minds might differ as to whether defendant is a
suitable candidate for admission into the program, the court's role when
considering an appeal of this sort is "limited" and the "'[court] does not have
the authority . . . to substitute [its own] discretion for that of the
prosecutor'. . . . even where the prosecutor's decision is one which the . . .
4
Defendant "had no federally-protected right under 18 U.S.C.[] § 926A to
transport his loaded revolver[,]" In re Two Seized Firearms, 127 N.J. 84,
91(1992). Nor did he have a right under 18 U.S.C. § 926A to carry a handgun
between Indiana and New Jersey, because he could not lawfully carry the gun
in New Jersey. See State v. Waters, 439 N.J. Super. 215, 231 (App. Div.
2015).
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court disagrees with or finds to be harsh." Kraft, 265 N.J. Super. at 112.
(alterations in original) (citation omitted).
Affirmed.
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