STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. JASON E. MOOREÂ (12-12-1139, CUMBERLAND COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2017 )


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  •                         NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-5760-14T1
    STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
    Plaintiff-Respondent,
    v.
    JASON E. MOORE,
    Defendant-Appellant.
    _________________________________________________
    Submitted March 28, 2017 – Decided May 16, 2017
    Before Judges Messano and Grall.
    On appeal from the Superior Court of New
    Jersey, Law Division, Cumberland County,
    Indictment No. 12-12-1139.
    Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney
    for appellant (Rochelle Watson, Assistant
    Deputy Public Defender, of counsel and on
    the brief).
    Jennifer Webb-McRae, Cumberland County
    Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Kim L.
    Barfield, Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel
    and on the brief).
    PER CURIAM
    Defendant Jason E. Moore (defendant or Moore) appeals the
    denial of his motion to suppress evidence obtained with two
    search warrants.   After the denial, defendant and the State
    reached a plea agreement.    In conformity with that agreement,
    defendant pled guilty to two of the eight counts naming him in
    an indictment returned by the grand jurors for Cumberland
    County.    Defendant was charged with crimes related to the
    killing of Ervin M. Harper, the disposal of Harper's remains and
    the production and distribution of marijuana.     More
    specifically, defendant pled guilty to count one, first-degree
    aggravated manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(a)(1) (amended from
    murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(1)-(2)); and count four, second-
    degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, N.J.S.A. 2C:22-
    1(a)(1).
    As agreed, the remaining charges against defendant were
    dismissed.    The charges were:   possessing a weapon with an
    unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a) (count two); conspiring
    with co-defendants, Lewis I. Moore and Amber M. Price, to
    disturb and    desecrate human remains, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 and
    N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1    (count three); conspiring with the same co-
    defendants to hinder and hindering apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2
    2                           A-5760-14T1
    and N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3 (counts five and eight)1; possessing a
    controlled dangerous substance, marijuana in a quantity of more
    than 50 grams, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(3) (count nine);
    manufacturing, distributing or dispensing marijuana, N.J.S.A.
    2C:35-5(a)(1) and -5(b)(11) (count ten); and possessing a weapon
    in the course of manufacturing, distributing or dispensing
    marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1(a) (count eleven).
    In conformity with the State's recommendation set forth in
    the plea agreement, the judge sentenced defendant to a twenty-
    year term of imprisonment for aggravated manslaughter, subject
    to terms of parole ineligibility and parole supervision required
    by the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, and to a
    consecutive five-year term of imprisonment for disturbing human
    remains.   Both sentences are concurrent with a sentence
    defendant was then serving for drug crimes charged in Indictment
    10-04-1149.   The judge also imposed the appropriate fines,
    penalties and assessments, and at the State's request, dismissed
    the charges against defendant in the remaining counts of the
    indictment and eleven open cases.
    1
    Count four also charged Lewis I. Moore and Price with
    desecration, 2C:22-1, and counts six and seven, respectively,
    charged Price and Lewis I. Moore with hindering apprehension.
    3                           A-5760-14T1
    At the time of his plea, defendant acknowledged shooting
    Harper twice with a .357 handgun as Harper stood in the "side
    driveway" of defendant's property.    He further acknowledged
    burying Harper in a wooded area of his property and later
    unearthing and dismembering Harper's remains and placing them in
    trash bags that he then buried in remote woods away from his
    premises.
    On appeal, defendant raises two issues for our consideration.
    POINT I
    BECAUSE IT WAS BASED ON STALE INFORMATION,
    PROBABLE CAUSE DID NOT SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE
    OF THE FIRST SEARCH WARRANT.   CONSEQUENTLY,
    THE SECOND SEARCH WARRANT IS ALSO INVALID AS
    THE FRUIT OF THE FIRST.
    POINT II
    BECAUSE THE SENTENCING COURT FAILED TO COMPLY
    WITH THE YARBOUGH GUIDELINES, A REMAND FOR
    RESENTENCING IS REQUIRED.
    For the reasons that follow, we conclude the information
    supporting the issuance of the search warrant was not stale and
    adequately supported a finding of probable cause.    Further, we
    determine that the judge gave full consideration to the
    guidelines for consecutive sentencing established in State v.
    Yarbough, 
    100 N.J. 627
    (1985) (adopting criteria for trial
    judges to consider in determining whether concurrent or
    4                         A-5760-14T1
    consecutive sentences are warranted), cert. denied, 
    475 U.S. 1014
    , 
    106 S. Ct. 1193
    , 
    89 L. Ed. 2d 308
    (1986).
    I.
    Two search warrants were issued — the first on February 5,
    2011, and the second on March 11, 2011.   Defendant submits that
    the first warrant was improperly issued on stale reports of a
    marijuana operation and inadequate information linking him or
    his searched premises to Harper's disappearance and demise.     His
    only challenge to the second warrant is that it was supported by
    evidence obtained with the first, and as such, the evidence
    found in the second search must be suppressed as the fruit of an
    illegal search.   Wong Sun v. United States, 
    371 U.S. 471
    , 83 S.
    Ct. 407, 
    9 L. Ed. 2d 441
    (1963); State v. Barry, 
    86 N.J. 80
    , 87,
    cert. denied, 
    454 U.S. 1017
    , 
    102 S. Ct. 553
    , 
    70 L. Ed. 2d 415
    (1981).
    To prevail, defendant has the burden of overcoming the
    presumption of validity extended to a search conducted with a
    warrant; to do that, he must "prove 'that there was no probable
    cause supporting the issuance'" of the first warrant.    State v.
    Jones, 
    179 N.J. 377
    , 388 (2004) (quoting State v. Valencia, 
    93 N.J. 126
    , 133 (1983)).   In considering whether defendant met the
    burden, this court must give "substantial deference" to the
    discretionary determination made by the issuing judge.   Jones,
    5                          
    A-5760-14T1 supra
    , 179 N.J. at 388.     Even if we were to find the supporting
    information "marginal," we would resolve the doubt by sustaining
    the search.   State v. Kasabucki, 
    52 N.J. 110
    , 116 (1968) (citing
    United States v. Ventresca, 
    380 U.S. 102
    , 109, 
    85 S. Ct. 741
    ,
    746, 
    13 L. Ed. 2d 684
    , 689 (1965)).    Thus, the question is
    whether the judge was presented "with facts sufficient to permit
    the inference of the existence of probable cause" necessary to
    issue a warrant.    State v. Novembrino, 
    105 N.J. 95
    , 128 (1987).
    The issuing judge, was required "'to make a practical,
    common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set
    forth in the affidavit before him, including the 'veracity' and
    'basis of knowledge' of persons supplying hearsay information,
    there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a
    crime [would] be found in'" the place or places to be searched.
    State v. Smith, 
    155 N.J. 83
    , 93, cert. denied, 
    525 U.S. 1033
    ,
    
    119 S. Ct. 576
    , 
    142 L. Ed. 2d 480
    (1998) (quoting Illinois v.
    Gates, 
    462 U.S. 213
    , 238, 
    103 S. Ct. 2317
    , 2332, 
    76 L. Ed. 2d 527
    , 548 (1983)).   The judge had to "consider the totality of
    the circumstances, and . . . deal with probabilities."
    Schneider v. Simonini, 
    163 N.J. 336
    , 361 (2000) (citing 
    Gates, supra
    , 462 U.S. at 230-31, 
    238, 103 S. Ct. at 2328
    , 2332, 76 L.
    Ed. 2d at 543-44), cert. denied, 
    531 U.S. 1146
    , 
    121 S. Ct. 1083
    ,
    
    148 L. Ed. 2d 959
    (2001).
    6                         A-5760-14T1
    The affidavit must have provided a "substantial basis" for
    finding informant-accounts credible.   State v. Sullivan, 
    169 N.J. 204
    , 212 (2001); accord 
    Smith, supra
    , 155 N.J. at 92.     In
    making that assessment, an officer and a judge may assume the
    veracity of concerned citizens, State v. Johnson, 
    171 N.J. 192
    ,
    216 (2002); recognize that detailed accounts of criminal
    activity provide something more substantial than rumor,
    
    Novembrino, supra
    , 105 N.J. at 121; rely on corroborating
    evidence investigating officers acquired, 
    id. at 126;
    consider
    evidence of defendant's criminal history included in the
    affidavit, State v. Valentino, 
    134 N.J. 536
    , 550 (1994); and
    assign value to inferences the affiant drew based on his
    experience and training that "an untrained person could not"
    draw, 
    Smith, supra
    , 155 N.J. at 99; see also 
    Novembrino, supra
    ,
    105 N.J. at 126.
    Defendant's claim of "staleness" bears on whether the
    totality of the information in the affidavit permitted the judge
    to find "a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a
    crime [would] be found" if defendant's premises were searched
    during the time permitted in the warrant.   
    Smith, supra
    , 155
    N.J. at 93.   In short, staleness is a question of whether the
    probable cause still exists when the warrant is issued and at
    the time of the search.   State v. Blaurock, 
    143 N.J. Super. 476
    ,
    7                           A-5760-14T1
    479 (App. Div. 1976); see also Sgro v. United States, 
    287 U.S. 206
    , 
    53 S. Ct. 138
    , 
    77 L. Ed. 260
    (1932).
    "[T]imeliness and its converse, staleness, must be measured
    by the [n]ature and regularity of the allegedly unlawful
    activity."   United States v. Nilsen, 
    482 F. Supp. 1335
    , 1339
    (D.N.J. 1980).   Thus, "'[w]here the affidavit recites a mere
    isolated violation it would not be unreasonable to imply that
    probable cause dwindles rather quickly with the passage of time.
    However, where the affidavit properly recites facts indicating
    activity of a protracted and continuous nature, a course of
    conduct, the passage of time becomes less significant.'"     United
    States v. Harris, 
    482 F.2d 1115
    , 1119 (3d Cir. 1973) (quoting
    United States v. Johnson, 
    461 F.2d 285
    , 287 (10th Cir. 1972));
    accord 
    Blaurock, supra
    , 143 N.J. Super. at 479-80 (relying on
    Harris and Johnson).
    With those standards as a guide, we turn to consider the
    affidavit.
    The affiant, Detective Ryan P. Breslin, applied for and
    obtained the first warrant on February 5, 2011.   At that time,
    Breslin was serving as a detective in the Major Crime Unit of
    the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office (CCPO).   CCPO hired
    Breslin in November 2007, when Breslin had about one and one-
    half years of service in a local police department and had
    8                          A-5760-14T1
    graduated from the Vineland Police Academy.       In his years with
    CCPO, Breslin had investigated homicides, and had investigated
    narcotics violations as a police officer.       Breslin's training
    included search warrant preparation, narcotics investigation,
    and drug identification.
    This investigation commenced in response to a missing
    persons complaint filed by Kim Jenkins.      Jenkins is the cousin
    of Harper, the homicide victim.       She reported that neither
    family members nor friends had heard from or seen Harper since
    January 20, 2011.   She became concerned after a conversation
    with Harper's girlfriend, Queen Lindsey, who said she had last
    heard from Harper on January 13 via "Facebook," and he had said
    he had been in an argument with someone named "Jason."
    Jenkins had also spoken to Harper's nephew, Vernon Corbin,
    also known as Vernon Blount.   Vernon's mother, Ruby Blount, was
    Harper's sister.    Vernon told Jenkins that on January 28, "guys"
    in a bar in Wildwood told him that "[t]hey got [Harper]."
    Jenkins "believed Vernon was talking about members of the Blood
    street gang because of a prior criminal investigation that
    Harper was involved in."
    The detectives had "several interviews" with Harper's
    girlfriend, Lindsey.   From her, they learned that she and Harper
    had been dating for about four or five years and, like other
    9                           A-5760-14T1
    couples, had problems that they worked out in a few days.       She
    had not heard from Harper since January 19, when he removed his
    belongings from their apartment and went to live with Jason
    Moore.    She had repeatedly called Harper's cell phone number,
    which she gave to Breslin.    When Lindsey called, she was either
    sent to voicemail or received no answer.    She gave the
    detectives two additional cell phone numbers for Harper.
    Lindsey told Breslin it "was very unusual" that Harper had not
    called her or family members since she last heard from him.
    According to Lindsey, Harper did not have a car and always
    used Jason Moore's car.    Lindsey reported that, Harper and Moore
    were friends and business partners and, in the past, Harper had
    stayed with Moore after Harper and she had argued.
    Lindsey further reported she had called Moore since January
    23 to speak to Harper.    When she had done that in the past,
    Moore always had Harper get in touch with her.    This time he did
    not.
    Lindsey told Breslin that she was
    very suspicious of the stories that Moore was
    providing concerning the whereabouts of
    Harper. One of those stories was about Harper
    stealing a quantity of marijuana from Moore
    and Moore thr[owing] Harper out of the
    residence.   A second story was, on Friday,
    January 21, 2011, Moore told Ms. Lindsey he
    believed Harper had been smoking marijuana and
    he was moving and talking very slowly. They
    10                          A-5760-14T1
    (Moore and Harper) had gotten into an argument
    over money or a cell phone bill and Harper
    took a gun and left the residence. According
    to Moore, that was the last time he saw Harper
    (Friday, January 21, 2011).
    When Ms. Lindsey asked about Harper's
    clothing and pet dog, Moore told her Harper
    left all of his clothing at the residence and
    as a result of their argument he (Moore) shot
    the dog. Lindsey then told [the detectives]
    that he (Moore) later told her he didn't shoot
    the dog, he just let it go.
    Lindsey advised Breslin that Harper had a silver-colored
    semi-automatic handgun.   Although she had not seen Moore with a
    handgun, she suspected he had one because of what he said about
    shooting Harper's dog.
    Lindsey knew about the Moore/Harper marijuana-distribution
    partnership.   She said Moore grows marijuana in a garage on his
    property in Delmont, and Harper is one of his distributors.
    They had been in that business together since April or May 2010.
    During the week of January 1, 2011, she went to Moore's
    house with Harper, and he showed her the indoor grow operation
    in Moore's garage.   She described the "grow operation" located
    "in a hidden room in the garage with numerous lights on the
    ceiling," about twenty-five marijuana plants were growing "in
    what she described as five gallon buckets."   And, there were
    pipes leading to the plants and an area with smaller "starter"
    11                         A-5760-14T1
    plants.    The marijuana plants "were approximately three feet
    tall and bushy."
    Lindsey further advised Breslin that during a conversation
    with Moore a week earlier, Moore asked if she planned to call
    the police and to let him know if she did, "because he needed to
    'clean up' a few things[,] and he really needed until the first
    week or March to finish up."    Breslin wrote, "[Lindsey] believes
    he was referring to the marijuana grow and the growth of
    plants."
    Breslin explained why he believed the grow operation was
    ongoing:
    Based   on   training,   education   and
    experience of this officer and the officers
    involved . . . , we believe that information
    provided by Ms. Lindsey is consistent with an
    on going indoor marijuana grow. These facts,
    coupled    with    Ms.    Lindsey's    recent
    conversations with Moore about contacting the
    police[,] leads this detective and the
    detectives working on the investigation to
    believe that the indoor grow is occurring at
    this time.   This information is consistent
    with the growth cycle of a marijuana grow and
    the maturity of the plants. The longer the
    plants are allowed to grow the greater the
    potency of the marijuana, and . . . the
    economic value of the product.
    Breslin acquired other information about Harper's
    involvement in the marijuana business with Moore.   According to
    Lindsey, "Harper plays a big role in the distribution of
    12                         A-5760-14T1
    marijuana from Moore," and she has personal knowledge of Harper
    getting multiple pounds of marijuana at a time from Moore and
    breaking them down into one ounce packages, which Harper would
    distribute to various people.    She further indicated, "Harper
    was making a lot of money" and using it to take care of "her,
    his son . . . and pay bills.    Knowing all of this information
    about the marijuana distribution also concerns Ms. Lindsey that
    Moore is being evasive and inconsistent about Harper's
    whereabouts."
    Iesha Clark, the mother of Harper's son, spoke to Breslin
    on February 4, 2011.   She was "familiar with Harper selling
    large quantities of marijuana with Moore, but could not go into
    specific details because of the children being present."    Clark
    had last seen Harper on January 20 when he met her, took their
    son for dinner and returned him to her as planned.     Clark told
    the detective that Harper was driving a gray Mazda that day and
    said it belonged to Moore.     Clark advised that was "very unusual
    [for] Harper [to have] not contacted her since that date."
    After receiving authorization, the detective checked all
    the cell phone numbers he had been given for Harper.    Because
    the live global position of the phones showed no results, the
    detective believed they were powered off.    Call detail records
    for the numbers "came back on [one] cell phone number . . . .
    13                         A-5760-14T1
    The other numbers had no activity."   The last of the calls
    retrieved came during the late morning of January 22, and all
    those calls were directed to voicemail.   "There were no outgoing
    phone calls made and there was no cell site tower information
    provided."
    The detective received approval from the County Prosecutor
    to record a phone call from Lindsey to Moore, with Lindsey's
    consent, however, Moore did not answer.   While the police were
    with Lindsey for the unsuccessful intercept, she received phone
    calls from relatives of Vernon, reporting that he was calling
    people and saying that Harper's body had been found.
    Later, Ruby Blount called Breslin.    She reported that she
    had been speaking with Harper more frequently since her son
    Vernon moved to New Jersey, and she said Harper had not been
    returning her calls.   She reported that the last time they
    spoke, Harper was "stressed out" over his on-again off-again
    relationship with Lindsey and with Jason Moore, who "sells
    'weed' and . . . gave Vernon enough 'weed' to get him on his
    feet."   Ruby explained that Moore's involvement with Vernon
    "bothered Harper and he was trying to keep Vernon away from that
    activity."   Harper had told her "he was living in Moore's
    basement," "using Moore's cars to get around," and working as a
    14                            A-5760-14T1
    partner of Moore's, who "had things in his house to grow and
    sell marijuana."
    Ruby also told Breslin that Vernon called her on January 29
    and told her Harper was missing.    Ruby called Moore, who told
    her that he had let Harper stay in his house, but "put [him]
    out" because things were missing.   She also said she had been to
    Moore's residence in 2008, which was in a "very rural" area.
    Moore's criminal records disclosed a prior arrest in 2008
    for an "indoor hydroponics marijuana grow in the garage" at a
    residence in Delmont, New Jersey, which is the address of
    defendant's premises identified in the search warrants at issue
    here.
    The detectives also tried but failed to find Harper by
    contacting local medical facilities in Cumberland, Atlantic and
    Cape May Counties, the State Medical Examiner, and county
    correctional facilities throughout the State.   None reported any
    contact with Harper.
    On the information summarized above, Breslin believed there
    was probable cause for a warrant authorizing a search of the
    premises, house and garage and the silver Mazda registered to
    Moore for evidence of Harper's homicide, aggravated assault,
    criminal restraint, or kidnapping, and for evidence of marijuana
    possession, cultivation, and distribution.
    15                            A-5760-14T1
    Mindful of our deferential standard of review, we conclude
    that Breslin's affidavit contained ample evidence to support
    issuance of a warrant authorizing the search of defendant's
    home, garage and silver Mazda for evidence of marijuana
    distribution and crimes related to Harper's unexplained
    disappearance.   The citizens who provided information were
    persons concerned about Harper, because he had broken off
    regular communications with them abruptly and without
    explanation.   Their consistent accounts of the approximate date
    of their sudden loss of customary communication with Harper gave
    Breslin sufficient reason to believe Harper was a victim of a
    violent crime.   Especially after an independent investigation
    ruled out other probable and less sinister explanations, such as
    hospitalization or incarceration.
    In addition, these concerned individuals were repeating
    Harper's disclosures of trouble between him and defendant
    related to the marijuana business and defendant's involvement of
    Vernon.   Those details, repeated by Harper's confidants, gave
    substantial reason to credit their information, and their
    information pointed to defendant.
    There was additional corroborated information of trouble
    between Harper and defendant.   Defendant gave the citizen-
    informants, who contacted him to inquire about Harper,
    16                          A-5760-14T1
    inconsistent explanations about the problems that led defendant
    to put Harper out of his home and for Harper to leave without
    his belongings.   Defendant's accounts, albeit inconsistent,
    suggested Harper was at fault.    Defendant even told Lindsey he
    had shot Harper's dog, which suggested defendant had a firearm,
    and then said he had just let the dog go.   Moreover, the
    investigators obtained cell phone records that confirmed the
    informants' accounts of when Harper went missing and stopped
    answering his phone.
    All of that provided ample support for "a practical,
    common-sense decision" that the totality of the circumstances,
    "including the 'veracity' and 'basis of knowledge' of persons
    supplying hearsay information," supported a determination that
    there was "a fair probability" that "evidence of a crime"
    against defendant would be found on his premises.    
    Smith, supra
    ,
    155 N.J. at 93.
    The information in the affidavit provided the same quality
    and quantity of information establishing a fair probability that
    evidence of marijuana distribution would be found on defendant's
    premises and in the vehicle he allowed Harper to use.    Lindsey's
    detailed account of what she saw in defendant's garage during
    the first week of January demonstrated the basis for her
    knowledge about the "grow" facility.   Similarly, her living with
    17                         A-5760-14T1
    Harper for several years made her well-situated to observe and
    report Harper's packaging and distribution of marijuana and his
    access to sufficient funds to support her and Harper's son.
    Again, her description of his business was corroborated by the
    independent statements of the relatives and friends who, based
    on conversations with Harper, were well-aware of the nature of
    his partnership with defendant.
    We agree with the judges who issued the warrant and denied
    the motion to suppress that the affidavit contained information
    establishing a fair probability that evidence of the marijuana
    production and distribution would be found on defendant's
    premises on February 5, when the warrant was issued.   The
    information was not stale.
    Lindsey's detailed report of what she saw in the garage in
    the first week of January, viewed with the other evidence,
    indicated an ongoing marijuana operation at the time of Harper's
    disappearance.    That operation involved ceiling lights and
    pipelines that defendant would not likely have been able to
    dismantle and conceal by February 5.   After all, defendant asked
    Lindsey for notice of any call she made to the police so he
    could clean up.   Additionally, the inference Breslin drew about
    the marijuana grow-cycle, which was based on his training and
    experience, and inference available from defendant's prior
    18                           A-5760-14T1
    arrest during the execution of a warrant authorizing a search of
    the garage on this property in 2008 and its disclosure of a
    hydroponic-marijuana grow operation further supported that
    conclusion.   The affidavit provided a substantial basis to
    believe that evidence of the marijuana business Lindsey saw in
    early January most likely would be there in early February.
    For all of the foregoing reasons, we conclude that
    defendant failed to establish that the first warrant was
    obtained with stale information of a crime related to marijuana.
    Furthermore, there was sufficient information to establish
    probable cause that evidence of a crime against Harper would
    probably be found in the search of defendant's premises and the
    vehicle he allowed Harper to use.    Thus, the evidence obtained
    during the search authorized by that warrant was lawfully
    recovered, not tainted.
    Because defendant's lone challenge to the second warrant
    depends solely on the invalidity of the first, we have no reason
    to address the second affidavit.
    II.
    Defendant argues that the judge imposed consecutive
    sentences for aggravated manslaughter and desecration of human
    remains without addressing the guidelines for exercise of that
    discretion established in Yarbough.       Contrary to defendant's
    19                             A-5760-14T1
    claim, the judge provided a statement of reasons addressing
    those guidelines.   The Yarbough factors are:
    (1) there can be no free crimes in a system
    for which the punishment shall fit the crime;
    (2) the reasons for imposing either a
    consecutive or concurrent sentence should be
    separately stated in the sentencing decision;
    (3) some reasons to be considered by the
    sentencing court should include facts relating
    to the crimes, including whether or not:
    (a) the crimes and their objectives were
    predominantly independent of each other;
    (b) the crimes involved separate        acts   of
    violence or threats of violence;
    (c) the crimes were committed at different
    times or separate places, rather than being
    committed so closely in time and place as to
    indicate a single period of aberrant behavior;
    (d) any of the      crimes   involved   multiple
    victims; [and]
    (e) the convictions for which the sentences
    are to be imposed are numerous . . . .
    [State v. Zuber, 
    227 N.J. 422
    , 449 (2017)
    (listing the Yarbough guidelines).]
    At sentencing, the judge found that these two crimes
    deserved more punishment than one and noted that there should be
    no free crimes.   He considered the separateness of aggravated
    manslaughter and the disturbing of human remains and concluded
    these separate crimes were "predominantly independent of each
    20                            A-5760-14T1
    another."     They clearly were.   Defendant killed Harper by
    shooting him twice.    Subsequently, he buried Harper's body in a
    wooded area of his property and covered that site with cement.
    Later, he dug up the cement, dismembered the body and moved it
    in trash bags to a remote site in the woods.      In addition, the
    judge found that defendant's disturbance of Harper's remains was
    motivated by a purpose independent of the shooting — avoiding
    detection and responsibility for killing Harper.      The judge
    further found these were separate acts of violence, committed
    with different weapons, at different times and in different
    places.    All of those determinations were supported by the
    record.
    Although the judge did not address the factor on multiple
    victims, Harper was the victim of the homicide and disturbing
    human remains is a crime against public order and human
    sensibilities.     This Yarbough factor had no apparent relevance
    here.     Even if the judge erred by not saying that, the omission
    is of no import on these facts, because there is no reasonable
    interpretation of the multiple-victim factor that could
    reasonably be viewed as favoring concurrent sentences here.
    Similarly, the judge did not expressly address the factor
    referencing the number of crimes for which defendant was being
    sentenced.     That is explained by the fact that the judge was
    21                           A-5760-14T1
    sentencing defendant for only two crimes; the State's agreement
    to dismiss the six counts charging other crimes made this factor
    irrelevant.
    Having considered defendant's arguments in light of the
    judge's findings and statement of reasons, we have concluded
    that they have insufficient merit to warrant any additional
    discussion in a written opinion.    R. 2:11-3(e)(2).   The judge's
    findings on and balancing of the aggravating and mitigating
    factors are supported by adequate evidence in the record, and
    the sentence is neither inconsistent with sentencing provisions
    of the Code of Criminal Justice nor shocking to the judicial
    conscience.   See State v. Bieniek, 
    200 N.J. 601
    , 608 (2010);
    State v. Cassady, 
    198 N.J. 165
    , 180-81 (2009).
    Affirmed.
    22                           A-5760-14T1