STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. P.K. (14-05-0539, MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) ( 2019 )

RECORD IMPOUNDED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-1084-17T1
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
P.K.,
Defendant-Appellant.
___________________________
Argued September 23, 2019 – Decided November 8, 2019
Before Judges Sumners, Geiger and Natali.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Middlesex County, Indictment No. 14-05-
0539.
Tamar Yaer Lerer, Assistant Deputy Public Defender,
argued the cause for appellant (Joseph E. Krakora,
Public Defender, attorney; Tamar Yaer Lerer, of
counsel and on the briefs).
Joie D. Piderit, Special Deputy Attorney
General/Acting Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause
for respondent (Christopher L.C. Kuberiet, Acting
Middlesex County Prosecutor, attorney; Nancy Anne
Hulett, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting
Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
After defendant P.K.'s first trial resulted in a mistrial, a second jury
convicted him of second-degree sexual assault upon a child less than thirteen
years of age, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b), and third-degree endangering the
welfare of a child, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a). On appeal, defendant raises
the following six points for our consideration:
POINT I
THE ADMISSION OF REPETITIVE,
CORROBORATIVE HEARSAY STATEMENTS,
ADMITTED PURSUANT TO THE TENDER YEARS
EXCEPTION, WAS CUMULATIVE, UNDULY
PREJUDICIAL, AND REQUIRES REVERSAL OF
DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS.
POINT II
BECAUSE THE DIVISION OF YOUTH AND
FAMILY SERVICES CASEWORKERS
DESTROYED THEIR INTERVIEW NOTES,
DEFENDANT WAS ENTITLED TO AN ADVERSE
INFERENCE CHARGE. THE TRIAL COURT'S
REFUSAL TO GIVE THAT CHARGE WAS
REVERSIBLE ERROR.
POINT III
THE EXCLUSION OF STATEMENTS MADE BY
THE COMPLAINANT'S SISTER THAT A FAMILY
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MEMBER MOLESTED HER PREVENTED
DEFENDANT FROM PRESENTING A COMPLETE
DEFENSE AND NECESSITATES REVERSAL OF
DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS.
POINT IV
TESTIMONY THAT FALSE DISCLOSURES ARE
NEVER MADE WHEN A CHILD IS INTERVIEWED
USING THE TECHNIQUE EMPLOYED IN THIS
CASE WAS INAPPROPRIATE OPINION
TESTIMONY. ITS ADMISSION NECESSITATES
REVERSAL OF DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS.
POINT V
EVEN IF NONE OF THE ERRORS WOULD BE
SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT REVERSAL, THE
CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THOSE ERRORS
DENIED DEFENDANT DUE PROCESS AND A
FAIR TRIAL.
POINT VI
DEFENDANT WAS DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHT TO
UNCONFLICTED COUNSEL AT SENTENCING,
HIS SENTENCE IS EXCESSIVE, AND FINANCIAL
PENALTIES WERE IMPROPERLY IMPOSED
WITHOUT REGARD TO HIS ABILITY TO PAY.
FOR ALL THESE REASONS, A REMAND FOR
RESENTENCING IS REQUIRED.
We have considered the record against the relevant legal principles and
applicable standard of review and disagree with defendant's arguments
contained in Points I-V. Accordingly, we affirm his convictions. We do,
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3
however, conclude that a remand is appropriate for the court to resentence
defendant after appointing new counsel who is unencumbered by any potential
conflict of interest.
I.
The facts underlying defendant's convictions relate to an incident where
he sexually assaulted then six-year-old S.W. (Sarah).1 At the time of the assault,
Sarah and her younger sister, then five-year-old J.W. (Jennifer), lived with their
mother M.F. (Mary) and maternal grandfather. Mary and the children often
visited Mary's friend, C.P. (Charlotte), who lived in an apartment in South River
and babysat the children.
On December 14, 2013, Mary, Sarah, and Jennifer went to Charlotte's
apartment to eat dinner. When they arrived at the apartment, Charlotte asked if
her friend, K.D. (Katy), and her boyfriend, defendant, could join them. Mary
agreed, as Sarah and Jennifer were "familiar" with Katy and defendant.
Defendant and Katy arrived at Charlotte's apartment while Mary was
cooking dinner. At one end of the small apartment was Charlotte's bedroom and
1
We use pseudonyms for S.W., J.W., M.F., C.P., B.D., and K.D. to protect their
privacy and preserve the confidentiality of these proceedings. N.J.S.A. 2A:82-
46(a); R. 1:38-3(c)(9).
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a spare bedroom. A long hallway led from the bedrooms to a bathroom and the
kitchen. While Mary was cooking dinner in the kitchen, Sarah and Jennifer
played in the spare bedroom. At times, Mary left the kitchen to smoke cigarettes
in Charlotte's bedroom with the door closed, and Charlotte and Katy joined her.
At one point in the evening, defendant was in the spare room with the
children watching a movie while Mary, Charlotte, and Katy were in the kitchen.
Jennifer sat on "the front of the bed," closest to the television, Sarah sat behind
her "in the middle of the bed," and defendant sat close behind Sarah. As they
watched the movie, defendant picked Sarah up under her armpits, pulled her
onto his lap, and began "rubbing" her in her vaginal area with his hand. Only
after Sarah repeatedly told defendant to stop did defendant cease rubbing Sarah's
vaginal area.
Mary and Charlotte then entered the spare bedroom. Sarah did not tell
Mary about the incident because she was "scared to tell [Mary] while
[defendant] was still in the room." Afterwards, the group ate dinner together
without incident, and defendant and Katy left.
Approximately one week later, Mary, Sarah, and Jennifer returned to
Charlotte's apartment. As they were sitting in Charlotte's bedroom, Charlotte
saw defendant's car approach the parking lot from her window and announced,
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"[o]h, [defendant is] here." Mary observed Sarah's "body language [change]"
and asked her what was wrong, to which Sarah responded, "why does
[defendant] like naked people?" When Mary asked Sarah why she asked that,
Sarah stated that defendant touched her, and then pointed to her vaginal area.
Mary asked Sarah if she was sure this happened, and Sarah responded "yeah."
When defendant entered the apartment, Mary brought him to the spare
bedroom and "let him know that [Sarah] [said] . . . he tried to touch her." After
they spoke for approximately two minutes, Charlotte asked defendant to leave.
Defendant left, and Mary told Sarah that her allegation was "very serious," and
would have to be reported.
Mary, however, did not immediately report the incident. At the second
trial, she testified that she failed to inform the police right away because:
At the time[,] . . . I was dealing with a [Division of
Family Services (DYFS)] case. I had willingly given
up the children because I had gotten into an accident
and hurt my leg and I couldn't take care of them
anymore . . . . So, when my leg started getting better[,]
. . . I was dealing with getting the custody back. There
was a [c]ourt date set . . . to finalize the custody . . .
[and] I was scared at that time that if I had reported this,
that DYFS would find me as [an] unfit parent . . . .
Mary stated she planned to report the allegation to the police after she
regained full custody. On December 29, 2013, however, Mary and her boyfriend
A-1084-17T1
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at the time, B.D. (Bobby), were at Charlotte's apartment when Mary informed
Bobby about Sarah's allegation. Mary told him that she wanted to wait until she
regained custody of the children before reporting the incident. At that point,
Bobby became "very upset and angry . . . because he felt that . . . [they] needed
to tell the police right away." Their argument became physical, the police "were
called for a noise disturbance," and Mary was arrested for simple assault and
then brought to the hospital.
Sergeant Jennifer Novak, one of the officers that responded to the
disturbance, spoke with Bobby, who informed her of the "allegation of child
abuse." When Novak questioned Mary at Charlotte's apartment and at police
headquarters about the allegation, Mary "wouldn't admit [that] anything that
[Bobby] was saying [was] truthful."
After Mary was released from the hospital, she returned to Charlotte's
apartment. Shortly afterward, the police arrived at the apartment and brought
Mary and Charlotte to police headquarters to question them about the sexual
assault allegation.
Later that night, Sharyn Walz, an intake supervisor with the now Division
of Child Protection and Permanency (Division), and a worker in the Special
Response Unit, which is responsible for "respond[ing] to child abuse and neglect
A-1084-17T1
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allegations after hours," received a referral for the sexual abuse allegations
involving Sarah. Walz contacted her partner, Michelle Mason, and they
immediately went to the residence of Sarah's and Jennifer's paternal
grandmother, where the children were staying for the weekend.
Walz and Mason spoke with Sarah and began asking her a series of open-
ended questions. After Walz asked Sarah if "anything happened with
[defendant]," Sarah responded that defendant "touched her." When asked where
defendant touched her, Sarah "pointed to her vaginal area." Sarah informed
Walz that defendant "did not touch [Jennifer], but he did touch her twice . . .
before dinner and then again . . . after dinner." Sarah also stated that Jennifer
"saw [defendant] touch her."
Both Walz and Mason took notes during the interview and used them to
write their final reports, which they completed on the day of the interview. Once
the reports were written, they shredded their notes, which Walz testified was
Division "policy."
After the interview, Walz and Mason contacted the office of the
Middlesex County Prosecutor. Later that day, Sarah and Jennifer were brought
to the prosecutor's office for a taped interview with Detective Karleen Duca.
Duca testified during defendant's second trial that she received training at
A-1084-17T1
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Finding Words, "which is a training for law enforcement officers and [Division]
workers on a method to interview children that is not leading or suggestive in
any manner."
During the interview, Sarah told Duca that she did not like touches to "the
vagina and the butt." When asked if she had been touched in those areas, Sarah
responded "yeah," and added that she "told [defendant] to stop, but he wouldn't
stop." Sarah also stated that defendant touched her "[t]wo times . . . in the same
day."
On January 30, 2014, Frances B. Pelliccia, M.D., interviewed Sarah. Dr.
Pelliccia testified that Sarah informed her that she was touched "five times
before lunch, [and] two times after lunch." During the interview, Sarah
"identified [defendant] by name [as] the person who . . . touched her."
Approximately a year after defendant's indictment, the State sought a pre-
trial ruling deeming Sarah's repeated out-of-court statements to Mary, Charlotte,
Walz, Mason, and Duca admissible under the "tender years" exception. See
N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27). A motion judge, who was neither the first nor second trial
judge, conducted an evidentiary hearing after which she issued a written opinion
and conforming order granting the State's motion.
A-1084-17T1
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The court first acknowledged that "[i]n determining whether a statement
proffered under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) is admissible, the court must consider the
'totality of the circumstances' surrounding the statement to determine the
statement's trustworthiness." (quoting State v. R.M., 245 N.J. Super. 504, 517-
18 (App. Div. 1991)). The court recognized, however, that the "admissibility of
repetitive corroborative statements admitted under the . . . exception [was]
nevertheless subject to N.J.R.E. 403, and thus the probative value of the
corroborative statements must not be outweighed by their prejudicial effect."
The court then found that "based on the totality of the circumstances,
[Sarah's] statements to [Mary], [Charlotte], and [i]nvestigators, all contained
significant indicia of reliability, and thus [were] trustworthy and reliable." The
court also determined there was no "support [for] [d]efendant's claim that
[Sarah's] statements were contradictory in nature." The court further found that
despite defendant's assertion that the delay in reporting the incident may have
caused manipulation of Sarah's statements, there was "no indicia of unreliability
given that the testimony provided to [the] [c]ourt indicate[d] there were several
repetitive corroborated statements made, which indicated that [Sarah] did not
speak to anyone besides the witnesses and no witness indicated that they spoke
with [Sarah], other than the time to which they testified."
A-1084-17T1
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The court also noted "that given the tactics, techniques, and procedures
employed by . . . Duca in conducting the interview, the interview lends credence
to the fact that [Sarah's] statements were not only reliable, but also consistent
with the information that she had provided to her mother and the caseworkers. "
The court concluded that "based on the lack of motive to fabricate in this case,
[Sarah's] age, the manner in which the interrogation occurred, and constant
corroborative statements," Sarah's hearsay allegations satisfied N.J.R.E.
803(c)(27).
After the first jury advised the court that "[t]hrough a series of discussions
and knowledge [they had] not been able to come to a unified verdict," the court
declared a mistrial. At the second trial, the State presented the live testimony
of Sarah, Mary, Walz, Mason, and Duca. The State also played the videotaped
statement Sarah gave to Duca. Defendant called a single witness, Dr. Pelliccia.
As noted, the second jury convicted defendant on both counts of the
indictment. Thereafter, defendant filed a motion for a judgment of acquittal or,
alternatively, a new trial. After hearing oral arguments, the court denied both
motions.
At sentencing, the court merged count two with count one and sentenced
defendant to a nine-year term of incarceration, subject to an eighty-five percent
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period of parole ineligibility pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2. Additionally, the
court imposed fees and penalties, including an $800 statewide sexual assault
nurse examiner program penalty, $100 sexual offender's surcharge, and $1000
sex crime victim treatment fund (SCVTF) penalty. This appeal followed.
II.
With respect to defendant's first point on appeal, he acknowledges that
although "some amount of out-of-court hearsay would have been permissible,"
he asserts that the court violated N.J.R.E. 403 by allowing into evidence Sarah's
statements in "six different forms." Specifically, he contends that the
introduction of Sarah's hearsay allegations: 1) by Mary, Walz and Mason, 2) in
the videotaped interview with Sergeant Duca, 3) by a "physician that examined
her,"2 and 4) through her direct testimony, was "prejudicial" and "cumulative."
We find defendant's arguments without merit.
The tender years hearsay exception, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), permits hearsay
statements from allegedly sexually abused children to be admitted in certain
circumstances, such as where the court finds "that on the basis of the time,
2
In his merits brief, defendant fails to specifically identify Dr. Pelliccia as the
"physician that examined [Sarah]." As we cannot discern any other medical
professional who testified at the second trial, we assume defendant's reference
is to Dr. Pelliccia.
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content and circumstances of the statement there is a probability that the
statement is trustworthy . . . ." See State v. D.R., 109 N.J. 348, 378 (1988). On
appeal, defendant does not challenge the motion or trial judges' decisions to
admit any of Sarah's hearsay allegations under the tender years exception.
As defendant's N.J.R.E. 403 argument was not raised at any time during
defendant's second trial, we review the issue for plain error. Under the plain
error standard, we disregard any error or omission by the trial court "unless it is
of such a nature as to have been clearly capable of producing an unjust result
. . . ." R. 2:10-2; see also State v. Santamaria, 236 N.J. 390, 404 (2019). "To
warrant reversal[,] . . . an error at trial must be sufficient to raise 'a reasonable
doubt . . . as to whether the error led the jury to a result it otherwise might not
have reached.'" State v. Funderburg, 225 N.J. 66, 79 (2016) (quoting State v.
Jenkins, 178 N.J. 347, 361 (2004)).
Defendant appears to argue that the harmful error standard of review
applies because he unsuccessfully challenged the admissibility of Sarah's
statements under the tender years exception before the motion judge, and also
objected, in part, to the cumulative nature of the statements during his first trial.3
3
At the first trial, during the direct examination of Mason, defendant objected
on the grounds that N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) "[does not] allow repetition of the same
A-1084-17T1
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Again, we disagree.
The record clearly establishes that defendant did not object during the
second trial to the testimony of Sarah, Mary, Walz, Mason, Duca, and Pelliccia
on N.J.R.E. 403 grounds. Further, the motion judge's pre-trial ruling addressed
the admissibility of the testimony under the tender years exception but expressly
acknowledged that the admissibility of Sarah's hearsay allegations was still
subject to N.J.R.E. 403. As such, neither the motion judge nor the second trial
judge addressed the admissibility of Sarah's allegations under N.J.R.E. 403.4
With respect to child sexual abuse cases, courts have recognized that
"testimony by the victim is often the indispensable element of the prosecution 's
case," as "[f]requently, there is no visible physical evidence that acts of sexual
molestation have occurred," and a "victim's account of the sexual abuse may be
the best and sometimes the only evidence that a sexual assault has taken place. "
D.R., 109 N.J. at 358-59. Trial judges, however, "must serve as gatekeepers
interview, of the same situation by two different witnesses . . . [and the jury was]
already hearing no less than four versions of what was said at different times."
The first trial judge "noted [the objection] for the record," but permitted the
testimony.
4
We observe that because the harmful error standard requires a court to
determine whether "there is a reasonable doubt as to whether the . . . error
contributed to the verdict," our decision here would be unchanged under that
standard. State v. Macon, 57 N.J. 325, 40 (1971).
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when repetitive corroborating hearsay evidence is proffered pursuant to
[N.J.R.E] 803(c)(27)." State v. Smith, 158 N.J. 376, 391 (1999). Accordingly,
"a trial court should be cognizant of its right under N.J.R.E. 403, to exclude
evidence if it finds[,] in its discretion, that the prejudicial value of that evidence
substantially outweighs its probative value." Ibid. (quoting State v. D.G., 157
N.J. 112, 128 (1999)).
N.J.R.E. 403 provides that "relevant evidence may be excluded if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk of (a) undue prejudice,
confusion of issues, or misleading the jury or (b) undue delay, waste of time, or
needless presentation of cumulative evidence." Trial judges have "broad
discretion to exclude evidence as unduly prejudicial pursuant to N.J.R.E. 403."
State v. Nantambu, 221 N.J. 390, 402 (2015). "[A] trial court's evidentiary
rulings are entitled to deference absent a showing of an abuse of discretion, i.e.,
there has been a clear error of judgment." Ibid. (quoting State v. Harris, 209
N.J. 431, 439 (2012)).
Here, the jury considered the video statement of Sarah recorded by Duca
in addition to her live testimony at trial. In State v. Burr, 392 N.J. Super. 538,
573 (App. Div. 2007), we considered, and rejected, the defendant's argument
that a video was unduly prejudicial as a "repetitive, corroborative statement of
A-1084-17T1
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[the child's] trial testimony." Id. at 564. We determined the tape to have
probative value as being "closer in time to the alleged sexual assault than the
trial" and because it demonstrated that the statements made to the prosecutor's
office were "largely consistent with those made . . . at trial." Id. at 573. We
find nothing in the current record preventing application of the Burr reasoning
and holding here.
The four additional statements admitted without objection were from
Mary, Walz, Mason, and Dr. Pelliccia. In her testimony regarding the incident,
Mary stated that Sarah asked her "why . . . [defendant] like[s] naked people" and
stated that defendant "had tried to touch [her]." When asked where defendant
allegedly touched her, Mary testified that Sarah "pointed at her vagina." In
addition to corroborating Sarah's statements, Mary's testimony explained the
reasons why she delayed reporting the incident, and her relationship with Bobby.
Walz and Mason's testimonies were very brief. Walz testified that she
asked open-ended questions and that Sarah informed Walz that defendant "did
not touch [Jennifer], but did touch [Sarah] twice . . . before dinner and then . . .
after dinner," and that Jennifer "saw [defendant] touch her."
Similarly, Mason testified that Sarah informed Walz that defendant
"touched – scratched or touched [her] vagina, like a scratch, two times on the
A-1084-17T1
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same day . . . [and that] it was snowing and it was before Christmas." Both
witnesses further testified regarding the circumstances surrounding their
response to Sarah's paternal grandmother's home, their training and the
subsequent contact with the prosecutor's office, and temporary placement of the
children, and provided the jury with an understanding of the circumstances
surrounding the State's investigation and Sarah's corroborative statements.
As to Dr. Pelliccia, we first note that she was called by defendant, not the
State. Dr. Pelliccia's direct testimony totaled seven questions, inclusive of her
background. The only substantive inquiry made by defense counsel was Sarah's
statement that she was touched seven times by defendant, "five times before
lunch, two times after lunch." Defendant clearly cannot claim prejudice, under
N.J.R.E. 403 or otherwise, based on testimony his counsel affirmatively elicited
for the clear purpose to show inconsistencies in Sarah's description of the
incident. We are therefore satisfied that no plain error occurred, nor any
violation of N.J.R.E. 403, as a result of the jury considering Sarah's hearsay
statements. See State v. C.H., 264 N.J. Super. 112, 124 (App. Div. 1993)
(permitting the testimony of six witnesses regarding statements made by the
sexual abuse victim); State v. E. B., 348 N.J. Super. 336, 346 (App. Div. 2002)
A-1084-17T1
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(permitting the testimony of five witness statements pursuant to N.J.R.E. 803
(c)(27)).
We also cannot ignore that during the second trial, defendant affirmatively
argued that multiple inconsistencies in Sarah's statements created sufficient
reasonable doubt to warrant a not-guilty verdict. In this regard, Dr. Pelliccia
was specifically called as a witness by defendant for this sole purpose. Further,
defendant's counsel repeatedly stressed Sarah's purported inconsistencies when
he stated in closing arguments that at one point, Sarah claimed the incident
"happened when it was raining in the spring and summer, [but that] [e]very other
version of it [was] in the winter when there [was] snow on the ground." Under
these circumstances, we conclude that no error, let alone plain error, occurred
when the trial court permitted the aforementioned statements upon questioning
by defendant's counsel to be considered by the jury.
III.
In his second point, defendant argues that the trial court committed
reversible error when it failed to issue an adverse inference charge, consistent
with the Model Jury Charges (Criminal), "Failure of Police to Preserve Notes"
(eff. May 27, 2011) and State v. W.B., 205 N.J. 588 (2011). Specifically,
defendant contends that because Walz and Mason were aware of an ongoing
A-1084-17T1
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criminal investigation and "acted as an adjunct of law enforcement" by
"contact[ing] the prosecutor's office themselves and [observing the start of] the
criminal investigation" at the prosecutor's office, they were obligated to retain,
and not destroy, their interview notes prepared prior to creation of their final
report. We disagree.
We initially observe that like defendant's first argument, he never
requested that the trial court during his second trial issue an adverse inference
charge. Rather, he raised the issue for the first time during his new trial
application. Accordingly, we similarly analyze the issue under the plain error
standard. R. 2:10-2.5
In State v. W.B., 205 N.J. 588, 607 (2011), our Supreme Court held that
"law enforcement officers may not destroy contemporaneous notes of interviews
and observations at the scene of a crime after producing their final reports."
Ibid. (citing State v. Branch, 182 N.J. 338, 367 n.10 (2005); State v. Cook, 179
N.J. 533, 542 n.3 (2004)). The Court's reasoning acknowledged the direct
connection between law enforcement during the investigatory phase of a crime
and its prosecution, and determined that once "a case is referred to the prosecutor
5
Defendant's counsel in the first trial requested an adverse inference charge due
to the destruction of the notes, which the court denied.
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following arrest by a police officer as the initial process, or on a complaint by a
police officer, local law enforcement [becomes] part of the prosecutor's office
for discovery purposes." Id. at 608 (citing R. 3:3-1; R. 3:4-1). Accordingly,
"[i]f notes of a law enforcement officer are lost or destroyed before trial, a
defendant, upon request, may be entitled to an adverse inference charge molded,
after conference with counsel, to the facts of the case." Id. at 608-09.
The W.B. court recognized, however, that "[e]very opportunity when
contemporaneous notes are lost or destroyed does not necessitate an adverse
inference charge." Id. at 609 n.10 (citing State v. P.S., 202 N.J. 232 (2010)).6
In that case, the defendant was not entitled to an adverse inference charge
"because defendant neither requested an adverse inference charge before the
final jury instructions were given, nor raised the issue before filing his motion
for a new trial . . . ." Id. at 609.
First, we reject defendant's argument that Walz and Mason acted "as an
arm of law enforcement." When Walz interviewed Sarah at her grandmother's
house, she was responding on behalf of the Division in an emergency setting
and described her investigation as "preliminary," the purpose of which was to
6
In P.S., the court determined that the production of notes from an investigator's
forensic interview was unnecessary where sufficient evidence of reliability
existed in the record to deem the child's statement trustworthy. Id. at 254.
A-1084-17T1
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ensure Sarah's safety generally, and in her grandmother's home. She specifically
stated that she did not consider herself a member of "law enforcement," but
described her responsibilities as "engag[ing] the family and . . . cooperat[ing]
with law enforcement" as necessary. In this regard, she acknowledged that if
she suspected a criminal act, she would contact the prosecutor's office.
Mason testified similarly. She stated that once Sarah disclosed that
defendant sexually assaulted her, they were obligated to contact the prosecutor's
office as the prosecutor was responsible for the "criminal aspect" of the
investigation, and once the prosecutor's office is contacted she "take[s] a step
back" because they act as "lead investigators at that point."
Neither Mason's nor Walz's role bear any similarity to the law
enforcement officers in W.B. As noted, both worked for the Division and were
responding to a referral to ensure the safety of Sarah and her sister in their
grandmother's home. After Sarah informed them of the incident, they promptly
contacted the prosecutor's office. Mason testified that at the prosecutor's office,
she "observed the interview[s] of [Sarah] [and Jennifer] via closed circuit TV,"
but had no "other responsibilities at the [p]rosecutor's [o]ffice."
Second, as the motion judge concluded, Sarah's statements were
sufficiently reliable to deem them trustworthy. See P.S., 202 N.J. at 254.
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Indeed, defendant makes no contrary claim on appeal, as he does not challenge
the motion judge's decision on that point.
We find defendant's reliance on State v. Helewa, 223 N.J. Super. 40 (App.
Div. 1988) misplaced. In that case, we held that a Division caseworker "must
be equated with that of a law enforcement officer for purposes of triggering
Miranda" when conducting a custodial interview. Id. at 47. Here, neither Mason
nor Walz were conducting a custodial interview, and although we acknowledge
the ordinary and necessary relationship that exists between the Division and law
enforcement in their day-to-day functioning, neither caseworker here can fairly
be characterized as law enforcement officers, nor agents of the prosecutor or
police, for the reasons detailed.
Finally, like in W.B., defendant failed to request an adverse inference
charge at his second trial, instead raising the issue for the first time in his new
trial application. Thus, we cannot conclude under these circumstances that an
adverse inference charge was warranted due to Mason and Walz destroying their
interview notes prior to incorporating them into their final report.
IV.
In defendant's third point, he argues that contrary to the first trial judge,
the second trial judge improperly precluded defendant from introducing
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statements from Jennifer to Duca that her "abuelo," or grandfather, improperly
touched her.7 According to defendant, the statements should have been admitted
for the non-hearsay purpose that: 1) Sarah "present[ed] a mimicking theory, that
[she] had learned about sexual contact from her sister's statements and was
repeating them in her own allegations"; 2) "the family fabricated a story of
sexual assault by [defendant] to divert suspicion of misconduct from a family
member . . . especially since [Mary] was seeking custody . . . and the person
[Jennifer] accused of molesting her was her mother's boyfriend"; and 3) the State
"fail[ed] to follow up on [Jennifer's] allegations," which would "impeach the
thoroughness of the investigation" into Sarah's claims.
During the second trial, the court sustained the State's objection to the
proposed testimony on hearsay grounds, and also concluded it was speculative.
Defendant argues that the second trial judge's decision to exclude the testimony
regarding Jennifer's allegations was in error, as the first trial judge's ruling was
the law of the case and was admissible for the aforementioned valid non-hearsay
purposes. See N.J.R.E. 801(c). We disagree with both arguments.
7
It was not entirely clear from the trial record if Jennifer was referring to one
or two individuals when she described her "abuelo." For example, one of the
people identified was her mother's boyfriend.
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23
"The 'law of the case' doctrine is a discretionary rule . . . [that] is 'restricted
to preventing relitigation of the same issue in the same suit.'" State v. Munoz,
340 N.J. Super. 204, 219 (App. Div. 2001) (citation omitted) (quoting Slowinski
v. Valley Nat'l Bank, 264 N.J. Super. 172, 180-81 (App. Div. 1993)).
Accordingly, "the doctrine is to be applied flexibly in the interest of justice, even
if it requires relitigation of an earlier ruling prior to final judgment." Id. at 220
(citing Southport Dev. Group, Inc. v. Twp. of Wall, 295 N.J. Super. 421, 430
(Law Div. 1996)). Further, when there is a mistrial, "the admissibility of
evidence is rendered nugatory, in which case 'law of the case' does not bind a
subsequent judge to the same ruling." Ibid. (citing State v. Hale, 127 N.J. Super.
407, 412-13 (App. Div. 1974)). "The discretionary nature of the . . . doctrine
calls upon a judge to balance deference toward a prior ruling with concern for
the pursuit of justice, especially, the search for the truth." Ibid. (citing State v.
Reldan, 100 N.J. 187, 205 (1985)).
Here, it appears that defendant was permitted to introduce evidence of
Jennifer's out-of-court statements regarding her grandfather at the first trial.
Due to the mistrial, the second judge was not required to abide by the first
judge's evidentiary rulings. Accordingly, it was within the second judge's
discretion to determine whether Jennifer's statements were admissible.
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24
As noted, defendant argues that he sought to introduce Jennifer's
statements not to show that her "abuelo" molested Jennifer, but to show that
Sarah may have been seeking attention by making the allegations against
defendant, and for the other stated non-hearsay purposes.8 We need not address
whether the second trial judge correctly determined that the profferred testimony
was inadmissible hearsay, as we agree with the court's implicit N.J.R.E. 403
ruling that defendant's theories, including that Sarah mimicked Jennifer's
allegation for attention, was speculative, without foundation, unsupported by
other admissible evidence in the record, and risked confusing the jury. The
court's evidentiary rulings are amply supported by the record and are entitled to
our deference. See Buda, 195 N.J. at 294 ("Trial court evidentiary
determinations are subject to limited appellate scrutiny, as they are reviewed
under the abuse of discretion standard."). Finally, we are satisfied that any error
8
As noted, after the State objected to Jennifer's statements on hearsay grounds,
defendant argued that Jennifer's comments were relevant as they supported
defendant's mimicking theory and the fact that the State failed to properly
investigate Sarah's claims. Defendant did not, however, specifically claim the
proposed testimony was admissible as non-hearsay. See N.J.R.E. 801(c).
Although we could consider defendant's failure to reference N.J.R.E. 801(c) in
the trial court a waiver of his arguments on appeal, we nevertheless discuss the
merits of defendant's arguments.
A-1084-17T1
25
in the court's evidentiary decision on this point did not "contribute[] to the
verdict." Macon, 57 N.J. at 340.
V.
In defendant's fourth point, he argues that the second trial judge
committed error when he allowed Duca to inappropriately offer opinion
testimony "that went straight to the truth of [Sarah]'s allegations . . . ."
Specifically, defendant contends Duca's testimony that her interview technique
"allows for a disclosure [of abuse from a child] to be made if a child was
abused," was inappropriate. Defendant further asserts that "Duca provided . . .
expert testimony without being qualified as an expert." As defendant, again,
raises the issue for the first time on appeal, we apply the plain error standard of
review, see State v. Robinson, 200 N.J. 1, 20 (2009), and conclude these
arguments are sufficiently without merit to warrant extended discussion in a
written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
Lay witnesses are generally not entitled to offer opinion testimony unless
"it falls within the narrow bounds of testimony that is based on the perception
of the witness and that will assist the jury in performing its function. " State v.
McLean, 205 N.J. 438, 456 (2011). Further, neither experts nor lay witnesses
are permitted to "opine on the credibility of parties or witnesses." Id. at 453.
A-1084-17T1
26
Here, contrary to defendant's assertion, Duca's testimony was not
improper lay opinion testimony. Rather, she explained that the Finding Words
program was designed to train interviewers to use "a method to interview
children that is not leading or suggestive in any manner." She explained that
she asked "open-ended questions" so that the children could provide as much
information as possible. Based on her experience interviewing children, Duca
testified that she had "experienced interviews where disclosures were not made
by children." Additionally, she testified that the interview technique used
"allows for a disclosure [of abuse from a child] to be made if a child was
abused."
Defendant misconstrues Duca's testimony to suggest that "the interview
technique used in the recording . . . was reliable and resulted only in accurate
disclosures of sexual abuse." Duca, however, merely stated that the technique
is designed to permit children to disclose their abuse by answering non-leading,
open-ended questions. She did not state that children that were abused always
disclosed it, or that children fabricating abuse never disclosed abuse.
Further, we note that the court instructed the jury that they were "the sole
and exclusive judges of the evidence, of the credibility of the witnesses, and the
weight to be attached to the testimony of each witness." We have no reason to
A-1084-17T1
27
conclude that the jury did not heed the court's instructions, and we find no
support that the admission of Duca's testimony regarding her interview of Sarah,
and specifically the techniques she employed, was in any way erroneous or that
it was "clearly capable of producing an unjust result." R. 2:10-2.
VI.
Defendant next argues that if this court determines that the "series of
errors," detailed in points I-IV, are individually insufficient to warrant reversal,
the effect of each error in the aggregate denied defendant a fair trial. "[E]ven
when an individual error or series of errors does not rise to reversible error,
when considered in combination, their cumulative effect can cast sufficient
doubt on a verdict to require reversal." State v. Jenewicz, 193 N.J. 440, 473
(2008). As we have discussed, defendant has not demonstrated that any
prejudicial error occurred at trial. The principle of cumulative error, therefore,
has no application here. See State v. Weaver, 219 N.J. 131, 155 (2014) ("If a
defendant alleges multiple trial errors, the theory of cumulative error will still
not apply where no error was prejudicial and the trial was fair.").
VII.
Finally, defendant maintains that errors during the sentencing phase
necessitate a remand for resentencing. First, he asserts that when "it was
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28
revealed that [defendant] had filed an ethics complaint against his attorney . . .
the sentencing should have been adjourned" and that we should "remand for a
new sentencing in which defendant is 'represented by unencumbered counsel.'"
(quoting State v. Hayes, 205 N.J. 522, 541 (2011)). Second, he contends the
court "improperly found . . . aggravating factors [four and six], resulting in an
excessive term." Third, he argues that the SCVTF penalty "was imposed without
regard to [defendant's] ability to pay." We agree with defendant that a remand
is necessary so that defendant may be appointed new "unencumbered
[sentencing] counsel," and accordingly vacate defendant's sentence and remand
for further proceedings.
At sentencing, the following colloquy took place between defendant's
counsel and the court:
[DEFENDANT'S COUNSEL]: Judge, I'm going to be
brief. I feel that my comments have to be measured,
especially because when an ethics violation is filed –
THE COURT: You were charged with an ethics
violation?
[DEFENDANT'S COUNSEL]: He's filed an ethics
violation and I only say that because I – you know,
you're on a fence, you don't know what to say or not to
say. That's – it doesn't happen often, but that's the
situation now. I'll rely heavily on the sentencing letter
I wrote . . . .
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[(emphasis added).]
After taking a brief recess to review the referenced sentencing letter and
considering "over a dozen letters . . . submitted on behalf of defendant" that
defendant's counsel previously provided, the court considered the State's
sentencing arguments. The court also gave defendant an opportunity to speak,
to which defendant responded "[he] [had] nothing to say . . . ." The court then
proceeded to sentencing.
It is well-established that a defendant has the right to counsel at
sentencing. See State v. Jenkins, 32 N.J. 109, 112 (1960); accord State v.
Briggs, 349 N.J. Super. 496, 501 (App. Div. 2002). Further, "a criminal
defendant has the right to counsel 'whose representation is unimpaired and
whose loyalty is undivided.'" State v. Alexander, 403 N.J. Super. 250, 255 (App.
Div. 2008) (quoting State v. Murray, 162 N.J. 240, 249 (2000)). A "defendant's
right to effective assistance of counsel includes both adequate representati on
and right to attorney's conflict-free, undivided loyalty." State ex rel. S.G., 175
N.J. 132, 139 (2003) (citing U.S. v. Moscony, 927 F.2d 742, 748 (3d Cir. 1991)).
We have previously vacated a sentence when a trial court failed to address
a conflict between a defendant and his counsel. In State v. Vasquez, 432 N.J.
Super. 354 (App. Div. 2013), the defendant requested an adjournment during the
A-1084-17T1
30
sentencing proceeding because he "was in the process of retaining new counsel."
Id. at 356. The defendant further informed the sentencing court that he could
not "accept [his] sentence because [he did not] think that [he had] legal
representation at th[at] moment," and his counsel stated he was "in a conflict
. . . because the [defendant was] saying he [didn't] want [counsel] to represent
him and [defendant] [would not] cooperate . . . with sentencing to go over the
presentence report . . . ." Id. at 357. Despite both defendant and his counsel's
reluctance to proceed with sentencing, and the defendant's specific request for
an adjournment, the trial court nevertheless sentenced the defendant. Id. at 357-
58.
The Vasquez court vacated the sentence and remanded for further
proceedings because the court failed to address defense counsel's concern that
he was "in a conflict, [as] defendant had expressed his desire that defense
counsel no longer represent him and defendant was not cooperating with
[counsel] . . . ." Id. at 358-60. Additionally, defendant "expressed his agreement
that he no longer wanted his current defense counsel to represent him." Id. at
359.
The court concluded that once the sentencing court denied the
adjournment request, it improperly "proceeded with sentencing without
A-1084-17T1
31
establishing any record that defendant had knowingly, intelligently[,] and
voluntarily waived his right to counsel and had elected to proceed with
sentencing, pro se." Ibid. The Vasquez court explained that the sentencing court
should have made appropriate findings to determine "whether a genuine conflict
of interest existed, and, if so, grant[ed] an adjournment, . . . [or] if the court
found no conflict, it could have ordered defense counsel to proceed to vigorously
represent defendant in seeking withdrawal of the guilty pleas and, if that
application were denied, then with equal vigor, advocate for the best possible
sentencing outcome." Id. at 360.
We acknowledge that, unlike in Vasquez, defendant never made an
adjournment request at sentencing, nor did defendant or his counsel advise the
court of the details of the ethics complaint. It is clear, however, from counsel's
statements at sentencing that the filed ethics complaint affected his ability to
represent defendant zealously. Indeed, as counsel informed the sentencing
court, he believed that because of the ethics complaint, his "comments [had] to
be measured" and he was "on a fence" and did not "know what to say or not to
say." We are satisfied that these statements sufficiently question whether
A-1084-17T1
32
defendant received "adequate representation" that was "conflict-free" and with
"undivided loyalty." S.G., 175 N.J. at 140 (2003).9
In light of our decision to remand the matter for the appointment of new,
unencumbered and conflict-free sentencing counsel, we do not address
defendant's arguments that the court improperly weighed the aggravating and
mitigating factors, or that the court failed to consider, or make necessary factual
findings, regarding defendant's ability to pay the assessed fines and penalties.
On remand, defendant's new counsel may raise these, and any other applicable
arguments, affecting defendant's sentence, prior to resentencing. The court shall
consider the nature of the offense and defendant's ability to pay when assessing
the SCVTF, and shall provide a statement of reasons for the amount imposed.
State v. Bolvito, 217 N.J. 221, 233-35 (2014).
Affirmed in part and remanded in part. We do not retain jurisdiction.
9
The facts here are distinguishable from those in State v. Coclough, 459 N.J.
Super. 45 (App. Div. 2019). In that case, we affirmed a sentence despite a
defendant's threats to his counsel because prior to sentencing both defendant and
counsel indicated they "[were] ready to proceed" with sentencing. We also
noted that the fact that a "defendant [had] a conflict with his attorney does not
necessarily mean his attorney had a conflict of interest." Id. at 56. Here, unlike
in Coclough, counsel acknowledged that defendant's filed grievance restrained
his ability to advocate on his behalf at sentencing.
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33