STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. VASIL W. HEISLER (08-01-0111, BURLINGTON COUNTY, MERCER COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-1518-17T3
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
VASIL W. HEISLER,
Defendant-Appellant.
___________________________
Submitted May 29, 2019 – Decided June 28, 2019
Before Judges Hoffman and Suter.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Burlington County and Mercer County,
Indictment No. 08-01-0111.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
appellant (Steven M. Gilson, Designated Counsel, on
the brief).
Angelo J. Onofri, Mercer County Prosecutor, attorney
for respondent (Randolph E. Mershon, III, Assistant
Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant Vasil Heisler appeals from an October 17, 2017 Law Division
order denying his petition for post-conviction relief (PCR). We affirm.
I.
We set forth the facts surrounding defendant's conviction in our opinion
on defendant's direct appeal. State v. Heisler, No. A-2238-12 (App. Div. July
23, 2015) (slip op.). In brief, Joshua Hahn, a detective for the Mercer County
Sherriff's Office, witnessed an altercation involving defendant. As Det. Hahn
approached, defendant "[raised] his hands up and stated [to Det. Hahn] . . . what
the fuck are you [going to] do[?]" Det. Hahn responded, "I'm a sheriff's officer,
calm down." He did not show a badge or identification and wore only "a pair of
cargo shorts . . . and boots" as he was off duty.
Defendant briefly turned and walked away, but then turned back and
began "bouncing around . . . like a boxing dance." He then struck Det. Hahn in
the head with a "wooden handle revolver." Det. Hahn immediately ordered
defendant to show his hands and get to the ground; instead, defendant shot Det.
Hahn in the chest.
Police charged defendant with (1) criminal attempt to commit murder,
first-degree, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3; 2C:5-1; and 2C:2-6; (2) possession
of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:39-
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4(a); and (3) unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree, contrary to N.J.S.A.
2C:39-5(b). In January 2012, defendant was tried before a jury and found guilty
on all counts. Defendant received an aggregate sentence of fifty-five years
subject to the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.
We affirmed defendant's conviction and sentence. State v. Heisler, slip
op at 2. Our Supreme Court denied certification. State v. Heisler, 224 N.J. 244(2016).
In September 2016, defendant filed a petition for PCR alleging his trial
counsel performed ineffectively by failing to pursue a diminished capacity
defense and for inducing defendant not to testify at his trial. The PCR judge
denied defendant's petition in a written opinion.
On appeal, defendant raises the following arguments:
POINT I - THIS MATTER MUST BE REMANDED
FOR AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING
BECAUSE DEFENDANT
ESTABLISHED A PRIMA FACIE CASE
OF TRIAL COUNSEL'S
INEFFECTIVENESS, IN THAT TRIAL
COUNSEL FAILED TO PURSUE A
DIMINISHED CAPACITY DEFENSE
AND INDUCED DEFENDANT NOT TO
TESTIFY.
A. Trial Counsel Failed To Pursue A
Diminished Capacity Defense.
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B. Trial Counsel Induced Defendant Not
To Testify.
POINT II - THIS MATTER MUST BE REMANDED
FOR AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING
BECAUSE DEFENDANT
ESTABLISHED A PRIMA FACIE CASE
OF APPELLATE AND PCR COUNSELS'
INEFFECTIVENESS FOR FAILING TO
PURSUE THE TRIAL COURT'S NOT
EXPLORING DEFENDANT'S
REQUEST FOR SELF-
REPRESENTATION.
(Not Raised Below).
II.
We utilize a two-prong test to evaluate claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel. State v. Fritz, 105 N.J. 42 (1987) (adopting Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668 (1984)). To succeed, a defendant must establish both that: (1)
counsel made errors so egregious as to not function effectively; and (2) the
defect in performance prejudiced defendant's rights to a fair trial such that there
exists a "reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the
result of the proceeding would have been different." Strickland, 466 U.S. at
687, 694. The judge should grant an evidentiary hearing "if [the] defendant has
presented a prima facie claim in support of post-conviction relief." State v.
Preciose, 129 N.J. 451, 462 (1992).
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Although the judge "should view the facts in the light most favorable to
the defendant," State v. Jones, 219 N.J. 298, 311 (2014), the "defendant must
allege specific facts and evidence supporting his allegations," State v. Porter,
216 N.J. 343, 355 (2013), and "must do more than make bald assertions that he
was denied the effective assistance of counsel." State v. Cummings, 321 N.J.
Super. 154, 170 (App. Div. 1999). We review the decision of the PCR judge to
forgo an evidentiary hearing de novo. State v. Harris, 181 N.J. 391, 421 (2004).
Defendant first argues counsel failed to investigate a defense of
diminished capacity. "[C]ounsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations
or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations
unnecessary." Porter, 216 N.J. at 353 (alteration in original) (quoting State v.
Chew, 179 N.J. 186, 205 (2004)). Further, an attorney has a duty "to conduct a
prompt investigation of the circumstances of the case and explore all avenues
leading to facts relevant to guilt and degree of guilt or penalty." State v. Russo,
333 N.J. Super. 119, 139 (App. Div. 2000).
Defendant claimed he had used alcohol and drugs "around [the] time of
[the] incident" and had a "long-standing history of mental disease or defect."
He claims this history "not only would have negated the 'intent' elements of [his]
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alleged crimes, but in the alternative, a showing of his mental illness or de fect
would have constituted a substantial mitigating factor . . . ."
However, defendant fails to identify any evidence he suffered from such
impairments during the incident. Defendant has provided no certification,
affidavit, or expert opinion as to how his problems affected him or would have
prevented him from forming the requisite intent required to commit the alleged
crimes. We therefore find defendant's claims amount to "bald assertions" of
ineffective assistance that do not entitle him to an evidentiary hearing.
Cummings, 321 N.J. Super. at 170.
Second, defendant argues his trial counsel wrongfully induced him into
not testifying on his own behalf. Defendant's claims are factually unsupported.
He does not say what would have been his testimony. He does not say that he
would have even testified. Nor does he claim that counsel forced him not to
testify or prevented him from testifying; his only argument is that counsel gave
"bad advice" – a "warning not to testify lest [his own] prior convictions be
admitted."
Further, the record shows the decision not to testify was made by
defendant. During trial, the judge addressed defendant directly and he
repeatedly stated he did not want to testify:
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Q: . . . . Do you understand you can give up the right
to remain silent and you're allowed to testify and
you can testify if that's what you want to do?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you understand if you choose to testify, you'd
be subject to examination. Your attorney would
ask you questions, the attorney for the State
would ask you questions, and you'd have to
answer all the questions that I ruled were
permissible questions. Do you understand that?
A: Yes.
....
Q: Do you understand, we talked about this
yesterday, there's some prior convictions and I've
already determined the State would be able to
bring those up during your cross-examination.
Do you understand that?
A: Yes.
....
Q: Have you made a decision about whether you
want to testify?
A: Yes.
Q: And what is your decision?
A: I'm not going to testify.
Q: Okay. Did you make that decision on your own?
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A: Yes.
Q: That's your own decision, right?
A: Yes.
Q: Did anyone force you in any way to make you
make that decision one way or the other?
A: Well, the State kind of like, they, you know, they
kind of outweighed everything else against me
so, you know, it would be foolish for me to get
up there and make a fool of myself.
Q: So let me just make sure. So what you're saying
based upon what the State has presented in this
case, you've reviewed it with [your attorney],
what they've presented and based upon that you
feel you don't want to go on the stand?
A: Yeah. It would be prejudicial toward me so I'd
rather not.
Q: I'm not putting words in your mouth when I gave
that kind of summary?
A: I'm putting words in my mouth.
The record reflects the trial court fully informed defendant of his right to
testify, defendant consulted with counsel on the issue, and decided he would
exercise his right not to take the stand. See State v. Savage, 120 N.J. 594, 631
(1990). The record reveals no basis for granting PCR.
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Defendant also argues for the first time on appeal that he received
ineffective assistance based on both appellate and PCR counsels' failure to
pursue defendant's request for self-representation.
Initially, because defendant did not raise the issue below, we consider the
argument waived as to appellate counsel. See R. 3:22-4. Likewise, an argument
for ineffective assistance of PCR counsel is not ripe for appeal as the argument
could not have been raised before the PCR court.
Nonetheless, the trial record demonstrates that the court adequately
addressed defendant's application for self-representation.
Q: Mr. Heisler, the last time as you were leaving you
said you want to represent myself and I told you,
you have to make an application and the way I
viewed it, I viewed it as you were upset at the
time you shouted that out, I couldn't decide
whether you really meant that or that's just
something you were angry and you said that and
so I didn't rule upon that. I didn't say yeah, you
can have your own attorney. You can represent
yourself. I didn't say you had to stay with [your
attorney]. I didn't rule upon it. I decided what
you said, I didn't know if you meant it.
A: There's no application for self-representation.
Q: You're not making that application?
A: No.
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Q: You're happy with [your attorney] representing
you?
A: Yes.
Because defendant abandoned this argument at the trial level, neither
appellate nor PCR counsel could have been deficient for failing to raise the
argument, as it clearly lacks support in the record. See State v. O'Neal, 190 N.J.
601, 618-19 (2007) (attorney's performance cannot be deemed deficient for
failing to raise a frivolous argument).
The record also fully supports the PCR judge’s determination that
defendant failed to establish a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of
counsel, and that the existing record provided an adequate basis for resolution
of defendant's claim. R. 3:22-10(b). Therefore, an evidentiary hearing was not
required. See Jones, 219 N.J. at 311 (noting that an evidentiary hearing on
a PCR petition is only required when the alleged facts, "when viewed in the light
most favorable to [defendant], are sufficient to demonstrate a reasonable
likelihood of success on [the] PCR claim").
To the extent we have not specifically addressed any of defendant's
arguments, we find them to be without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a
written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
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Affirmed.
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