STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. HAKEEM T. MERCER (13-11-1394, MIDDLESEX 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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-1569-16T2
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
HAKEEM T. MERCER,
Defendant-Appellant.
_____________________________
Submitted September 13, 2018 – Decided January 30, 2019
Before Judges Whipple and DeAlmeida.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Middlesex County, Indictment No. 13-11-
1394.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
appellant (Anderson D. Harkov, Designated Counsel,
on the brief).
Andrew C. Carey, Middlesex County Prosecutor,
attorney for respondent (Nancy A. Hulett, Assistant
Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant Hakeem T. Mercer appeals from the February 10, 2016
and April 26, 2016 orders of the Law Division denying motions to suppress
evidence, and the sentence imposed after entry of his guilty plea to conspiracy
to commit aggravated assault. We affirm.
I.
The following facts are derived from the record. On April 5, 2013,
defendant was seen by several witnesses arguing with a group of men in a
bodega in Carteret. Defendant called his brother, Yasin Bell, to assist him in a
planned assault of the group. Bell arrived with co-defendant Daniel J. Gillens,
who, unbeknownst to defendant, brought a handgun. The three men engaged in
a physical confrontation with the group.
A police officer, on alert from an anonymous tip that a shooting was about
to take place, heard gunshots from the area of the bodega. In less than a minute,
he arrived at the scene to find twenty-six-year-old Deont'e J. Shakleford on the
ground fatally wounded by multiple gunshots. Shakleford had not been part of
the group with whom defendant had argued. He exited a vehicle and approached
the bodega when he saw that his father was involved in the confrontation.
Several of his family members were present when he was shot.
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Witnesses described the shooter as a heavyset, African-American man
wearing a red and white sweatshirt with burgundy or maroon sweatpants. The
witnesses described the direction in which the shooter ran from the scene. An
officer in the area to which the suspect fled, having been informed of the
shooter's description, encountered a person, later identified as Gillens, who
matched the description. The officer asked Gillens if he could speak with him.
Gillens's response was to flee on foot. The officer pursued him. During the
chase, another officer saw Gillens discard a handgun in a grassy area as he
rounded a corner outside the view of the pursuing officer. After Gillens was
apprehended, officers recovered the gun.
The next day, Gillens was interviewed by detectives. After the interview,
the State authorized charges against defendant, who was then arrested.
On November 7, 2013, a State grand jury indicted defendant and Gillens
for first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3 and N.J.S.A.
2C:5-2; first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(1)-(2); second-degree
possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a); and
second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun without a permit, N.J.S.A.
2C:39-5(b). The grand jury also indicted defendant for second-degree certain
persons not to have weapons, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(b).
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Gillens moved to suppress the gun, arguing that he was seized by the
officer's pursuit, which was initiated without reasonable suspicion of criminal
conduct, and that the gun, discarded as a result of the illegal seizure, cannot be
deemed to have been abandoned by him. Defendant joined the motion.
The trial court held a suppression hearing at which two officers testified.
On February 10, 2016, the court entered an order denying the motion. In a
comprehensive written opinion, the court concluded that Gillens was seized
when the officer pursued him. The court concluded, however, that the seizure
was lawful because the officer "had a particularized suspicion that . . . Gillens
was involved in criminal activity based on the fact that he matched a very
specific description provided by multiple witnesses and police personnel" of the
shooter who fled toward the area where he encountered Gillens. This suspicion
and Gillens's flight were sufficient to permit the officer's pursuit.
The court also concluded that Gillens voluntarily discarded the gun during
the pursuit. As the court explained,
any privacy interest . . . Gillens maintained in the gun
as personal property was relinquished when [he]
knowingly and voluntarily surrendered control over the
gun by hastily throwing it into a grassy area between
apartment buildings. [T]here is a strong implication
that . . . Gillens abandoned the gun specifically in
response to the encounter with [police]; that he made
the decision to throw the gun after he rounded the
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corner in order to discard the weapon out of [the
officer's] sight; and, that he threw the gun in order to
avoid being apprehended with the weapon on his
person.
Gillens later moved to suppress transcripts of eleven telephone
conversations he had with his former girlfriend while he was incarcerated at the
Middlesex County Adult Correction Center (MCCC) awaiting trial. The State
intended to use the transcripts as evidence that Gillens and defendant engaged
in a conspiracy to commit murder, and that the killing of Shakleford was gang
related. Gillens claimed use of the transcripts would violate his right to privacy
under the Fourth Amendment, and its State equivalent, as well as his right to
counsel under the Sixth Amendment, and its State equivalent. The parties
dispute whether defendant joined this motion.
On April 26, 2016, the trial court entered an order denying Gillens's
motion. In a detailed written opinion, the court found that Gillens received
notice when he was admitted to the MCCC that his calls, except for legal calls,
would be recorded and monitored for security purposes. A similar notice
appeared on the form on which inmates request phone privileges at the MCCC.
In addition, at the start of each call, a recorded message reminded Gillens that
the call may be monitored and recorded. The court noted that it has long been
established that prison officials may monitor and record inmate telephone calls
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for the safety and security of the facility. Thus, the court concluded Gillens did
not have an expectation of privacy in his jailhouse calls.
In addition, the court rejected Gillens's right to counsel arguments,
concluding that the conversations were not with his attorney and did not concern
trial strategy, and the recordings did not interfere with his ability to prepare his
defense. Finally, the court rejected as meritless Gillens's contention that
recording the calls was the equivalent of employing a jailhouse informant to
solicit incriminating evidence. The trial court noted that Gillens initiated the
calls at issue, his former girlfriend was not an agent of law enforcement, and the
recordings were conducted openly with notice.
On May 11, 2016, defendant entered a guilty plea to an amended count
indictment charging him with second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated
assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2(a)(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(1). In exchange, the
State agreed to drop all remaining charges and recommend a ten-year sentence
subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.1
The court accepted defendant's guilty plea following a plea colloquy:
1
Gillens entered a guilty plea to aggravated manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4.
He admitted that he went to Carteret to assist defendant with a physical
altercation, and that he shot Shakleford. The court sentenced him to twenty-five
years of incarceration, with an eighty-five-percent period of parole ineligibility.
A-1569-16T2
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Q: Okay. On April 5, 2013, you were in Carteret;
correct?
A: Yes.
....
Q: And earlier in the day in Carteret, you were alone
at a store . . . a little corner store or a bodega; is
that correct?
A: Yes.
Q: And there was a time where you were approached
by a group of individuals . . . and you got into a
verbal altercation with those individuals; correct?
A: Yes.
Q: And after you got into the verbal altercation with
the individuals, you then . . . you made a call to
your brother . . . Yasin Bell; correct?
A: Yes.
Q: And in calling Yasin Bell, you were requesting of
him that he come to where you were, so he could
assist you with a fight that was going to happen;
correct?
A: Yes.
Q: And when Yasin Bell arrived, Mr. Gillens, Daniel
Gillens, who sits beside you, he was with Yasin
Bell, correct?
A: Yes.
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Q: And after that, you individuals, in fact, went back
to the area of the store [and] it was your intention
and the intention of the group to get into a
physical altercation; correct?
A: Yes.
Q: And you're conceding that, in going to get into
that physical altercation, it was your intent to
cause serious bodily injury to the individuals on
the other end of that altercation; correct?
A: Yes.
During the plea allocution, defendant did not admit to directing the murder of
any individual, nor did he admit to being a gang member.
On October 14, 2016, the trial court held a sentencing hearing, during
which the State submitted a sentencing memorandum outlining the evidence in
its file regarding the events leading up to Shakleford's death. The memorandum
included a summary, derived from witness statements, of the verbal altercation
that resulted in defendant's call to his brother. According to the State, defendant,
who lived in Newark, had been selling drugs in Carteret while he was staying
with his sister, and the argument concerned drug dealing near the store. The
State asserted that during the dispute defendant identified himself as a member
of the Bloods, a street gang, and made threatening remarks, including a promise
that "someone was going to die" that night.
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The State also tied defendant and Gillens to gang activity in other ways:
Defendant Mercer bragged to Detectives during this
investigation about his "rap videos." As your Honor is
aware, the State provided these videos as part of
discovery in this case. Not only are the videos replete
with reference to drug dealing and murder but in some
videos gang symbols are displayed. And, shockingly
one particular video, "1000 grams," reenacts a murder
where the victim is approached from behind and shot in
the head. The lyrics by Mercer: "I could get you
murdered for a thousand grams."
The evidence similarly supported Defendant Gillens'[s]
gang affiliation. Defendant Gillens'[s] cell phone had
several references to the Blood's (sic) street gang.
Additionally, [Gillens] has tattoos consistent with gang
affiliation. Specifically, [Gillens] has two tear drops
tattooed on his face. During pre-trial litigation, it was
argued by Defendant Gillens, that the nature and
meaning of the tattoos were so well-known that he
should be permitted to cover them during the trial to
avoid undue prejudice.
Finally, the State suggested defendant ordered a hit on one of the people with
whom he had been arguing and that Gillens mistook Shakleford for that person.
During the hearing, the assistant prosecutor made the following remarks,
urging the court to rely on the pretrial witness testimony:
On April 5, 2013, the [c]ourt knows that there was a[n]
altercation at the store involving Hakeem Mercer. We
had a pretrial motion on this issue where [Ms.] Alston
testified as to what she heard on that day. [She] was
only one of the several [S]tate's witnesses that
overheard Hakeem Mercer during that altercation.
A-1569-16T2
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From what th[e] [S]tate can tell, Judge, the altercation
was over drug dealing. That Mr. Mercer wanted to sell
drugs in Carteret and that the local individuals, who
may or may not have been dealing in that area, were
opposed to it. I'm not asking the [c]ourt, obviously, to
consider any evidence of drug dealing and hold it
against Mr. Mercer, but just to provide some
background as to why we're here.
....
[T]he victim's [cousin], Jahir Foster, [fifteen] years of
age . . . overhear[d] Mr. Mercer say "I'll kill you with
my bare hands. I'll shoot your face off. I'm going to
show you how we get down in Newark."
On the phone [before the shooting], [defendant] said
"It's about [twenty] Bloods outside the store and they're
trying to get at me, so I need you all to come out here
and get out here now."
Saying to [to one individual], "Y'all fake Blood, but we
Blood, true Blood from Newark and I'm going to show
you how we get down, cause we don't play."
"Yeah, you a fake Blood. You got that fake body on
you. I'm going to show you how we get down in
Newark. We true Bloods. We don't play and I promise
you we gonna get you all. One of you all is going to
die."
Alston's statements and the rap videos were the subject of pretrial motions. The
trial court concluded that Alston's statements were admissible, but did not reach
a decision on the videos before entry of defendant's guilty plea.
A-1569-16T2
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At the sentencing hearing, defendant's counsel disputed the State's account
of what took place before the shooting and denied defendant was in a gang.
Although the plea agreement incorporated the State's recommendation of a ten-
year sentence, defendant's counsel urged the court to impose a five-year term.
The court found aggravating factor three, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3),
defendant's risk of recidivism, was applicable because defendant was on
probation as a result of two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous
substance was this crime occurred. The judge also noted that defendant had
been disciplined while at the MCCC for refusing an order and threatening
another inmate. The court additionally found aggravating factor nine, N.J.S.A.
2C:44-1(a)(9), criminal deterrence, applicable.
With respect to both aggravating factors the court found that
[t]here was a verbal confrontation that did take place.
Mr. Mercer argues that he was unaware there would be
any weapons involved. There is testimony to the extent
that Mr. Mercer made comments about the individuals
there being fake Bloods, that someone was going to die
today. And according to [one witness], Mr. Mercer told
him that he should [not] be in the area, because he was
going to murder one of them.
Now, Mr. Mercer denies these allegations through
counsel. And the [c]ourt had an opportunity to address
the credibility of Ms. Alston at a hearing and I did find
her credible . . . .
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So, to the extent that there were comments made by Mr.
Mercer, that there were comments made to the other
individuals that were in the area, and that there was a
call made, I find that compelling when it applies to
[aggravating] factors three and nine.
The court declined to find aggravating factors one, especially heinous, cruel, or
depraved acts, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(1), two, the victim was vulnerable or
incapable of resistance, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(2), five, substantial likelihood
defendant was involved in organized criminal activity, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(5),
and six, extent of defendant's criminal record, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(6).
As to the mitigating factors, the court considered factor six, N.J.S.A.
2C:44-1(b)(6), victim compensation based on defendant's willingness to
compensate the victim's family, giving the factor little weight. The court
rejected the mitigating factors urged by defendant's counsel: three, defendant
acted under strong provocation, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(3); four, there were
substantial grounds justifying or excusing his conduct, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(4);
and five, the victim's conduct induced or facilitated the crime, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-
1(b)(5).
After weighing the aggravating and mitigating factors, the court sentenced
defendant to a ten-year period of incarceration, with an eighty-five-percent
period of parole ineligibility, pursuant to NERA, the terms recommended by the
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State pursuant to the plea agreement. The court also assessed fines and penalties
and ordered defendant to serve three years on parole after his release.
This appeal followed. Defendant makes the following arguments:
POINT I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DENIED
DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS
EVIDENCE SEIZED AS A RESULT OF A
WARRANTLESS SEARCH BECAUSE THE
SEIZURE OF THE RECORDINGS OF DEFENDANT
GILLENS'[S] PHONE CALLS FROM THE JAIL WAS
MADE WITHOUT INFORMED CONSENT,
CONTRARY TO THE UNITED STATES AND NEW
JERSEY CONSTITUTIONS.
POINT II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DENIED
DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE
FIREARM SEIZED NEAR THE SCENE OF
GILLENS'[S] ARREST AS A RESULT OF A
WARRANTLESS SEARCH, CONTRARY TO THE
UNITED STATES AND NEW JERSEY
CONSTITUTIONS.
POINT III
THE RELIANCE BY THE SENTENCING COURT,
WITHOUT DEFENDANT'S CONSENT, ON FACTS
THAT WERE NOT PART OF DEFENDANT'S
FACTUAL BASIS AND WERE ALSO
REPEATEDLY CONTESTED BY DEFENDANT
AND HIS ATTORNEY, VIOLATED DEFENDANT'S
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AND STATE V.
A-1569-16T2
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NATALE, AND REQUIRES A REMAND FOR A
NEW SENTENCE HEARING.
POINT IV
DEFENDANT'S SENTENCE WAS EXCESSIVE
AND CONSTITUTED AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION,
REQUIRING HIS SENTENCE BE VACATED AND
THE CASE RETURNED TO THE TRIAL COURT
FOR A NEW SENTENCE HEARING.
II.
A. Seizure of Gillens's Handgun.
As a preliminary matter, the State argues defendant lacks standing to
challenge the seizure of Gillens's handgun. "Under our well-established State
constitutional jurisprudence, an accused generally has standing to challenge a
search or seizure whenever 'he has a proprietary, possessory or participatory
interest in either the place searched or the property seized.'" State v. Randolph,
228 N.J. 566, 571-72 (2017) (quoting State v. Alston, 88 N.J. 211, 228 (1981)).
"When the accused is charged with committing a possessory . . . offense . . .
standing is automatic, unless the State can show that the property was abandoned
. . . ." Randolph, 228 N.J. at 571-72 (citing State v. Brown, 216 N.J. 508, 529
(2014)). The abandoned property doctrine is a "narrow exception" to the
automatic standing rule. State v. Johnson, 193 N.J. 528, 549 (2008).
A-1569-16T2
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[F]or standing purposes, property is abandoned if: (1) a
person has either actual or constructive control or
dominion over property; (2) he knowingly and
voluntarily relinquishes any possessory or ownership
interest in the property; and (3) there are no other
apparent or known owners of the property.
[State v. Carvajal, 202 N.J. 214, 225 (2010) (citing
Johnson, 193 N.J. at 549).]
"The test is whether, given the totality of the circumstances, an objectively
reasonable police officer would believe the property is abandoned." Brown, 216
N.J. at 531.
Here, defendant was charged with two counts in which possession of the
handgun was an element, circumstances that ordinarily would vest him with
automatic standing to appeal the trial court's suppression order. The State,
however, argues that because the trial court found that Gillens abandoned the
gun during a constitutionally sound pursuit, defendant falls within a "narrow
exception" to the automatic standing rule. We agree.
After weighing the credibility of the witnesses who testified at the
suppression hearing, the trial court concluded that Gillens voluntarily
abandoned the gun while fleeing from a lawful pursuit.
We are bound to uphold a trial court's factual findings
in a motion to suppress provided those findings are
supported by sufficient credible evidence in the record.
Deference to those findings is particularly appropriate
A-1569-16T2
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when the trial court has the opportunity to hear and see
the witnesses and to have the feel of the case, which a
reviewing court cannot enjoy.
[State v. Watts, 223 N.J. 503, 516 (2015) (citations and
quotations omitted).]
There is ample support in the record for the trial court's finding that Gillens
abandoned the gun in response to his encounter with a police officer. Gillens
tossed the gun in a grassy area of an apartment complex as he fled. His purpose,
as made plain by the evidence admitted at the hearing, was to not be in
possession of the gun when police officers caught up to him. See State v.
Ramos, 282 N.J. Super. 19 (App. Div. 1995) (holding that a package discarded
when defendant fled from an attempted investigatory stop based on reasonable
suspicion is admissible).
Nor are we persuaded by defendant's argument that the pursuit of Gillens
was undertaken unlawfully, thus vitiating his abandonment of the gun. We
review the trial court's determination that the officers had particularized
suspicion of criminal activity when they pursued Gillens, a question of law, de
novo. State v. Vargas, 213 N.J. 301, 327 (2013). Under both Article I,
Paragraph 7 of our State Constitution and the Fourth Amendment, a person is
free from unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. Const. amend. IV; N.J.
Const. art. I, ¶ 7. A warrantless seizure is presumptively invalid. State v. Mann,
A-1569-16T2
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203 N.J. 328, 337 (2010). To be lawful, a warrantless seizure must fall within
one of the few well-delineated exceptions to the warrant requirement. Id. at
337-38. One such exception is an investigatory stop. Id. at 338.
An investigatory stop "is valid if it is based on specific and articulable
facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, give rise
to a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity." Ibid. (quotation omitted). A
court reviewing this issue must assess whether "the facts available to the officer
at the moment of the seizure . . . warrant a man of reasonable caution in the
belief that the action taken was appropriate." Ibid. (citation omitted). This must
amount to something more than an unparticular suspicion or hunch.
The record fully supports the trial court's conclusion that the officer who
approached Gillens had reasonable, particularized suspicion that he had
participated in a shooting. Gillens matched the physical description given by
witnesses, and was wearing the clothing they described. He was in the area to
which the witnesses saw the shooter flee. And, when asked by an officer to
engage in a conversation, he fled.
Contrary to defendant's argument, the facts of this case are unlike those in
State v. Tucker, 136 N.J. 158 (1994). In that case, Tucker was sitting on a curb
when police officers approached him. In response, he fled. With no information
A-1569-16T2
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regarding Tucker and no reason other than his flight to suspect him of criminal
activity, the officers gave chase. The Court held that the pursuit of Tucker, and
his ultimate capture, constituted unconstitutional seizures undertaken without
reasonable suspicion. Id. at 173. The Court in Tucker emphasized that
"evidence of criminality" such as "reports of recent nearby crimes . . .
descriptions of recent crime suspects [or] nearby potential or [actual] victims of
crimes" could constitute reasonable suspicion. Id. at 169 (second alteration in
original) (quoting State v. Tucker, 265 N.J. Super. 358, 360 (App. Div. 1993)).
Here, as recounted above, the officer who approached Gillens had ample
information suggesting that Gillens had engaged in criminal activity, a crucial
distinction from the facts before the Court in Tucker.
B. Recorded Telephone Calls.
The State argues that defendant did not preserve his right to challenge the
April 26, 2016 order because he did not join Gillens's motion to suppress t he
transcripts of his jailhouse conversations. The trial court's opinion and order on
the motion to suppress the transcripts do not mention defendant. This contrasts
with the court's opinion and order on the motion to suppress Gillens's gun, which
both note that defendant joined the motion. Defendant's counsel, however,
presented oral argument on the return date of the motion regarding the recorded
A-1569-16T2
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conversations. We consider counsel's participation in oral argument sufficient
to preserve the issues raised in the motion for appeal.
We are, however, constrained to conclude that defendant lacks standing
to challenge the April 26, 2016 order. Defendant has neither a proprietary,
possessory, nor participatory interest in the contents of Gillens's jailhouse
telephone conversations. Randolph, 228 N.J. at 571-72. The conversations took
place on a publicly owned and operated telephone, in a secure correctional
facility, between Gillens and his former girlfriend, after the events underlying
the criminal charges against defendant. Defendant is a complete stranger to the
conversations. He is not charged with a possessory offense related to transcripts
of the conversations. The mere fact that Gillens may have implicated defendant
in criminal activity while speaking with his girlfriend is insufficient to vest him
with standing to challenge the April 26, 2016 order.
Moreover, the trial court's denial of Gillens's suppression motion was
substantively unassailable. Gillens did not have a protected interest in the
content of his phone conversations because he was routinely informed that he
was speaking on a recorded line and chose to do so. See e.g., State v. Evers,
175 N.J. 355, 370 (2003) (concluding there is no reasonable expectation of
privacy attached to a statement made to third parties); State v. Constantino, 254
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N.J. Super. 259, 262 (Law Div. 1991) (finding no reasonable expectation of
privacy attached to a private statement made in a public space). Even assuming,
however, that Gillens had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the content of
his phone calls, jail officials may impinge upon inmates' privacy rights for
legitimate penal interests such as security.
The Law Division addressed this point in State v. Ryan, 145 N.J. Super.
330, 333 (Law. Div. 1976). There, two pretrial detainees in a municipal jail
challenged the admissibility of their recorded conversation, which was obtained
through the jail's electronic surveillance monitoring system, a one-way intercom
to keep officers alert of possible security problems. Id. at 332. The defendants
alleged the monitoring violated their Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights
and their right of privacy. Ibid. The court disagreed:
Lawful incarceration necessitates the reasonable
withdrawal from a prisoner of certain rights normally
enjoyed by a person in free society. It is inherent in our
penal system that a prisoner is not clothed with the
usual array of guaranteed constitutional rights. It may
be true that a prisoner does not leave his constitutional
rights at the jailhouse gates, however, a prisoner does
not enjoy the same right of privacy as nonincarcerated
persons. Lack of privacy must be balanced against
reasonable security in the jail. In the end, the scales
must be tipped in favor of security.
[Id. at 335.]
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That said, however, law enforcement may not disregard the warrant
requirement of the Fourth Amendment when conducting a jailhouse search or
seizure unrelated to "legitimate penological interests" such as "internal order,
discipline, security, and rehabilitation . . . ." Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89
(1987); In re Rules Adoption, 120 N.J. 137, 147 (1990). See also State v.
Jackson, 321 N.J. Super. 365, 374-81 (Law. Div. 1999) (holding defendant-
inmate's constitutional right to privacy was violated when law enforcement
conducted a pre-textual warrantless search of defendant's cell after the
prosecutor was denied a search warrant by the judge).
Here, Gillens's conversations were recorded pursuant to standard MCCC
protocol implemented for security purposes. The record here is devoid of
evidence suggesting a pre-textual motivation for the recording, or any
coordinated effort to collect evidence to support a criminal investigation or
prosecution. Gillens elected to have incriminating conversations with his
girlfriend, aware that jail officials were recording his words. The trial court
correctly concluded that no constitutional violation occurred when transcripts of
those calls were given to the State for use in Gillens's criminal prosecution.
Once lawfully in possession of the contents of Gillens's telephone calls, jail
officials were free to give them to the prosecutor's office.
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C. Defendant's Sentence.
We review a sentence for abuse of discretion. State v. Pierce, 188 N.J.
155, 166 (2006). We are to affirm a sentence, even if we would have imposed
a different one, so long as the sentencing judge "properly identifies and balances
aggravating and mitigating factors that are supported by competent cr edible
evidence in the record." State v. Natale, 184 N.J. 458, 489 (2005) (quoting State
v. O'Donnell, 117 N.J. 210, 215 (1989)). Moreover, a sentence imposed
pursuant to a plea agreement is presumed to be reasonable because it was
negotiated by the parties. State v. Fuentes, 217 N.J. 57, 70 (2014).
The sentencing court must examine the aggravating and mitigating factors
enumerated in N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a) and (b). Each factor found by the court must
be relevant and supported by "competent, reasonably credible evidence." Id. at
72 (quoting State v. Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 363 (1984)). The court then must conduct
a qualitative balancing of the factors to determine the appropriate sentence.
Fuentes, 217 N.J. at 72-73. One "reasonable" approach is for the court to begin
its analysis in the middle range for the offense at issue and determine whether
the factors justify departure above or below the middle range. Id. at 73 (quoting
Natale, 184 N.J. at 488). A sentencing court is not limited to the factual
admissions that formed the basis of the plea. Id. at 71-72. Instead, "the
A-1569-16T2
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sentencing court gathers information necessary to assess the defendant's history
and characteristics, and to understand the nature and circumstances of his or her
crime." Id. at 72.
Defendant argues that the trial court should not have applied aggravating
factor three, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3), because he had a "minor criminal record,"
and because of the "unique circumstances" of his present offense. In addition,
defendant argues the trial court should not have applied aggravating factor nine,
N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(9), because a five year sentence would have satisfied the
deterrent and punitive requirements of the criminal code. There is substantial
credible evidence in the record supporting the trial court's specific findings of
fact with regard to the aggravating and mitigating factors. Defendant had a prior
conviction for distributing drugs, hardly a minor crime. In addition, the
circumstances of defendant's crime are not unique. When confronted by a group
of individuals, defendant, rather than walking away or calling the police,
decided to escalate the situation by conspiring with his brother and Gillens, who
he summoned to the scene, to commit aggravated assault.
Defendant also argues that it was inappropriate for the court to consider
the State's arguments linking defendant to gang activity, and suggesting he
ordered the murder of the man with whom he had an argument. However, the
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court was free to consider all information concerning defendant's life and
characteristics in determining his sentence, which includes the statements he
made prior to the shooting suggesting that he was a member of a gang and that
someone would die that night. Defendant need not have conceded these facts
for the court to consider them at his sentencing.
The trial court acknowledged defendant's contention that the statements
attributed to him by Alston and other witnesses were incorrect. Having had the
opportunity to judge Alston's credibility at a pretrial hearing, the court
determined she was credible and accepted her report of what defendant said.
The court did not find that defendant was a member of a gang, that he murdered
Shakleford, or that the killing was the result of gang-related activity. In fact,
the court declined to find aggravating factor five, substantial likelihood
defendant was involved in organized criminal activity, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(5),
applied. The court found instead, based on Alston's credible testimony, that
defendant boasted of a gang-related association, and threatened extreme
violence during the altercation that preceded Shakleford's shooting.
We also reject defendant's argument that his sentence is excessive.
"Appellate review of the length of a sentence is limited." State v. Miller, 205
N.J. 109, 127 (2011). We are satisfied that the judge's findings and balancing
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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
Fuentes, 217 N.J. at 70; State v. Bieniek, 200 N.J. 601, 608 (2010); State v.
Cassady, 198 N.J. 165, 180-81 (2009). By his own admission, defendant, a
convicted felon on probation, plotted to commit aggravated assault, s etting in
motion the events that resulted in the senseless murder of a young man in front
of his family members. Ten years of imprisonment is consistent with the gravity
of defendant's criminal behavior.
Affirmed.
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