STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. MARLIN SCHNEEBERGER (12-16, HUDSON 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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-4957-17T4
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
MARLIN SCHNEEBERGER,
Defendant-Appellant.
______________________________
Argued October 29, 2019 – Decided November 8, 2019
Before Judges Fisher, Gilson and Rose.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Hudson County, Municipal Appeal 12-16.
Suzanne Axel argued the cause for appellant (Law
Offices of Brian J. Neary, attorneys; Brian J. Neary, of
counsel; Suzanne Axel, of counsel and on the brief).
Erin M. Campbell, Assistant Prosecutor, argued the
cause for respondent (Esther Suarez, Hudson County
Prosecutor, attorney; Alanna M. Jereb, Assistant
Prosecutor on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant Marlin Schneeberger appeals from her conviction in the Law
Division for the disorderly persons offense of obstructing the administration of
law, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1(a), for which the judge imposed $158 in fees and costs.
Because of the confusion generated by another defendant's involvement, the
Law Division judge mistakenly failed to make findings about the charges
brought against this defendant; consequently, we remanded the matter to the
Law Division. State v. Schneeberger, No. A-2220-16 (App. Div. Apr. 10, 2018)
(slip op. at 2), certif. denied, 236 N.J. 30 (2018). Following our remand, the
Law Division judge heard oral argument, and based on the testimony previously
presented, found there was sufficient credible evidence to support defendant's
conviction of obstruction.
Defendant appeals again. In this appeal, she argues the Law Division
judge: (1) erred in finding her guilty of obstructing the administration of law,
N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1(a); (2) improperly admitted her inculpatory statements into
evidence; and (3) failed to remedy an alleged conflict of interest. The second
and third arguments were raised in the earlier appeal and were found to lack
merit, Schneeberger, slip op. at 6, so we need not consider them again. We find
defendant's first argument, which addresses the sufficiency of the judge's fact
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finding, lacks sufficient merit to warrant further discussion in a written opinion.
R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
Defendant's conviction is based on events that arose when police officers
responded to her neighborhood. Defendant had caused a disturbance because a
neighbor allowed a construction crane to enter the driveway defendant and this
neighbor shared. After the construction crane was moved, with aid from the
officers, an altercation ensued between defendant and the officers. This
altercation resulted in defendant's arrest; she was charged with: resisting arrest,
N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2(a)(3)(b); creating a false public alarm, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3(e);
obstructing the administration of law, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1(a); and disorderly
conduct, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2(a)(1). The resisting arrest charge was reduced to a
charge of disorderly persons offense of obstruction, and the fourth-degree false
public alarm charge was reduced to a disorderly persons harassment charge,
N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(a).
Defendant was convicted of all charges in municipal court. She then
appealed, and a Law Division judge found her guilty only of obstruction. As
mentioned, we remanded for further findings. Schneeberger, slip op. at 2.
To violate N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1(a), one must not only "purposely obstruct[],
impair[] or pervert[] the administration of law" but must do so through one of
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the specifically enumerated acts in the statute, through "physical interference or
obstacle," or through an "independently unlawful act." State v. Fede, 237 N.J.
138, 148 (2019). "[C]riminal liability under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1 requires an
affirmative act or some affirmative interference." Id. at 149.
Following our remand, the Law Division judge found Sergeant David Pitts
credible. He testified that immediately after defendant was informed she was
being placed under arrest for creating a false public alarm, defendant began to
"protest" by pulling herself away from the officers, flailing her arms, and
refusing to place her hands behind her back to be handcuffed. The judge also
found credible Sergeant Pitts' testimony that defendant argued with the officers
and voiced her refusal to comply with their commands during the arrest.
According to the judge's interpretation of the evidence, defendant's conduct
satisfied all the elements of the offense for which she was convicted. That the
officer may have later overreacted could not excuse defendant's earlier
obstructing actions.
Our standard of review requires deference to a judge's findings of fact
when supported by sufficient credible evidence. State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146,
162 (1964). Defendant has presented no principled reason to second-guess the
judge's findings, and we decline to do so.
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Affirmed.
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