STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN THE INTEREST OF J.L. (FJ-09-0595-16, HUDSON COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)(RECORD IMPOUNDED)

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-3879-15T3
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE INTEREST OF J.L.,
A JUVENILE.
Argued October 3, 2017 – Decided October 13, 2017
Before Judges Yannotti and Carroll.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New
Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, Hudson
County, Docket No. FJ-09-0595-16.
Daniel S. Rockoff, Assistant Deputy Public
Defender, argued the cause for appellant
(Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney;
Mr. Rockoff, of counsel and on the brief).
Frances Tapia Mateo, Assistant Prosecutor,
argued the cause for respondent (Esther
Suarez, Hudson County Prosecutor, attorney;
Ms. Mateo, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
J.L., a juvenile, appeals his adjudication of delinquency for
an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute fourth-
degree theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a and N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2b(3). J.L.
argues that the trial judge should have granted his motion for
acquittal at the close of the State's evidence, and that there was
insufficient credible evidence to support the adjudication, both
as to the theft itself and the value of the stolen items. We
disagree and affirm.
The theft charge arose out of events that occurred in a middle
school classroom on November 18, 2015, at approximately 2:38 p.m.
During the final class period of the day, the victim was teaching
science to a class of thirty-three students, including J.L. She
testified that J.L.'s seat was approximately three feet away from
her desk so she could "closely monitor[]" him. While in the middle
of the classroom giving the students "closing instructions," the
victim heard a commotion and observed J.L. lean over her desk and
look into her personal effects. J.L. then ran from the classroom
"in a great hurry" and "without authorization."
The victim used her intercom phone to alert school officials
that J.L. was "roaming." She then went over to her desk to see
why the other students appeared so upset and saw that her iPhone
was missing. She testified she used the phone as a timer in the
classroom, and that she left it, along with her purse, in a basket
on her desk, "in an area where kids are [not] supposed to go."
Since it was dismissal time, the remaining students in the
classroom were released "after we made certain that none of [them]
had it[.]" The victim called police and, with the aid of a friend,
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used a "Find my iPhone" application to track her phone. She
testified she "looked up on the school system, cross-referenced
where [J.L.] lived and there the phone is going toward[] [J.L.'s]
house."
Accompanied by police, the victim went to J.L.'s home, where
she asked him to "[j]ust give the phone back and there will be no
consequences." J.L. "started to cry" and "was kind of shaky."
Neither the police nor the victim entered the home, however, and
the phone was never recovered.
The victim testified, without objection, that she originally
paid "about $500" for the iPhone model 5c, and $48 for its
protective case. When asked the value of those items, she stated
she would have to pay her cell phone carrier $500 for the phone
and $48 for the case. Instead, she went "off-market" and bought
a replacement iPhone 5c and case at a total cost of $300.
On cross-examination, the victim testified she was familiar
with the "sibling pick-up program" at the school. She explained
the program permits "approved children" to report to a younger
sibling's classroom at 2:40 p.m. and remain there "until the
younger sibling's teacher dismisses them." To be approved for the
program, the school sends a letter to parents, who must sign and
return it if they wish to participate. J.L. was "not on [the
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victim's] list to leave for sibling pickup," nor was she aware
that J.L. had any younger siblings in the school.
After the State rested, defense counsel moved for a directed
verdict of acquittal. Counsel argued the State failed to adduce
any evidence that J.L. ever possessed or exercised control over
the teacher's phone. In denying the motion, the judge acknowledged
that the victim did not observe J.L. with the phone in his
possession. However, the judge found that, giving the State the
benefit of all inferences that could be derived from the
circumstantial evidence presented, it was "clear that the motion
should be denied."
J.L.'s father, B.L., testified that his younger daughter
attends the same school. B.L. stated he became familiar with the
sibling pick-up program through his wife, and that J.L. "leaves
his class a little early" to pick up his younger sister from her
classroom on days when B.L. is unable to pick her up. When asked
whether J.L. picked his sister up on November 18, 2015, B.L.
replied: "Yeah, I believe so because I was . . . laying down and
both of them [were] in the house so obviously he picked [her] up."
On cross-examination, B.L. indicated his wife was the source of
much of his knowledge and he "never saw the document or filled out
the papers" to authorize the children's participation in the
sibling pick-up program.
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After considering the evidence, the judge adjudicated J.L.
delinquent, despite his counsel's argument that the State failed
to prove the alleged theft. The judge reasoned:
[The victim] has a class in which [J.L.] is
one of the students and at about 2:38 p.m.
shortly before the [] last class of the day
ended . . . the attention of [the victim] was
called to [J.L.] and to her desk and she did
see [J.L.] leaning over her desk and that was
shortly before he ran out of the class without
authorization. He did not have permission to
leave the class, certainly not [to] run out
of the class.
And the reason why he ran out of the class
without permission is because he had taken her
phone without her permission from where the
phone was on top of the desk in a basket. That
was shortly before the bell rang. She saw him
looking at the top of her desk and then shortly
after that she noticed that her phone was
missing.
. . . .
Based on those findings of fact, namely the
fact that [J.L.] had [] approached the desk
and was looking at the items on top of the
desk, that at some point he was leaning over
the desk, I conclude that without the
permission of the teacher [] he . . . purposely
took the phone and exercised control over it.
He took it away with him. His purpose was to
deprive the owner of the phone. And I think
that the fact that he left the class without
permission and ran out is an indication to me
that he did in fact take that phone and
together with the other circumstantial
evidence it satisfies the State's burden of
proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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However, the judge concluded the State did not present
sufficient evidence to show that J.L. committed third-degree
theft, as originally charged, which required a finding that the
stolen items ranged in value from $500 to $75,000. Instead, based
on the victim's testimony, the judge found the value of the stolen
phone was approximately $348, thus establishing a fourth-degree
theft.
At a subsequent dispositional hearing, the court ordered six
months of informal home detention, conditioned on J.L.
successfully completing an evening reporting center program and
undergoing random substance abuse testing. This appeal followed.
On appeal, J.L. raises the following arguments:
POINT I
THE COURT ERRED BY (1) NOT DISMISSING THE
CASE, BECAUSE THE STATE OFFERED NO EVIDENCE
THAT J.L. COMMITTED THE OPERATIVE ACT, AND
ERRED AGAIN BY (2) ADJUDICATING J.L. GUILTY
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
(1) The Court Erred By Not Granting
J.L.'s Motion To Dismiss At The
Close Of The State's Case.
(2) The Court Erred By Not Entering
A Judgment of Acquittal At The Close
Of Trial.
POINT II
THE COURT ERRED BY NOT DISMISSING THE CASE AND
BY ADJUDICATING J.L. GUILTY OF FOURTH-DEGREE
THEFT, BECAUSE THE STATE OFFERED NO EVIDENCE
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OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE USED PHONE AT
THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE OPERATIVE ACT, WHICH
IS AN ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE. THE REPLACEMENT
COST OF A NEW PHONE, WHICH THE COURT RELIED
ON INSTEAD TO ASSESS VALUATION, IS IRRELEVANT
TO A CONVICTION UNDER N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2B.
Our standard of review in juvenile delinquency bench trials
"is narrow and is limited to evaluation of whether the trial
judge's findings are supported by substantial, credible evidence
in the record as a whole." State in the Interest of J.P.F., 368
N.J. Super. 24, 31 (App. Div.) (citing State v. Locurto, 157 N.J.
463, 471 (1999); State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146, 161 (1964)),
certif. denied, 180 N.J. 453 (2004). In order to find a violation,
the court must conclude that the State proved each element of the
offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt. State ex rel. J.G.,
151 N.J. 565, 593-94 (1997). We do not engage in an independent
assessment of the evidence as if "[we] were the court of first
instance." Johnson, supra, 42 N.J. at 161. Rather, we give
special deference to the trial judge's findings, particularly
those that are substantially influenced by the judge's opportunity
to observe the witnesses directly. Id. at 162. However, we need
not defer to the trial judge's interpretation of the law. State
v. Brown, 118 N.J. 595, 604 (1990).
Mindful of these standards, we reject J.L.'s arguments and
affirm substantially for the reasons expressed by Judge Alvaro L.
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Iglesias in his cogent oral opinion. We add the following
comments.
J.L. first argues that the trial court erred in denying his
motion for a judgment of acquittal. He contends "the State offered
no evidence that J.L. ever took anything off [] the teacher's
desk" and the court "erroneously relied on so-called
circumstantial proofs," which he asserts were inadequate to
adjudicate him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We do not find
this argument persuasive.
In reviewing a motion for acquittal based on insufficient
evidence pursuant to Rule 3:18-1, we apply the same standard as
the trial court. State v. Bunch, 180 N.J. 534, 548-49 (2004);
State v. Felson, 383 N.J. Super. 154, 159 (App. Div. 2006). Thus,
a motion for judgment of acquittal will not be granted where:
[V]iewing the State's evidence in its
entirety, be that evidence direct or
circumstantial, and giving the State the
benefit of all its favorable testimony as well
as all of the favorable inferences which
reasonably could be drawn therefrom, a
reasonable jury could find guilt of the charge
beyond a reasonable doubt.
[State v. Reyes, 50 N.J. 454, 459 (1967).]
The probative value of proffered evidence is not diminished
by the fact that it is circumstantial. See State v. Carroll, 256
N.J. Super. 575, 603 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 130 N.J. 18
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(1992). Circumstantial evidence alone will support a judge or
jury's verdict of guilt. Ibid. Also, an inference reasonably may
be drawn by a factfinder when "'it is more probable than not that
the inference is true; the veracity of each inference need not be
established beyond a reasonable doubt in order for the [finder of
fact] to draw the inference.'" State v. Thomas, 132 N.J. 247, 256
(1993) (quoting State v. Brown, supra, 80 N.J. 587, 592 (1979)).
Here, the State's proofs that J.L. stole the phone from his
teacher's desk were entirely circumstantial. Nevertheless, the
judge properly applied the Reyes standard and, viewing the evidence
in the light most favorable to the State, and affording the State
the benefit of all reasonable inferences, correctly denied J.L.'s
motion for a judgment of acquittal.
We likewise reject J.L.'s next contention that the judge
should have dismissed the charges at the conclusion of the case,
following his father's testimony. However, B.L.'s testimony did
not exonerate J.L. B.L. did not return the required papers to the
school, and J.L.'s name did not appear on the school's approved
list for the sibling pick-up program. The incident occurred in
November, more than two months into the school year; the teacher
was unaware that J.L. had a younger sibling in the school; and,
during those two months, there is no competent evidence that J.L.
left class early to pick up his younger sister. B.L.'s testimony
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thus failed to rebut the judge's reliance on J.L.'s abrupt,
unauthorized departure from the classroom as a basis for finding
he committed the theft. Additionally, B.L. was sleeping on the
day of the incident, and his testimony about the sibling pick-up
program was largely dependent on information he gleaned from his
wife, who did not testify.
Equally unconvincing is J.L.'s final argument that the State
failed to prove the value of the phone and protective case. J.L.
correctly asserts that, in a theft prosecution, the stolen items
are to be valued at the time of the theft. State v. Gosa, 263
N.J. Super. 527, 537 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 134 N.J. 477
(1993). "[F]or purposes of fixing the degree of an offense, that
value shall be the fair market value at the time and place of the
operative act." N.J.S.A. 2C:1-14m.
Theft is graded as a third-degree crime if the amount involved
exceeds $500 but is less than $75,000, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2b(2)(a); a
fourth-degree crime if it is at least $200 but does not exceed
$500, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2b(3); and a disorderly persons offense if
the amount involved is less than $200. N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2(4)(a).
It has consistently been held in this State
that the owner of an article of personal
property, whether or not he is generally
familiar with the value of like articles, is
competent to testify as to his estimate of the
value of his own property and that the extent
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of its probative value is for the
consideration of the [trier of fact].
[State v. Romero, 95 N.J. Super. 482, 487
(App. Div. 1967) (citing Teets v. Hahn, 104
N.J.L. 357, 359 (E. & A. 1928); Nixon v.
Lawhon, 32 N.J. Super. 351, 355-56 (App. Div.
1954); Kazanjian v. Atlas Novelty Co., 34 N.J.
Super. 362, 369 (App. Div. 1955)).]
Thus, in the present matter, the victim was competent to
testify as to the value of her stolen phone and case. Her testimony
that it cost $348 to purchase a like model iPhone and case was
sufficient to establish fourth-degree theft. Moreover, J.L. did
not object to this testimony. A failure to object leads to the
reasonable inference that the issue was not significant in the
context of the trial. State v. Macon, 57 N.J. 325, 333 (1971).
Affirmed.
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