STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. ALLEN D. REED (16-08-2194, CAMDEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2021 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-4067-17
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
ALLEN D. REED, a/k/a
JULIUS REED, JUNIE
REED, ALAN REED,
and ANDRE SNYDER,
Defendant-Appellant.
______________________
Argued January 5, 2021 – Decided February 8, 2021
Before Judges Yannotti and Natali.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Camden County, Indictment No. 16-08-2194.
Susan L. Romeo, Assistant Deputy Public Defender,
argued the cause for appellant (Joseph E. Krakora,
Public Defender, attorney; Susan L. Romeo, of counsel
and on the brief).
Jason Magid, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting
Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause for respondent
(Jill S. Mayer, Acting Camden County Prosecutor,
attorney; Jason Magid, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant was tried before a jury and found guilty of first-degree murder
and other offenses. Defendant appeals from the judgment of conviction (JOC)
dated March 20, 2018. We affirm.
I.
Defendant was charged under Camden County Indictment No. 16-08-
2194, with first-degree murder of Edwin Davis, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(1) (count
one); first-degree robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1(a)(1)-(2) (count two); first-degree
felony murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(3) (count three); second-degree unlawful
possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1) (count four); possession of a
weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a)(1) (count five); fourth-
degree unlawful possession of hollow-nose or dum-dum bullets, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-
3(f)(1) (count six); and second-degree certain persons not to have weapons,
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(b)(1) (count seven).
At defendant's trial, evidence was presented showing that in May 2016,
Davis was residing with his three children, his fiancé Celeste Russell, and
Russell's three children at a home on Morgan Boulevard in Camden. Davis was
employed by the Bellmawr highway department. On May 3, 3016, Davis awoke
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at around 5:30 a.m. to go to work. Russell heard him go downstairs a few
minutes after 6:00 a.m. At around 7:00 a.m., a neighbor found Davis's body in
the backyard of Davis's home. He had been shot one time in the chest, suffered
massive blood loss, and died.
Russell testified that Davis was a drug dealer who sold pills to persons
who would come to their house. She stated that the night before the shooting,
Davis received calls from several individuals he was supposed to meet the next
day. She also said, that before he left for work on the morning of May 3, 2016,
he took approximately $1,100 from their dresser and put it in his front pocket.
After the neighbor found Davis's body, Detective Mark Lee of the Camden
County Police Department reviewed surveillance footage he obtained from the
Crestbury Apartment complex, which is located across the street from the row
houses where Davis had his home. Lee reviewed the footage at the office of a
nearby apartment complex with the same ownership as Crestbury Apartments.
The surveillance footage showed that at 4:45 a.m. on May 3, 2016, a
minivan was on Olive Street, which is across from the row houses on Morgan
Boulevard, where Davis's home was located. An individual wearing dark
clothes is seen exiting the minivan and the vehicle then drove away turning left
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onto Morgan Boulevard. The individual walked in the same direction and
crossed the street towards the row houses on Morgan Boulevard.
While he was at the complex reviewing the footage, Lee looked out a
window and noticed the same minivan drive by. Lee and a partner located the
vehicle and, around 11:00 a.m., they conducted a motor vehicle stop. The
vehicle was a beige Chrysler minivan, which was being driven by its registered
owner, Syia Strong. Defendant was a passenger in the front-seat of the van.
Strong lived in an apartment nearby with Rashawn Braxton and her four
children. She had been dating defendant for about four months, and
approximately two weeks before the shooting, defendant had moved into the
master bedroom of her apartment. The officers detained Strong and defendant
and transported them to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.
Detective Sutley and another detective questioned Strong and defendant
separately. They informed Strong of her Miranda rights,1 following which she
waived her rights and provided a statement. Initially, Strong did not tell the
detectives anything regarding the events of earlier that morning. However, after
Detective Sutley accused her of being an accomplice to Davis's murder, she told
them defendant was responsible for Davis's death.
1
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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Defendant was tried on the first six counts of the indictment. At the trial,
Strong testified that at around 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. on the morning of May 3,
2016, she and defendant were "having some drinks" with a friend when
defendant asked her to drive him to a friend's apartment in the Crestbury
Apartment complex, which was less than a ten-minute drive from Strong's
apartment. According to Strong, defendant was wearing dark clothing,
including black pants and a black shirt. Strong said it was raining at the time.
Strong dropped defendant off in the middle of Olive Street, next to the
Crestbury complex, then returned home to go to sleep. Strong said that around
6:10 a.m., she was awakened by a phone call from defendant who asked her to
pick him up where she had dropped him off. Strong drove to Olive Street but
defendant was not there.
Strong then pulled to the side of the road on Maple Walk, just off Olive
Street, where her daughter had an apartment. She called defendant to let him
know she had arrived. Defendant eventually appeared and entered the van.
Strong said defendant was wearing the same dark clothing he had been wearing
when she dropped him off, and that he was wet from the rain.
When they got out of the van at Strong's apartment, defendant told Strong
he "had to shoot somebody." She asked him "who and why," and defendant told
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her he shot Davis. He said that when he told Davis to get on the ground, Davis
had rushed at him. Strong started to cry and went upstairs to her apartment to
tell Braxton. Defendant went into the master bedroom and got into bed.
Later, Strong was getting ready to leave to bring the children to school,
drop Braxton off at work, and run certain errands. Strong went to the master
bedroom and asked defendant if he was coming with her, and he said he would
accompany her. She noted that defendant had changed his clothes and hung his
wet clothes on the closet door. She said they all left the apartment together.
At some point, Strong's daughter-in-law called Strong to let her know that
someone in her apartment complex, Everett Gardens, was selling a bedroom set .
Strong decided to purchase the furniture. She stated that she and defendant went
to pick up the furniture but were not able to get it all in the minivan in one trip.
On the second trip, the police stopped Strong and defendant and took them into
custody.
Following their interview with Strong, Sutley and another detective
interviewed defendant. During the interview, defendant stated that he wanted
to speak with an attorney. The officers terminated the interview and transferred
defendant to the Camden County Police Administration Building ( CCPAB).
Thereafter, the police executed a search warrant at Strong's and defendant's
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apartment. They seized a dark, "moist knit hat[,] . . . a set of moist gloves," a
pair of pants, a sweatshirt, and a silver and black Smith & Wesson revolver.
The detectives interviewed Braxton and Strong, and after the interviews,
they met with the assistant prosecutor who authorized the officers to charge
defendant with felony murder. Sutler prepared a warrant detailing the charges
and went back to the CCPAB to advise defendant of the charges against him.
The detectives transported defendant from his holding cell to an interview
room with recording capabilities and advised defendant of the charges against
him. When Sutley read the part of the complaint that charged defendant with
purposely causing Davis's death, defendant stated, "[w]ho the hell is Edwin
Davis?"
Sutley told defendant that because he had invoked his right to an attorney,
he could not answer any questions or have any discussion with him. Defendant
then said that he wanted to ask questions without an attorney. Sutley told him
that for defendant's own protection and for the protection of the investigating
officers, he would read the defendant his Miranda rights again, and if he decided
to waive those rights, they could discuss the matter.
Sutley read defendant the Miranda warnings. Defendant acknowledged
each right and then waived them both verbally and in writing. Sutley asked
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defendant if he was sure he wanted to change his mind and speak without an
attorney, and defendant indicated he was sure. Defendant then had a lengthy
conversation with the detectives.
Defendant acknowledged that Strong had dropped him off near the
Crestbury apartments at around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. on the morning of May 3,
2016, but said he was there to visit the home of the mother of his children.
Defendant told the detectives no one answered the door when he knocked so he
sat outside under a porch overhang for approximately three hours.
Defendant also said that at one point he walked to Strong's daughter's
apartment in the Crestbury apartment complex. He told the detectives he hoped
to see Strong because she sometimes drove her daughter to work in the morning.
He said no one answered the door there either. Defendant stated while he was
sitting on the porch outside the apartment in the Crestbury complex, he heard a
single gunshot in the direction of a park on Morgan Boulevard.
Defendant first told the detectives that he did not see anyone around the
time of the gunshot. However, defendant later stated that while he was sitting
on the porch in the Crestbury complex after the gunshot, he saw a dark figure
run by but did not know which direction that individual ran. He said he just saw
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the person in "dark clothing shoot by there." He said Strong picked him up about
twenty minutes after he heard the gunshot.
At one point, defendant was shown a picture of Davis. He said he knew
him as "E," a drug dealer he met several times when Strong brought him with
her to buy pills from Davis. The detectives asked defendant about his
involvement in Davis's death, but defendant denied having any involvement in
the shooting or knowledge about the weapon and clothes recovered at the
apartment.
Defendant said he did not know anything about the Smith & Wesson gun.
He also stated that he did not own a hoodie and he had not been wearing one on
of the day of the shooting. Instead, defendant told the detectives the only things
hanging on the closet doors in his room were his robe and a towel. He said that
when he went to the Crestbury complex, he was wearing the same clothes he
was wearing when he was arrested. He stated that he did not get wet, despite
the heavy rain because he stayed under the overhang.
The jury found defendant guilty on counts one through six, and the State
then agreed to dismiss count seven. The judge later granted the State's motion
for imposition of an extended term as a persistent offender pursuant to N.J.S.A.
2C:44-3(a). The judge found aggravating factors three (risk defendant will
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commit another offense), six (extent of defendant's criminal record and the
seriousness of the offenses of which he has been convicted), and nine (need to
deter defendant and others from violating the law) were applicable. N.J.S.A.
2C:44-1(a)(3), (6), and (9). The judge found no mitigating factors applied.
The judge merged counts three (felony murder) and five (possession of a
weapon for an unlawful purpose) with count one (murder) and sentenced
defendant on count one to life imprisonment with a period of parole ineligibility
pursuant to the No Early Release Act (NERA), N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.2 On count
two (robbery), the judge sentenced defendant to a concurrent term of twenty
years of incarceration, with an eighty-five percent period of parole ineligibility
under NERA.
The judge also imposed a concurrent prison term of ten years, with three-
and-one-half years of parole ineligibility, on count four (unlawful possession of
a weapon), and a concurrent term of eighteen months on count six (possession
of hollow point or dum-dum bullets). The judge filed a JOC dated March 20,
2018. This appeal followed. On appeal, defendant argues:
2
NERA provides in pertinent part that "[s]olely for the purpose of calculating
the minimum term of parole ineligibility pursuant to [N.J.S.A. 2C:43 -7.2(a)], a
sentence of life imprisonment shall be deemed to be 75 years." N.J.S.A. 2C:43-
7.2(b). Thus, defendant's period of parole ineligibility is sixty-three years, nine
months.
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POINT I
THE COURT'S INSTRUCTION THAT THE JURY
COULD NOT REMOVE THE SUSPECT'S SIZE
"LARGE" CLOTHING OR DEFENDANT'S
SNEAKERS FROM THE SEALED BROWN PAPER
EVIDENCE BAGS TO EXAMINE THEM WAS
PLAIN ERROR[] BECAUSE IT INTERFERED WITH
THE JURY'S DELIBERATIVE PROCESS,
VIOLATED DEFENDANT'S CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO PRESENT A COMPLETE DEFENSE,
AND VIOLATED THE COURT RULES (not raised
below).
POINT II
DEFENDANT'S CONVICTION MUST BE
REVERSED BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT
ERRONEOUSLY DENIED DEFENDANT'S MOTION
TO SUPPRESS THE POLICE STATEMENT THAT
HE GAVE AFTER HE HAD INVOKED HIS RIGHT
TO COUNSEL, WHEN THE POLICE REINITIATED
THE INTERROGATION WITHOUT COUNSEL'S
PRESENCE (U.S. CONST. AMENDS. V and XIV).
POINT III
DEFENDANT'S SENTENCE MUST BE REVERSED
AND THE MATTER REMANDED FOR
RESENTENCING BECAUSE THE COURT
PROVIDED NO SUPPORT FOR ITS IMPOSITION
OF THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF LIFE
IMPRISONMENT FOR THE MURDER THAT
OCCURRED DURING THE ROBBERY.
II.
We first consider defendant's contention that the trial judge erred by
denying the jury's request to inspect the jeans, hooded sweatshirt, and sneakers
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that he had allegedly been wearing during the murder. Defendant argues, for
the first time on appeal, that the judge's ruling and her instruction to the jury
interfered with the jury's deliberative process, violated his constitutional right
to present a complete defense, and was inconsistent with the court rules.
The trial court's duty during a criminal trial is "to assure that the jury is
able properly to discharge its most important responsibility . . . determining guilt
or innocence." State v. Simon, 79 N.J. 191, 206 (1979) (citing State v. Jackson,
43 N.J. 148 (1964); Panko v. Flintkote Co., 7 N.J. 55 (1951)). Ensuring that the
jury's deliberations are "based solely upon the evidence in accordance with
proper and adequate instructions, is at the core of the guarantee of a fa ir trial."
Ibid. (citing State v. Butler, 27 N.J. 560, 594-98 (1958); State v. Costa, 11 N.J.
239, 249 (1953)).
Our court rules generally permit members of the jury to "take into the jury
room the exhibits received in evidence." R. 1:8-8. Trial courts are, however,
vested with broad discretion regarding jury requests to bring physical evidence
into the jury room during deliberations. See State v. Pemberthy, 224 N.J. Super.
280, 302 (App. Div. 1988) (holding that the decision whether or not to allow a
bag of cocaine into the jury room is within the court's discretion), certif. denied,
111 N.J. 533 (1998); Fiorino v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 309 N.J. Super. 556, 567-
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69 (App. Div. 1998) (holding that with a proper instruction, the trial judge has
the discretion to allow the jury to inspect evidence in the jury room during
deliberations).
Here, the trial judge did not abuse her discretion or undermine the integrity
of the jury's deliberative process by denying the jury's request to inspect the
jeans, hooded sweatshirt, and sneakers during the deliberations. The record
shows that the State had admitted sealed bags into evidence, with testimony from
Detective Gurcik indicating that the bags contained the jeans, hooded sweatshirt,
and sneakers that the police had seized when they executed the search warrant
at Strong's and defendant's apartment.
Detective Gurcik also identified photographs of the jeans, hooded
sweatshirt, and sneakers. He testified that the photographs accurately depicted
the clothing and sneakers at the time they were seized, and the photos were
admitted into evidence. During his testimony, Detective Gurcik did not remove
the items from the sealed evidence bags, and during cross-examination, defense
counsel did not ask him to do so.
During deliberations, the jury asked to inspect the jeans, hooded
sweatshirt, and sneakers. The trial judge determined that the sealed bags should
not be opened during deliberations because the bags had not been opened during
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trial testimony. Defense counsel did not object to the court's ruling. Indeed,
counsel agreed the evidence bags should not be opened.
On appeal, defendant contends the clothing itself became the crucial
evidence by which the jurors could test the State's allegations and Strong's
credibility. Defendant contends Strong had lied to protect Braxton, who is six
feet, two inches tall, and weighs two-hundred pounds. He contends that denying
inspection of the evidence violated his right to present a complete defense. We
disagree.
We are convinced the judge did not abuse her discretion by denying the
jury's request to examine the jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers. As the judge noted,
the evidence bags were admitted into evidence, and the bags were not opened
during the evidence portion of the trial.
The judge's ruling did not deny defendant of his constitutional right to
present a complete defense. One of the hallmark constitutional guarantees for
criminal defendants is the assurance that they will have "a meaningful
opportunity to present a complete defense." Crane v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683,
690 (1986); State v. Smith, 224 N.J. 36, 48 (2016).
The jury was able to evaluate the credibility of Strong and other witnesses
by using the photographs of the jeans, hooded sweatshirt, and sneakers that were
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admitted into evidence, along with the detailed physical descriptions of the
clothing presented by witnesses during the trial. Defendant was not denied a
"meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense." Crane, 476 U.S. at
690; Smith, 224 N.J. at 48.
Defendant further argues that the judge's response to the jury's request
violated "the spirit and purpose" of Rule 1:8-8. As noted, the Rule permits the
jury to take into the jury room the exhibits "received in evidence." R. 1:8-8.
Here, the trial court correctly recognized that the evidence bags had been
admitted into evidence, but not the contents of those bags. The judge's ruling
was entirely consistent with plain language of Rule 1:8-8, as well as the "spirit
and purpose" of the Rule.
We are also convinced that even if the judge erred by denying the jury's
request to inspect the jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers, the error does not rise to
the level of plain error, which is an error "clearly capable of producing an unjust
result." R. 2:10-2. "The error must have been of sufficient magnitude to raise
a reasonable doubt as to whether it led the jury to a result it would otherwise not
have reached." State v. Weston, 222 N.J. 277, 294 (2015).
Here, the State presented substantial evidence of defendant's guilt, which
includes Strong's testimony about the clothes defendant was wearing when she
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drove him to the Crestbury apartments on the night Davis was killed, and
testimony by Detective Gurcik describing the clothing and sneakers seized from
defendant's room, along with photos of those items. We are not convinced that
the denial of the jury's request to inspect the jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers led
the jury to a result they would not otherwise have reached, based on the evidence
presented at trial.
In view of our decision, we need not address defendant's contention that
the invited error doctrine does not apply or preclude him from challenging the
judge's ruling regarding the jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers on appeal.
III.
Defendant further argues that the trial judge erred by denying his motion
to suppress the statement he gave to the police after he invoked his right to
counsel. He contends the police violated his right to counsel because they
initiated further interrogation of defendant without the presence of his attorney.
"Appellate review of a motion judge's factual findings in a suppression
hearing is highly deferential." State v. Gonzales, 227 N.J. 77, 101 (2016) (citing
State v. Hubbard, 222 N.J. 249, 262 (2015)). We must "uphold the motion
judge's factual findings so long as sufficient credible evidence in the record
supports those findings." Ibid. (citing State v. Elders, 192 N.J. 224, 243-44
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(2007)). However, a trial court's interpretation of the law does not receive any
special deference and is reviewed de novo. State v. Gamble, 218 N.J. 412, 425
(2014) (citing State v. Gandhi, 201 N.J. 161, 176 (2010); Manalapan Realty v.
Twp. Comm. of Manalapan, 140 N.J. 366, 378 (1995)).
A suspect who invokes his right to counsel during a custodial interrogation
is "not subject to further interrogation by the authorities until counsel has been
made available to him, unless the accused himself initiates further
communication, exchanges, or conversations with the police." Edwards v.
Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 484-85 (1981). See also State v. Alston, 204 N.J. 614,
620 (2011) (noting that after a suspect has requested counsel, an interrogation
may not continue until the suspect is provided with counsel or "the suspect
initiates further communication sufficient to waive the right to counsel.").
A suspect is considered to have initiated further communication if he
invites "discussion of the crimes for which he was being held." State v. Chew,
150 N.J. 30, 64 (1997) (quoting State v. Fuller, 118 N.J. 75, 82 (1990)). The
State must establish that it was the accused, rather than the police, who initiated
any further questioning after the accused has invoked his right to counsel. State
v. Wright, 97 N.J. 113, 122-23 (1984). However, "[i]f an accused does initiate
a conversation after invoking his rights, that conversation may be admissible if
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the initiation constitutes a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of the
accused's rights." Chew, 150 N.J. at 61 (citing Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S.
436, 444 (1966)).
"The term 'interrogation' under Miranda refers not only to express
questioning, but also to any words or actions on the part of the police (other than
those normally attendant to arrest and custody) that the police should know are
reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from the suspect." State v.
Hubbard, 222 N.J. 249, 267 (2015) (quoting Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S.
291, 300-01 (1980)). "The latter portion of this definition focuses primarily
upon the perceptions of the suspect, rather than the intent of the police." Innis,
446 U.S. at 301.
Here, the record shows that defendant invoked his right to counsel, the
interrogation ended, and he was moved to the CCPAB. Thereafter, the police
executed the warrant to search Strong's and defendant's apartment. Following
the search, the prosecutor's office authorized the police to charge defendant with
offenses related to Davis's death, and Sutley prepared a complaint. Defendant
then was returned to an interview room at the prosecutor's office, where Sutley
advised him of the charges.
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While Sutley was reading the complaint to defendant, defendant began to
ask questions about the investigation. Sutley informed defendant he could not
answer any of defendant's questions or discuss the investigation because
defendant had invoked his right to an attorney. Defendant then stated that he
wanted to ask questions without an attorney.
Sutley again read defendant the Miranda warnings. Defendant
acknowledged each right individually and then waived his rights both verbally
and in writing. Sutley again asked defendant if he was sure he wanted to change
his mind and speak without an attorney. Defendant again indicated that he
wanted to proceed without an attorney.
We are convinced the judge did not err by holding that defendant initiated
the further discussion with the investigating detectives and voluntarily waived
his right to counsel. When the detectives advised defendant of the charges, they
were not engaging in custodial interrogation. Moreover, nothing Sutley said to
defendant could be interpreted as intending to "elicit an incriminating response
from" defendant. Hubbard, 222 N.J. at 267.
Instead, by asking questions regarding the investigation, defendant
himself "[i]nvited discussion of the crimes for which he was being held." Chew,
150 N.J. at 65. The judge noted that even though the police are not required to
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re-administer Miranda warnings in this situation, Sutley followed the "prudent"
approach and again informed defendant of his Miranda rights. Ibid. The judge
also found that defendant clearly understood his rights, and that his waiver of
his rights was knowing and voluntary. The record supports the judge's findings.
IV.
Defendant further argues that his sentence is excessive. He contends we
should remand the matter for resentencing because the trial judge failed to
provide sufficient reasons for imposing the maximum sentence for murder.
We review the trial court's sentencing determinations "in accordance with
a deferential standard." State v. Fuentes, 217 N.J. 57, 70 (2014). "The
reviewing court must not substitute its judgment for that of the sentencing
court." Ibid. (citing State v. O'Donnell, 117 N.J. 210, 215 (1989)). Therefore,
we
must affirm the sentence unless (1) the sentencing
guidelines were violated; (2) the aggravating and
mitigating factors found by the sentencing court were
not based upon competent and credible evidence in the
record; or (3) "the application of the guidelines to the
facts of [the] case makes the sentence clearly
unreasonable so as to shock the judicial conscience."
[Ibid. (quoting State v. Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 364-65
(1984)).]
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Here, the judge granted the State's motion for imposition of an extended
term pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7. The judge then found aggravating factors
three ("risk that the defendant will commit another offense"), six ("extent of the
defendant's prior criminal record and the seriousness of the offenses of which
he had been convicted"), and nine ("need for deterring the defendant and others
from violating the law") applied. N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3), (6), (9).
The judge noted that defendant "has an extensive criminal history,"
including a history of domestic violence, as well as violations of his probation
and an escape from prison. Defendant also "maxed out of his last prison
sentence . . . and committed this crime less than six months later." The judge
found that defendant had "shown a complete disregard for the rules of our
society and the rules of the Department of Corrections, and these are all signs
of a risk to reoffend."
Regarding aggravating factor six, the judge noted that defendant had been
previously convicted of "drug offenses, property offenses, offenses against law
enforcement, escape and domestic violence offense[s]." The judge stated that
defendant was a persistent offender with an extensive criminal history spanning
decades, and therefore gave considerable weight to aggravating factor six.
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In addition, the judge stated that "it appears nothing deters this defendant
from violating the law. He killed Edwin Davis for no apparent reason. He was
on the street for less than six months when he committed this crime." The judge
stated that defendant "is a threat to the safety of the public and to law
enforcement," and gave great weight to factor nine.
The judge then considered each of the thirteen mitigating factors and
found that none applied to defendant. The judge found that the aggravating
factors substantially outweighed the non-existing mitigating factors and
sentenced defendant on count one (murder) to life imprisonment, with a period
of parole ineligibility as prescribed by NERA. As noted previously, the judge
merged certain offenses and imposed concurrent sentences on other counts.
On appeal, defendant argues that the judge failed to articulate any
circumstances that support the imposition of a life sentence. We disagree. As
we have explained, the judge thoroughly reviewed the aggravating factors and
found no mitigating factors applied. The judge provided ample reasons for
imposing a life sentence. The judge followed the sentencing guidelines, and
there is sufficient evidence in the record to support the judge's findings.
Defendant's sentence does not shock the judicial conscience.
Affirmed.
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