MICHAEL K. ORGERA VS. NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS) ( 2020 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-5598-17T3
MICHAEL K. ORGERA,
Appellant,
v.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS,
Respondent.
_____________________________
Argued December 2, 2019 – Decided January 17, 2020
Before Judges Fasciale and Moynihan.
On appeal from the New Jersey Department of
Corrections.
Eric J. Marcy argued the cause for appellant (Wilentz,
Goldman & Spitzer, PC, attorneys; Eric J. Marcy, of
counsel and on the brief).
Tasha Marie Bradt, Deputy Attorney General, argued
the cause for respondent (Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney
General, attorney; Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant
Attorney General, of counsel; Tasha Marie Bradt, on
the brief).
PER CURIAM
Appellant Michael K. Orgera appeals from the final decision of the
Department of Corrections (DOC) assigning him to "medium" custody status
assignment, applying an E-1 Code override (E-1 override) pursuant to N.J.A.C.
10A:9-2.14(a)(5), thereby imposing a permanent bar from assignment to any
lesser custody status, N.J.A.C. 10A:9-2.14(d). On appeal, he argues:
POINT I
THE PURPOSE OF THE CLASSIFICATION
PROCESS, I.E., SECURITY, AND THE BLIND
APPLICATION OF THE E-1 APPLICATION IN THIS
CASE IS ARBITRARY AND UNFAIR.
A. APPELLANT'S STANDARDIZED
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT DETERMINED HIS
ELIGIBILITY FOR MINIMUM CUSTODY STATUS.
B. THE APPLICATION OF THE E-1
OVERRIDE WAS BASED ON ALLEGATIONS TO
WHICH APPELLANT DID NOT PLEAD GUILTY.
C. THE APPLICATION OF THE E-1
OVERRIDE FOR ALLEGATIONS NOT THE
SUBJECT OF THE PLEA OR CONVICTION –
N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7, AS APPLIED IN THIS CASE, IS
ARBITRARY AND VIOLATES PROCEDURAL
AND SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS.
D. TREATING THIS PLEA AND
CONVICTION AS A SEX OFFENSE IS CONTRARY
TO APPELLANT'S EXPECTATION WHEN
ENTERING INTO THE PLEA AGREEMENT IN
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THIS CASE AND THE DISCLAIMER IN THE PRE-
SENTENCE REPORT.
E. APPELLANT DOES NOT PRESENT A
SECURITY RISK THAT JUSTIFIES A "MEDIUM"
CLASSIFICATION IMPOSED BY THE E-1
OVERRIDE.
F. TO RE-CLASSIFY A NON-SEX
OFFENSE AS A SEX OFFENSE, CONTRARY TO
THE TERMS OF A PLEA AGREEMENT AND
CONVICTION, IS ARBITRARY AND DENIES
APPELLANT PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS.
We reverse and vacate the DOC's final decision to apply the E-1 override.
Following his arrest on charges that he sexually assaulted two of his nieces
who were under the age of thirteen, appellant was indicted for two counts of
first-degree aggravated sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1) (counts one and
four), two counts of second-degree sexual assault—victim under thirteen and
defendant four years older, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b) (counts two and five), and two
counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child—sexual conduct which
would impair or debauch a child's morals, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1) (counts three
and six). Appellant accepted the State's plea offer and pleaded guilty to counts
three and six as amended to second-degree endangering—abuse/neglect of a
child by person with legal duty to care, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(2). The following
colloquy during the plea hearing established the factual basis for the plea:
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[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] Now, the statute as it's been
amended indicates or reads: Any person that has a legal
duty to take care for the children or has assumed
responsibility of a child is guilty if they cause the child
harm that would make the child an abused or neglected
child as defined in [N.J.S.A.] 9:6-1.
So would you agree that you had on numerous
occasions between those dates, July of 2015 and July of
2016, assumed responsibility for those two children in
the Township of Brick?
[DEFENDANT:] Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] All right. Now, the
subsection of the abuse that we had discussed was that
you would on those occasions habitually use what
consists of profane, indecent or obscene language in
front of both of the children; correct?
[DEFENDANT:] Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL:] All right. And you
understand by doing that, you caused the child harm,
both children harm that would make them an abused or
neglected child as I just defined it?
[DEFENDANT:] Yes.
Defendant was subsequently sentenced pursuant to the plea agreement to
State prison. All other counts of the indictment were dismissed.
Appellant was initially eligible for recommendation for placement into
"minimum" custody status after receiving a custody status score of four on the
Initial Instrument for Male Inmates. See N.J.A.C. 10A:9-2.4(a)(3). A DOC
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technical assistant applied for an E-1 Override to "medium" custody status; the
reason set forth on the request form was: "2 cts EWOC 2º Both with sexual
overtones." After a director approved the request, see N.J.A.C. 10A:9-2.14(a),
appellant filed a grievance, explaining he did not have a sexual conviction. He
received the following reply from Rebecca Smith 1: "You were made aware on
[June 27, 2018] that this was a final decision made by Central office. If you
have further questions, you must write to Central Offices through the kiosk
remedy system." This appeal followed.
An "appropriate override code" must be applied "when an inmate cannot
be assigned to the recommended custody status indicated by the custody status
score on the Initial . . . [C]lassification Instrument[.]" N.J.A.C. 10A:9-2.14(a).
N.J.A.C. 10A:9-2.14(a)(5) provides: "Code E-1: Permanent custody
prohibition/bar. Medium custody status assignment or above only due to sexual
or arson offense convictions pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7."
N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7(c)(1) lists sexual offenses, including, "[e]ndangering
welfare of children where the official version of the crime indicates that the
inmate engaged in sexual contact pursuant to 2C:24-4(a) or committed an
offense under 2C:24-4(b)(3, 4 or 5)." "Inmates serving sentences" for the
1
The record does not disclose Rebecca Smith's title.
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enumerated offenses "are not eligible to be considered for any type of reduced
custody status[.]" N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7(a). Likewise, "[a]n inmate who has two
or more convictions, either present, prior, or a combination of present and prior"
for the enumerated offenses, "or for attempts or conspiracies to commit these
offenses . . . is not eligible for reduced custody[.]" N.J.A.C. 10A: 9-4.7(c).
We ordinarily accord a strong presumption of reasonableness to the
decision of an administrative agency, Smith v. Ricci, 89 N.J. 514, 525 (1982),
and give great deference to administrative decisions, State v. Johnson, 42 N.J.
146, 159 (1964). Indeed, we will reverse an administrative decision, only when
we find it to be "arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable[.]" Henry v. Rahway State
Prison, 81 N.J. 571, 579-80 (1980). In determining whether an agency action
was arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable, courts consider whether:
1) "the agency's action violates express[] or implied
legislative policies"; 2) "the record [does not] contain[]
substantial evidence to support the findings on which
the agency based its action"; and 3) "in applying the
legislative policies to the facts, the agency clearly erred
in reaching a conclusion that could not reasonably have
been made on a showing of the relevant factors."
[Figueroa v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 414 N.J. Super. 186,
190 (App. Div. 2010) (second and third alterations in
original) (quoting Circus Liquors, Inc. v. Governing
Body of Middletown Twp., 199 N.J. 1, 10 (2009)).]
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We also recognize "a reduction in custody status is a matter of privilege,
not of right." Smith v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 346 N.J. Super 24, 30 (App. Div.
2001) (citing N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.2). "Classification of prisoners and the decision
as to what privileges they will receive rests solely within the discretion of the
Commissioner of the [DOC]." Ibid. (citing N.J.S.A. 30:1B-6; N.J.S.A. 30:4-
91.1); see also White v. Fauver, 219 N.J. Super. 170, 178-79 (App. Div.),
(finding no constitutionally protected liberty interest in reduced custody status),
modified sub nom., Jenkins v. Fauver, 108 N.J. 239 (1987).
We are constrained to remand this matter, however, because the procedure
utilized by the DOC in classifying appellant was arbitrary and capricious.
Although the regulatory process requires "any specific information concerning
the reason for the override shall be documented and maintained in the inmate
record," N.J.A.C. 10A:9-2.14(a), we perceive no indication in the record that the
DOC complied with that mandate.
In its merits brief, the DOC claims that, contrary to appellant's contention
that it should have considered only defendant's convictions, the Institutional
Classification Committee (ICC) was permitted to and did review the judgment of
conviction, presentence report, indictment and a Mental Health Parole Evaluation
"to determine that the official version of his crimes reflected that he engaged in
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sexual contact and was subject to the E-1 override." Further, the DOC states the
presentence report "reflects that [appellant] was indicted on charges that he
sexually assaulted his two young nieces, before eventually pleading . . . guilty
[to] two counts of second-degree [e]ndangering the [w]elfare of a [c]hild[.]"
Although the record contains the documents cited in the merits brief, we are
unable to determine from the brusque reply to appellant's grievance, or any other
record-document prepared in connection with the override, that the now-cited
documents provided the reason for the override.
Even if appellant's file does contain those documents and the reasons for
the override, we determine the DOC's selection of parts of the cited documents,
and its designation of same as the "official version," was arbitrary and
capricious. "Official version" is not defined in Chapter 9 of the Code. See
N.J.A.C. 10A:9-1.3. The DOC culled select passages from certain documents
in concluding what comprised the undefined standard of "official version."
Moreover, its finding was based upon allegations that the State could not prove
or otherwise chose not to prosecute—charges that were ultimately dismissed. In
doing so, it seemingly disregarded those portions of the regulations that allow
an override in the case of inmates "serving sentences for" the enumerated
offenses, N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7(a) (emphasis added), or "[a]n inmate who has two
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or more convictions" for the listed crimes, N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7(c) (emphasis
added).
The endangering the welfare of a child offenses listed in N.J.A.C. 10A:9-
4.7(c)(1) are limited. The first—applicable here—is an endangering offense
"where the official version . . . indicates that the inmate engaged in sexual
contact pursuant to [N.J.S.A.] 2C:24-4(a)[.]"2 N.J.A.C. 10A:9-4.7(c)(1). That
statute does not specifically mention "sexual contact." It states:
(1) Any person having a legal duty for the care of a
child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of
a child who engages in sexual conduct which would
impair or debauch the morals of the child is guilty of a
crime of the second degree. Any other person who
engages in conduct or who causes harm as described in
this paragraph to a child is guilty of a crime of the third
degree.
(2) Any person having a legal duty for the care of a
child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of
a child who causes the child harm that would make the
child an abused or neglected child . . . is guilty of a
crime of the second degree. Any other person who
engages in conduct or who causes harm as described in
this paragraph to a child is guilty of a crime of the third
degree.
[N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1), (2).]
2
The other enumerated endangering crimes under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)(3), (4)
and (5), involve child pornography. As such, they have no relevance to this
case.
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The judgment of conviction indicates appellant pleaded guilty and was
sentenced on two counts of endangering under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(2). That
crime does not require "sexual contact"; if "sexual contact" occurred, it would
have been charged under subsection (a)(1) that criminalizes such "sexual
conduct." See N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1). If appellant had pleaded guilty to an
endangering that involved sexual conduct, the sentencing court was required to
impose Megan's Law conditions, see N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2(b)(2), and parole
supervision for life, see N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4(a). Neither of those conditions was
imposed on appellant. The DOC acted arbitrarily in relying on dismissed
charges, for which there was no quantum of proof established, and of which
defendant was not convicted or sentenced, in applying the E-1 override.
We further conclude the DOC arbitrarily failed to consider the plea
colloquy in making its determination. There is no more official version of
defendant's admissions that formed the basis for his conviction and subsequent
sentence than the transcript of that event. See R. 1:2-2; R. 2:5-3; R. 3:9-2; R.
3:9-3(b). And that official version clearly shows appellant did not plead guilty
to an offense involving sexual contact or conduct. His crime was based on the
use of "profane, indecent or obscene language in front of" his nieces.
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In light of our holding, we need not address appellant's other arguments,
some of which we would have otherwise declined to consider because they were
raised for the first time on appeal, Nieder v. Royal Indem. Ins. Co., 62 N.J. 229,
234 (1973), others which we determine are without sufficient merit to warrant
further discussion, R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).
We reverse and vacate the DOC's final decision to apply the E-1 override.
Ensuing proceedings, if any, shall be consistent with this opinion. We do not
retain jurisdiction.
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