STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. YOAFRY MINALLA (16-12-0993, PASSAIC 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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-1127-18T2
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
YOAFRY MINALLA, a/k/a
YOALFRY ALEXANDER
MINAYA,
Defendant-Appellant.
__________________________
Argued October 27, 2020 – Decided November 17, 2020
Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Passaic County, Indictment No. 16-12-0993.
Matthew T. Mierswa, Designated Counsel, argued the
cause for appellant (Joseph E. Krakora, Public
Defender, attorney; Meghan M. Dougherty, Designated
Counsel, on the brief).
Marc A. Festa, Senior Assistant Prosecutor, argued the
cause for respondent (Camelia M. Valdes, Passaic
County Prosecutor, attorney; Marc A. Festa, of counsel
and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of third-degree possession
of a controlled dangerous substance 1 (CDS), namely fentanyl, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-
10(a)(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon without a permit,
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful
purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a)(1); and fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight,
N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2(a)(2). After merger, defendant was sentenced to a seven-year
prison term with a forty-two-month period of parole ineligibility for the weapons
convictions and concurrent five- and one-year terms, respectively, for the drug
and resisting arrest convictions.
On appeal, defendant raises the following contentions:
POINT I
THE TRIAL COURT ISSUED INADEQUATE JURY
INSTRUCTIONS ON POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
FOR AN UNLAWFUL PURPOSE AND FAILED TO
PROPERLY ADDRESS THE JURY'S QUESTION
REGARDING EVIDENCE OF AN UNLAWFUL
PURPOSE.
1
Defendant was initially indicted for possession of heroin (count one) and crack
cocaine (count four). On the verdict sheet, however, the CDS identified in count
one is fentanyl, an analog for heroin. Likewise, in the judgment of conviction,
count one is listed as possession of "CDS/ANALOG."
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A. The Jury Instructions Were Insufficient Because
They Did Not Describe Defendant's Alleged
Unlawful Purpose.
B. The Trial Court Erred in Failing to Appropriately
Address the Jury's Question Pertaining to
Evidence of an Unlawful Purpose.
POINT II
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE
ERROR IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR A
JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL ON POSSESSION OF
A FIREARM FOR AN UNLAWFUL PURPOSE.
POINT III
THE STATE COMMITTED PROSECUTORIAL
MISCONDUCT WHEN IT ASKED DEFENDANT TO
CHARACTERIZE TESTIMONY AS LYING AND
BERATED THE DEFENSE STRATEGY,
DEPRIVING THE DEFENDANT OF DUE PROCESS
AND A FAIR TRIAL. U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV;
N.J. CONST. ART. 1 ¶ 10.
POINT IV
THE SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR THE SECOND-
DEGREE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A
WEAPON CONVICTION IS MANIFESTLY
EXCESSIVE AND MUST BE REDUCED.
For the following reasons, we affirm defendant's convictions and
sentences.
A-1127-18T2
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I.
To provide necessary background for our opinion we discuss only those
portions of the trial and sentencing proceeding relevant to defendant's arguments
on appeal. Detectives William Herrmann (Herrmann) and Anthony Castronova
(Castronova) of the Paterson Police Department were on patrol at night in an
unmarked vehicle. In two separate police vehicles behind them were Detective
Jose Torres (Torres), another detective, as well as Sergeant Richard LaTrecchia
(LaTrecchia), and a film crew from the "Cops" television show.
At approximately 11:50 p.m., Herrmann and Castronova noticed a group
standing on the sidewalk near Market and Pennington Streets drinking alcoholic
beverages. When they got out of their vehicle and approached the group to issue
them summonses for drinking in public, the officers observed defendant pick up
an orange bag when "paper folds wrapped in rubber bands fell out of the bag,
onto the ground." Herrmann advised defendant that he was under arrest and
instructed him to place his hands in the air, but defendant "disregarded [his]
commands and ran into [a nearby] building."
Herrmann instructed Castronova to pick up the contents of the orange bag
as he pursued defendant on foot. Herrmann pursued defendant up to the third
floor of the building when defendant threw the bag on the ground, "and then just
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laid down and gave up." Torres retrieved the orange bag and advised Herrmann
that it contained a gun.
Defendant testified at trial that when the officers arrived on the scene, he
ran into the building because he "was smoking and . . . got nervous" and had
"problems with [his immigration] papers . . . [and did not] want to get any tickets
in order to be able to renew them." Defendant admitted that at the time of the
incident, he was a United States resident, but his passport was expired. He
denied picking up or holding an orange bag when he ran that night and
emphasized that he "never had knowledge of that bag[,]" that he had "never
known of that . . . gun[,]" and denied ever possessing any of the drugs
confiscated by police that evening. Defendant also claimed that after he was
arrested, Torres was searching inside the building behind the stairwell and
pulled a gun hidden underneath a traffic cone.
Defendant further testified that after Torres came out of the house, "he
went to the back of his vehicle and started checking what was in the bag" then
called another police unit to transport defendant. He stated that the "Cops"
television crew was filming the events as they unfolded both inside and outside
of the building, but they stopped at the second floor because officers were
checking the roof above the porch area of the house.
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Defendant stated that he exchanged words with LaTrecchia who
purportedly told defendant he would strike him in the face when defendant kept
asking to call his mother. When defendant was asked if he was familiar with
fentanyl, he responded that he had "never known about it[,]" he "never touched
any of that[,]" and did not "even know how that's used." He again emphasized
that he "never had [the orange bag] with [him] . . . when [he] ran . . . into the
house."
Defendant moved for judgment of acquittal with respect to the possession
of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest by flight, and possession
of crack cocaine charges. Regarding the unlawful purpose charge, the court
noted that "the State argued that the unlawful purpose can be inferred . . . [as]
[h]e had no . . . permit" and the gun "was found together with narcotics." The
trial court further explained that the:
jury could infer what that unlawful purpose was based
on the circumstances surrounding the case, if they find
the police officers to be credible, and believe that when
he was taken into custody he had a firearm along with
[CDS] that they could infer that his intent was to use
that firearm for an unlawful purpose against another in
either them taking the drugs from him or whatever the
jury can determine based on the circumstances, the time
of night, and all those other things that his intent was to
use it against the person or property of another.
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The court concluded that since "[t]here is no requirement under the
elements of this offense that there be actual testimony[,]" and "viewing all the
testimony in the light most favorable and all the favorable inferences that can
be . . . drawn therefrom, a jury could reasonably find guilt on that charge beyond
a reasonable doubt." The court therefore denied defendant's motion as to the
unlawful purpose and resisting arrest by flight offenses but granted the motion
as to the possession of crack cocaine and dismissed that charge.
During summations, defense counsel argued that the State's failure to
produce the video from the "Cops" television show indicated that the police were
"hiding something." Defense counsel also stated that "every officer that testified
went over [Detective Herrmann's] report . . . [and had] an interest here because
they . . . made an arrest." Finally, defense counsel emphasized that "anytime a
police officer testifies, you know there's bias because he's testifying for the
State."
In the State's summation, the prosecutor rebutted the defendant's argument
that the police were biased and offered the following explanation to support the
unlawful possession charge:
So what's the logical inference here? He's bringing
marijuana to smoke. It's probably in this jar. It is in
this jar with the other narcotics. In this bag. Because
you're carrying your bag with your stuff in it. And
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when you carry your bag in [and] your stuff with it, and
you have drugs, so no one takes your drugs, you have
to defend yourself. Because you can't call the police
exactly, right, and say someone took my drugs. So you
have a gun.
When charging the jury on the possession of a firearm for an unlawful
purpose charge, the court stated that the State must prove that the weapon
presented as evidence "is a firearm"; "defendant possessed the firearm"; that
defendant had the "purpose to use it against the person or property of another";
and that his purpose "was to use the firearm unlawfully." The court also
explained, consistent with the State's contention that defendant "had an unlawful
purpose in possessing the firearm because he had no legitimate purpose in
possessing the weapon and did so without a permit" and that the unlawful
purpose "may be inferred from all that was said or done and from all of the
surrounding circumstances of this case."
During deliberations, the jury requested further clarification on the third
and fourth elements of the unlawful purpose charge. Specifically, the jury
asked, "[h]ow do we understand the intent of the person who possesses an
unregistered firearm as to potential harm to a person or property . . . [a]nd . . .
will use said firearm unlawfully?" Over defendant's objection, the court
instructed the jury that "based upon the evidence presented to you, you heard
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testimony in relation to the possession of fentanyl" and "[y]ou can extrapolate
from the facts and circumstances in this case that the unlawful purpose of the
weapon was to protect the fentanyl." The court further instructed that:
[I]t's for you to decide that . . . . [Y]ou make a decision
whether or not [defendant], in fact, possessed the . . .
fentanyl. It's not for me to decide. It's for you to
decide. And . . . whether the unlawful purpose was to
protect that fentanyl, ladies and gentlemen. You can
choose to find that that's not the case. That's within
your purview. You are the fact finders. Whatever your
recollection of the testimony is what controls. Not
mine . . . .
....
And so I wanted to clarify what you could extrapolate
from the evidence. But, ultimately, it's for you to
decide whether [defendant] possessed the fentanyl.
And if you don't find that [defendant] possessed the
fentanyl, that may [a]ffect your decision on the
unlawful purpose. Right. But if you do find that that's
there, that is what you can extrapolate from the
evidence. And that would be your unlawful purpose. It
is insufficient for you to find an unlawful [purpose]
based solely on the fact that there was no permit to have
the weapon.
At sentencing, the court noted that defendant's criminal history included
"a couple of disorderly person's offenses" but he had no indictable offenses. The
court also stated that defendant was not married, and his girlfriend was expecting
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9
his first child. Finally, the court noted that defendant was not employed at the
time of the incident.
The court found that aggravating factors three, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3)
("[t]he risk that defendant will commit another offense") and nine, N.J.S.A.
2C:44-1(a)(9) ("[t]he need for deterring defendant and others from violating the
law") were applicable "based on [defendant's] history or . . . background." The
court also found that "to some extent" mitigating factor seven, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-
1(b)(7) ("[t]he defendant has no history of prior delinquency or criminal activity
or has led a law-abiding life for a substantial period of time before the
commission of the present offense") was appropriate as defendant "has a couple
of [m]unicipal [c]ourt matters, but, in essence, he has led a law-abiding life."
The court determined that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating
factors.
II.
We first consider defendant's contention that the court gave an erroneous
jury instruction on the possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose charge.
Defendant specifically argues that the court's instruction was defective because
it "merely advised the jury of the State's contention that [he] possessed the
firearm unlawfully and therefore had no lawful purpose." Defendant further
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argues that the trial court erred when it "provided the jury with an unlawful
purpose that was different than the purpose provided by the State" instead of
"instruct[ing] the jury that it was the State's burden to prove [defendant]
possessed an unlawful purpose for the handgun." We disagree with all of these
contentions.
Correct and appropriate jury charges are essential to a fair trial. State v.
Baum, 224 N.J. 147, 158-59 (2016). The court must "'instruct the jury as to the
fundamental principles of law which control the case [including] the definition
of the crime, the commission of which is basic to the prosecution against the
defendant.'" State v. McKinney, 223 N.J. 475, 495 (2015) (alteration in original)
(quoting State v. Green, 86 N.J. 281, 288 (1981)).
In reviewing jury instructions, we consider the challenged portion of the
instruction in the context of the entire charge to determine whether the overall
effect was misleading or ambiguous. Id. at 494. In situations where a trial court
correctly instructs the jury concerning certain components of the charge, "'[t]he
test to be applied . . . is whether the charge as a whole is misleading, or sets forth
accurately and fairly the controlling principles of law.'" Id. at 496 (alteration in
original) (quoting State v. Jackmon, 305 N.J. Super. 274, 299 (App. Div. 1997)).
A-1127-18T2
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Conviction for second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful
purpose requires the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) the object possessed was a "firearm" within the
meaning of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1(f); (2) the firearm was
possessed by defendant as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:2-
1(c); (3) the defendant's purpose in possessing the
firearm was to use it against the person or property of
another; and (4) the defendant intended to use the
firearm in a manner that was unlawful.
[State v. Diaz, 144 N.J. 628, 635 (1996).]
A purpose to use a weapon unlawfully must be proved particularly and it
cannot be inferred from proof that the weapon was unlicensed. See State v.
Dixon, 114 N.J. 111, 113 (1989). A conviction of an underlying charge
involving the gun – assault, robbery, rape – usually "supplies the factual basis
for an inference of unlawful purpose in possessing the gun." State v. Jenkins,
234 N.J. Super. 311, 315 (App. Div. 1989). However, "if the possession charge
stands alone, or if acquittal of the accompanying charge erases the identification
of the unlawful purpose, the court may not permit the jury to convict on the basis
of speculation as to what possible purposes qualify as unlawful." Ibid.
Accordingly in such circumstances, a jury instruction "must include an
identification of such unlawful purposes as may be suggested by the eviden ce
and an instruction that the jury may not convict based on their own notion of the
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unlawfulness of some other undescribed purpose." Id. at 316; State v. Williams,
168 N.J. 323, 340 (2001); State v. Petties, 139 N.J. 310, 319-20 (1995).
Identification of the unlawful purpose by the judge is critical because a jury is
not qualified to conclude, without assistance, which purposes for possessing a
gun are lawful and which are unlawful. Petties, 139 N.J. at 320.
Here, the court adhered in large part to the model jury instructions with
respect to the unlawful possession charge. Model Jury Charges (Criminal),
"Possession of a Firearm With a Purpose to Use it Unlawfully Against the Person
or Property of Another (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a))" (rev. Oct. 22, 2018). Although
the court did not initially define specifically the "unlawful purpose," and instead
instructed the jury that "the State contends that the defendant had an unlawful
purpose in possessing the firearm because he had no legitimate purpose in
possessing the weapon and did so without a permit," its later instruction
precisely described the unlawful purpose consistent with relevant case law.
Indeed, the court instructed the jury that it was their decision as to "whether or
not [defendant] . . . possessed the . . . fentanyl" and "whether the unlawful
purpose was to protect that fentanyl."
Taken as a whole, the instructions were proper as the trial court correctly
instructed the jury that it might infer an unlawful purpose from the
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circumstances. Further, it correctly advised the jurors that they could not rely
on their own notions of the unlawfulness of some other undescribed purpose of
the defendant. And, the court did identify for the jury the unlawful purpose that
the jury could find from the evidence presented. Accordingly, the court clarified
that the jury could infer defendant's unlawful purpose in possessing the handgun,
based on the evidence presented at trial, was to protect the drugs he had in his
possession. Contrary to defendant's assertion, the State made that specific
argument during summations and thus, the court did not "provide[] the jury with
an unlawful purpose that was different than the purpose provided by the State."
III.
Defendant argues in his second point that the trial court improperly denied
his motion for a judgment of acquittal. More specifically, defendant contends
the State failed to present evidence indicating that he possessed a handgun with
an unlawful purpose as "the handgun was not loaded" and "no bullets were found
in the handgun." He concludes that "[a]bsent any evidence as to [his] alleged
unlawful purpose, the State has failed to prove anything beyond unlawful
possession of a weapon." We are not persuaded.
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We review de novo the denial of defendant's motion for judgment of
acquittal, applying the same standard used by the trial judge. State v. Dekowski,
218 N.J. 596, 608 (2014). We consider:
whether, viewing 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).]
Under Rule 3:18-1, a court is "not concerned with the worth, nature or
extent (beyond a scintilla) of the evidence, but only with its existence, viewed
most favorably to the State." State v. Muniz, 150 N.J. Super. 436, 440 (App.
Div. 1977). "If the evidence satisfies that standard, the motion must be denied."
State v. Spivey, 179 N.J. 229, 236 (2004).
Here, Torres testified that a substantial quantity of narcotics was
recovered during the arrest, including fentanyl, as well as a working, but
unloaded, handgun. As noted, the State argued in its closing that the logical
inference based on the evidence presented was that when "you have drugs, so
no one takes your drugs, you have to defend yourself." The State further
emphasized that "the unlawful purpose . . . was having this weapon while
[defendant] was transporting narcotics." The jury could reasonably infer from
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the testimony and evidence presented that defendant carried the weapon to
protect himself and the drugs he had in his possession. See, e.g., Petties, 139
N.J. at 316 ("If a search were to disclose large quantities of drugs and cash in a
home, one might infer that any handguns found in the home were possessed for
the unlawful purpose of aiding drug trafficking.").
As to the fact that the gun was unloaded at the time of his arrest, we have
stated that "the loaded or unloaded status of a firearm has not been a factor in
offenses involving weapons." State v. Jules, 345 N.J. Super. 185, 191 (App.
Div. 2001). In Jules, a defendant argued an unloaded firearm in the commission
of an attempted robbery should not warrant imposing a sentence pursuant to the
No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2 (NERA). Id. at 187. We found a
"firearm to be no less 'ordinarily capable' of injury by virtue" of being unloaded,
id. at 192, and within the definition of a deadly weapon under NERA. Ibid.
Moreover, in State v. Bill, we determined that "the Legislature intended that
both loaded and unloaded firearms be considered when ascertaining guilt for
pointing a firearm at another." 194 N.J. Super. 192, 198 (App. Div. 1984).
Defendant's possession of a firearm, despite it being unloaded, does not
negate its ability to be used for his protection while in possession of illegal
drugs. Indeed, defendant could still utilize the operable handgun to threaten
A-1127-18T2
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third parties who would be unaware of its unloaded status. Therefore, the trial
evidence was sufficient to permit the jury to reasonably infer the specific
unlawful purpose and defendant's motion for a judgment of acquittal on this
count was properly denied by the court.
IV.
Defendant contends in his third point that "[t]he prosecutor's questioning
. . . was improper and deprived him of his right to due process and a fair trial
and had the clear capacity to produce an unjust result." He specifically claims
that during the State's cross-examination the prosecutor improperly asked him
whether: 1) his friend, Carlos Rivera, who was also a defense witness, was
"lying . . . when he testified he was able to see the bag in the common area"; and
2) "it would be a lie to say that [defendant was] respectful of [LaTrecchia] as
well." Defendant further argues that his conviction should be reversed because
the prosecutor improperly vouched for witnesses' credibility during closing
arguments. Again, we disagree.
"A prosecutor must 'conscientiously and ethically undertak[e] the difficult
task of maintaining the precarious balance between promoting justice and
achieving a conviction,' ensuring that at all times his or her 'remarks and actions
[are] consistent with his or her duty to ensure that justice is achieved.'" State v.
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Jackson, 211 N.J. 394, 408 (2012) (alterations in original) (quoting State v.
Williams, 113 N.J. 393, 447-48 (1988)). "Whether particular prosecutorial
efforts can be tolerated as vigorous advocacy or must be condemned as
misconduct is often a difficult determination to make. In every instance, the
performance must be evaluated in the context of the entire trial, the issues
presented, and the general approaches employed." State v. Negron, 355 N.J.
Super. 556, 576 (App. Div. 2002).
"[P]rosecutorial misconduct is not grounds for reversal of a criminal
conviction unless the conduct was so egregious as to deprive [the] defendant of
a fair trial." State v. Timmendequas, 161 N.J. 515, 575 (1999). "To justify
reversal, the prosecutor's conduct must have been clearly and unmistakably
improper, and must have substantially prejudiced [the] defendant's fundamental
right to have a jury fairly evaluate the merits of his [or her] defense." State v.
Nelson, 173 N.J. 417, 460 (2002) (alterations in original) (quoting State v.
Papasavvas, 163 N.J. 565, 625 (2000)). Moreover, "a failure to make a timely
objection indicates defense counsel's belief that the prosecutor's remarks were
not prejudicial at the time they were made," State v. Josephs, 174 N.J. 44, 125
(2002), and "deprives the court of the opportunity to take curative action."
Timmendequas, 161 N.J. at 576. Thus, "[g]enerally, if no objection was made
A-1127-18T2
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to the improper remarks, the remarks will not be deemed prejudicial." State v.
R.B., 183 N.J. 308, 333 (2005) (quoting State v. Frost, 158 N.J. 76, 83 (1999)).
Here, the prosecutor asked whether defendant was "lying . . . when he said
he was able to see the bag . . . ." Before defendant could answer, his counsel
objected, and the prosecutor continued with his cross-examination without
eliciting a response. The State also asked defendant whether it was "[the truth]
or a lie that [defendant] [was] respectful to [Sergeant LaTrecchia]." Defendant
responded, without objection, that "[he] did have [an] exchange of words with
[LaTrecchia] and [LaTrecchia] told [defendant] that he was going to hit [him] if
[defendant] didn't shut up."
We conclude none of the prosecutor's statements were "clearly and
unmistakably improper" nor did they "substantially prejudice[] [the] defendant's
fundamental right to have a jury fairly evaluate the merits of his [or her]
defense." Nelson, 173 N.J. at 460. With respect to the first question, the
prosecutor simply attempted to impeach defendant's direct testimony and
defendant never provided a response.
As to the second statement, the lack of a timely objection is a strong
indication of "defense counsel's belief that the prosecutor's remarks were not
prejudicial at the time they were made." See Josephs, 174 N.J. at 125. Further,
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there is nothing in the record to suggest that whether defendant was respectful
of police during his arrest had any bearing on whether he was in possession of
the gun and drugs, and resisted arrest by fleeing from police.
Defendant's reliance on State v. Bunch, 180 N.J. 534 (2004) is misplaced.
In Bunch, our Supreme Court found objectionable "the following unobjected -to
question [posed by the prosecutor] during [the defendant's] cross-examination:
'So basically you want this jury to believe that everything that the officers came
in here and testified to is untrue?'" 180 N.J. at 549. The Court "agree[d] with
defendant that the assistant prosecutor should not have asked defendant to assess
the credibility of another witness." Ibid.; see also State v. Frisby, 174 N.J. 583,
594 (2002) (explaining that "the mere assessment of another witness's credibility
is prohibited"). The Court, nevertheless, held that "in view of the substantial
amount of evidence of defendant's guilt and the trial court's instruction to the
jury that it must determine the witnesses' credibility, we conclude that the
improper statement was not 'so egregious that it deprived defendant of a fair
trial.'" Bunch, 180 N.J. at 549 (quoting State v. Ramseur, 106 N.J. 123, 322
(1987)).
Here, the objectionable statements did not deprive defendant of a fair trial.
The jury considered a wealth of evidence, including defendant's testimony, and
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concluded based on the overwhelming evidence that defendant possessed
fentanyl, a weapon unlawfully, and fled from the police.
We reach a similar conclusion with respect to defendant's claim that he
was deprived of a fair trial as a result of the prosecutor improperly "vouching
for the truthfulness of the State's witnesses." Specifically, defendant asserts that
the prosecutor "crossed the line that separates forceful from impermissible
closing argument" and that the State "continued to impinge upon the province
of the jury by bolstering the credibility of [its] witnesses at closing." We
disagree.
Again, there was no objection to the prosecutor's comments. See R.B.,
183 N.J. at 333. Further, the State's remarks at closing merely responded to
defendant's counsel's that the police were lying and thus did not constitute
improper vouching for the police officers' credibility as witnesses. Rather, the
prosecutor's comments were legitimate inferences within the factual parameters
of the case as LaTrecchia testified that the Paterson police director ordered his
unit to have the "Cops" television crew ride with them that night, and the jury
could conclude the defendant's version of events was unreasonable.
In light of the lack of a timely and proper objection to the State's remarks
at closing, defense counsel's own arguments questioning the credibility of the
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police officers, and the court's instructions to the jury on two occasions that it
was their responsibility to judge the credibility of the witnesses, we conclude
reversal of defendant's convictions is not warranted.
V.
Finally, defendant argues that his aggregate seven-year prison term with
a forty-two-month parole disqualifier is "manifestly excessive" and the result of
the court overvaluing the aggravating factors and the failure to apply applicable
mitigating factors. He specifically contends that the court failed to consider
mitigating factors one, "[t]he defendant's conduct neither caused nor threatened
serious harm," N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(1), and eleven, that "[t]he imprisonment of
the defendant would entail excessive hardship to himself or his dependents."
N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(11). Further, defendant asserts that the court's application
of mitigating factor seven, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(7), is inconsistent with the
court's application of aggravating factors three, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3), and
nine, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(9). We disagree.
We review criminal sentences for a "clear abuse of discretion." State v.
Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 363 (1984). We are bound to uphold the trial court's sentence
unless "(1) the sentencing guidelines were violated; (2) the aggravating and
mitigating factors found . . . were not based upon competent and credible
A-1127-18T2
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evidence; or (3) 'the application of the guidelines . . . makes the sentence clearly
unreasonable so as to shock the judicial conscience.'" State v. Fuentes, 217 N.J.
57, 70 (2014) (quoting Roth, 95 N.J. at 364-65).
The court's obligations when sentencing a defendant are clear. A
sentencing court must determine which, if any, aggravating and mitigating
factors apply, and balance those found applicable. Id. at 72-73; see also N.J.S.A.
2C:44-1. Once the court has balanced the applicable factors, it "may impose a
term within the permissible range for the offense." State v. Bieniek, 200 N.J.
601, 608 (2010). "At the time sentence is imposed the judge [must] state reasons
for imposing such sentence . . . [and] the factual basis supporting a finding of
particular aggravating or mitigating factors affecting sentence . . . ." R. 3:21-
4(g).
Defendant's first argument that the court did not adequately consider
mitigating factor eleven is without merit as the record does not support the
conclusion that his imprisonment will cause an "excessive hardship" on his
family under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(11). See State v. Dalziel, 182 N.J. 494, 505
(2005). At no time during the sentencing hearing did defendant suggest or
demonstrate that he would be the sole provider for his unborn child or that there
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were any special circumstances arising from his incarceration that would
constitute such an "excessive hardship."
Additionally, defendant's claim that his conduct "neither caused nor
threatened serious harm, satisfying mitigating factor one," is also without merit.
The use and possession of drugs, along with the simultaneous posses sion of a
working handgun, is clearly conduct that can "cause or threaten serious harm."
Our Supreme Court elaborated on the seriousness of gun possession and noted
in the context of whether to apply the Graves Act, that even if an individual has
no intention to use a gun, "the possession of a firearm presents definable
dangers. [Specifically,] it invites gun use by police or third parties, with
attendant risks to all involved." State v. Des Marets, 92 N.J. 62, 69-70 (1983).
Further, the individual's intent "could change under the pressure of ensuing
events." Id. at 70. Here, defendant's possession of a working, but unloaded,
handgun was a threat to others, and he could have invited gun use by the police.
It also created the risk that his intent could change under the pressure of ensuing
events, such as his resisting arrest by flight.
We also disagree with defendant's contention that the court's reliance on
aggravating factors three and nine was inconsistent with its finding that
mitigating factor seven applies. Those aggravating factors are supported by the
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defendant's prior criminal history which includes two disorderly persons
offenses. Further, the court acknowledged that defendant generally "has led a
law-abiding life[,]" but afforded mitigating factor seven minimal weight as it
stated the factor only applied "to some extent."
We therefore conclude that the judge followed the sentencing guidelines
and there is sufficient credible evidence in the record to support the judge's
findings on the aggravating and mitigating factors. We reject defendant's
contention that the judge failed to adequately weigh the aggravating and
mitigating factors. The sentence is reasonable and does not shock the judicial
conscience. See Fuentes, 217 N.J. at 70 (quoting Roth, 95 N.J. at 364-65).
To the extent we have not addressed any of defendant's remaining
arguments it is because we have determined that they are without sufficient merit
to warrant discussion in a written opinion. See R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
Affirmed.
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