SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY 

 APPELLATE DIVISION 

 DOCKET NOS. A-5102-18 

 A-2666-20

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, 

 Plaintiff-Respondent, 

v.

DONALD SCURRY, 

a/k/a DONALD SCURRY, JR., 

and TANK SCURRY, 

 Defendant-Appellant. 

___________________________

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, 

 Plaintiff-Respondent, 

v.

CHARLES B. CLARK, 

 Defendant-Appellant. 

___________________________

Argued December 18, 2023 — Decided December 28, 2023

Before Judges Mawla, Marczyk, and Chase. 

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE 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.
2 A-5102-18

On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law 

Division, Cumberland County, Indictment No. 17-12-

1084.

Richard Sparaco, Designated Counsel, argued the cause 

for appellant Donald Scurry (Joseph E. Krakora, Public 

Defender, attorney; Richard Sparaco, on the brief).

Stefan Van Jura, Assistant Deputy Public Defender, 

argued the cause for appellant Charles B. Clark (Joseph 

E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney; Stefan Van Jura, 

of counsel and on the brief). 

Kaili Elizabeth Matthews, Deputy Attorney General, 

argued the cause for respondent (Matthew J. Platkin, 

Attorney General, attorney; Kaili Elizabeth Matthews, 

of counsel and on the briefs). 

PER CURIAM 

 These are back-to-back appeals. In A-5102-18, defendant Donald Scurry 

appeals from his convictions and sentence for: first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 

2C:11-3(a)(2) (count one); second-degree possession of a weapon for an 

unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a)(1) (count two); second-degree unlawful 

possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1) (count three); third-degree 

tampering with evidence, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3(b)(1) (count four); and seconddegree possession of a weapon by a convicted person, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(b)(1) 

(count eight). In A-2666-20, defendant Charles B. Clark appeals from his 

convictions and sentence for: second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, 
3 A-5102-18

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1) (count three); third-degree hindering apprehension, 

N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3(a)(3) (count five); fourth-degree tampering with physical 

evidence, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-6(1) (count six); and fourth-degree obstruction of the 

administration of law, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1(a) (count seven). 

 Defendants were tried together before a jury, over the course of eleven 

days. The same judge heard pre-trial motions, presided at trial, and sentenced 

defendants. 

The victim, Celeste Cannon, lived in Millville with her three children. 

She had a two-year-old son with Scurry, and three- and four-year-old daughters 

with Titus Ramsey. At the time of her murder, she was sixteen weeks pregnant 

with a fourth child, fathered by Andrew Thompson. 

Scurry visited Cannon's home late in the morning of September 20, 2017, 

with his paramour Rachel Green, whom he had asked for a ride. Not long after 

entering the house, he exited with Cannon's children and told Green he found 

Cannon lying dead on the floor. Green helped the children into the car and 

called 9-1-1. Meanwhile Scurry tried to flag down a passing police vehicle for 

help, but the officer was transporting a prisoner and could not stop. Instead, the 

officer contacted police dispatch, and Officer William Stadnick responded. 
4 A-5102-18

The officer spoke with Scurry, who explained he had spotted Cannon's car 

still parked in front of the home while he was driving by that morning and 

thought it odd, so he decided to stop and check on her. Scurry said the twoyear-old opened the door for him, and he found Cannon's body inside the house. 

Officer Jason Vinzinski arrived next, and Scurry told him the last time he 

had spoken to Cannon was at 8:24 p.m. the prior evening, when he sent her a 

text message about taking their son for a haircut. He tried calling her at 6:52 

a.m. the following morning and, when she did not answer, Scurry asked Green 

to take him to Cannon's house. Scurry then reiterated much of what he told 

Officer Stadnick, except he stated he did not enter Cannon's home, claiming he 

"wouldn't go inside someone's house without permission." 

Officers transported Scurry to the police station for a video-recorded 

interview with Detectives Miguel Martinez and Nelson Ferrer. Scurry recounted 

the events in a similar fashion, and at the end of the interview consented to a 

search of his phone. The phone contained a video showing him together with 

Cannon the morning prior to her murder. At trial, the State introduced a still 

image from the video depicting Scurry lying down with a nine-millimeter 

handgun sitting just behind his right shoulder. Scurry's phone also yielded 

several text messages between him and Cannon the day before the murder. 
5 A-5102-18

Police also collected surveillance footage from several nearby residences and 

businesses, including a Wawa. 

The State's evidence showed Cannon sent her final text to Scurry at 8:21 

p.m. the night before the murder. Scurry responded at 8:24 p.m. as follows: 

"IDC, bitch, you lying." Later that night, Scurry asked Clark's girlfriend, 

Quashay Brown, for a ride to Cannon's house. She and Clark drove him there 

in Brown's car and returned to Clark's home after dropping him off. Location 

data from Scurry's phone placed him outside Cannon's residence as of 12:17 a.m. 

Scurry texted Cannon "Bitch, wake TF up" at 12:25 a.m. and two minutes 

later texted "pick up the fucking phone, you dumb lying bitch," and "I'm about 

to come over so you know what it is." Security camera footage from a neighbor's 

residence showed an individual, similar in size and build to Scurry wearing a 

light-colored sweatshirt and jeans, hurrying away from Cannon's residence. 

Scurry eventually called Brown and Clark for a ride and asked to be picked 

up on a side street. They picked him up, and Wawa security camera footage 

showed they stopped at the Wawa at 3:22 a.m., on their way back to Green's 

house. Scurry and Clark went into the store together while Brown was outside 

getting gas. Both men then returned to Brown's car, and Brown went into the 

store. 
6 A-5102-18

Brown testified that when they arrived at Green's house, Scurry and Clark 

got out of the car and had a short conversation in the driveway. Scurry then 

entered Green's home and went to bed. Clark returned to the car and asked 

Brown to drive him to another nearby Wawa beyond a bridge, which spanned 

the Maurice River. When they were nearly halfway over the bridge, Clark told 

Brown he had changed his mind and wanted to turn back. As Brown made a Uturn, she observed Clark reach out of the passenger window and "chuck[]" 

something with enough force to reach the water. 

Police recovered a spent nine-millimeter shell casing melded to a couch's 

vinyl, next to Cannon's body. A passerby found a gun, a nine millimeter gun, in 

the Maurice River a few days after the murder. Police also interviewed 

Thompson and Ramsey. Ramsey arrived at the scene the morning Cannon's 

body was discovered and was extremely distraught and difficult to calm down. 

Following their convictions, the trial judge sentenced Scurry to a fiftyfive-year term subject to the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, on count 

one, and merged counts two and three into count one. Defendant received a 

five-year concurrent term of incarceration on count four, and a ten-year 

consecutive term on count eight with a five-year period of parole ineligibility 
7 A-5102-18

under the Graves Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(c). Under a separate indictment, Scurry 

received a concurrent five-year flat term for violating probation. 

Clark was sentenced to eight years with four years of parole ineligibility 

on count three and a concurrent four-year flat term on count five. Counts six 

and seven were merged with count five. 

Scurry raises the following arguments on appeal: 

POINT I THE DENIAL OF THE DEFENDANT'S 

MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS DENIED HIM THE 

RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL. 

(a) THE DEFENDANT'S FORMAL 

STATEMENTS TO DETECTIVES SHOULD 

HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED BECAUSE THE 

DEFENDANT WAS IN CUSTODY AND WAS 

NOT ADVISED OF HIS MIRANDA[1] RIGHTS. 

(b) THE DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO 

SUPPRESS THE RESULTS OF THE SEIZURE 

AND EXAMINATION OF HIS CELL PHONE 

SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED AS THE 

FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE. 

POINT II DEFENDANT WAS DENIED THE 

RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL WHEN THE STATE WAS 

PERMITTED TO IMPEACH ITS OWN WITNESS: 

THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL 

ERROR BY ALLOWING THE STATE TO PLAY 

THE PRIOR STATEMENT OF WITNESS . . . 

BROWN TO THE JURY; THE STATE IMPROPERLY 

IMPEACHED ITS OWN WITNESS WITH HER 

1

 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). 
8 A-5102-18

PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT THAT SHE 

OBSERVED THE CODEFENDANT THROW AN 

OBJECT FROM THE BRIDGE OVER THE 

MAURICE RIVER WHERE THE PURPORTED 

MURDER WEAPON WAS LATER RECOVERED. 

POINT III THE DEFENDANT WAS DENIED THE 

RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL WHEN THE COURT 

LIMITED HIS ABILITY TO PRESENT EVIDENCE 

OF THIRD-PARTY GUILT. 

POINT IV THE DEFENDANT WAS DENIED THE 

RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL DUE TO THE COURT'S 

FAILURE TO PROPERLY WARN THE JURY TO 

DISREGARD DEFENDANT'S ASSERTION OF HIS 

RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT IN ITS FINAL JURY 

INSTRUCTIONS. (Not Raised Below). 

POINT V THE VIDEO LOCATED ON 

DEFENDANT'S CELL PHONE WHICH 

PURPORTEDLY SHOWED A FIREARM AT OR 

NEAR THE DEFENDANT WAS INADMISSIBLE AS 

A PRIOR BAD ACT UNDER N.J.R.E. 404(B) AND 

WAS ERRONEOUSLY ADMITTED AS 

PROPENSITY EVIDENCE, THEREBY DENYING 

THE DEFENDANT A FAIR TRIAL. 

POINT VI DEFENDANT WAS DENIED THE 

RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL DUE TO THE 

INADMISSIBLE LAY OPINION TESTIMONY BY 

THE INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE THAT THE 

DEFENDANT WAS THE PERSON DEPICTED ON 

THE WAWA SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS, THEREBY 

INVADING THE PROVINCE OF THE JURY AS THE 

FACTFINDER. (Not Raised Below). 

POINT VII THE DEFENDANT MUST BE 

RESENTENCED BECAUSE THE COURT DID NOT 
9 A-5102-18

ADDRESS THE OVERALL FAIRNESS OF THE 

CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES. (Not Raised Below). 

 Clark raises the following arguments on his appeal: 

POINT I THE COURT ERRED IN DENYING 

DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THE 

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN 

CHARGE AT THE CLOSE OF THE STATE'S CASE. 

POINT II THE COURT ERRED IN DENYING 

SEVERANCE OF SCURRY'S BRUTAL MURDER 

OF A PREGNANT WOMAN FROM DEFENDANT'S 

MERE DISPOSAL OF THE HANDGUN AFTER THE 

FACT. 

POINT III THE TRIAL COURT IMPOSED AN 

EXCESSIVE SENTENCE THAT SHOULD BE 

REDUCED. 

I.

Scurry argues the court erred in declining to suppress the statements he 

made to detectives during his interview and the text messages they obtained 

from his phone. He contends his statements were made in the context of a 

custodial interrogation and were un-Mirandized. As a result, he also argues the 

text messages should have been suppressed as fruit of the poisonous tree. 

Generally, a custodial interrogation is any "questioning initiated by law 

enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise 

deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way." Miranda, 384 U.S. at 
10 A-5102-18

444. It need not entail a formal arrest, handcuffs, or other physical restraint, or 

even necessarily occur at a police station. State v. P.Z., 152 N.J. 86, 103 (1997). 

Absent a formal arrest, the "critical determinant of custody is whether there has 

been a significant deprivation of the suspect's freedom of action based on the 

objective circumstances, including the time and place of the interrogation, the 

status of the interrogator, the status of the suspect, and other such factors[,]" 

such that the restraint on the suspect's freedom of movement is "of the degree 

associated with a formal arrest." Id. at 102-03 (quoting California v. Beheler, 

463 U.S. 1121, 1125 (1983)). 

A trial court's findings of fact on this issue are entitled to deference on 

appeal so long as they are supported by sufficient credible evidence in the 

record. State v. Elders, 192 N.J. 224, 242-44 (2007). However, we review a 

court's conclusions on matters of law de novo. State v. Shaw, 213 N.J. 398, 411 

(2012). 

At the suppression motion hearing, Officer Stadnick testified about his 

conversation with Scurry outside the house after he and emergency medical 

personnel confirmed Cannon was dead. Scurry told Officer Stadnick he had 

tried contacting Cannon several times the night before and again in the morning 

without success. That morning, while driving by her house, he noticed her car 
11 A-5102-18

still parked in front and thought that odd, so he decided to check on her. He 

then found Cannon's body after his son let him into the house. As he finished 

speaking with Officer Stadnick, he agreed to wait at the scene until detectives 

arrived. 

Detective Martinez, who was familiar with Scurry from prior 

investigations, arrived and briefly spoke with him outside the house before 

entering to investigate. When he returned, he asked whether Scurry would be 

willing to give a formal statement regarding his discovery of Cannon's body. 

Scurry agreed, and Detective Martinez transported him to the police station, 

where detectives interviewed Scurry for approximately ninety minutes. 

Notably, on the recording, just prior to the interview, a voice can be heard 

off camera, which Detective Martinez identified as belonging to an officer 

having a phone conversation about an unrelated case nearby. In the off-camera 

conversation, an officer is apparently persuading someone to come to the station 

to speak with police and advising the person there is no warrant for their arrest. 

The video recording shows the interview room was still dark and unoccupied 

while the off-camera conversation was taking place. Then, Detective Ferrer 

enters the room, turns on the lights, and brings Scurry in to wait for the interview 

to begin. The off-camera conversation continues, while Scurry is waiting alone 
12 A-5102-18

in the room, not engaged in a conversation until the video captured the sound of 

the phone being hung up at the end of the conversation. Clearly, the off-camera 

conversation had nothing to do with Scurry. 

Once the interview began, Scurry recounted how he found Cannon's body. 

When detectives asked for Scurry's consent to search his phone, the following 

colloquy ensued: 

[SCURRY]: — (indiscernible). If I say no, then 

what'll happen if I say no (indiscernible) consent,

though?

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I mean, . . . they're 

going to apply for a search warrant anyway. 

[SCURRY]: (Indiscernible). 

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (Indiscernible) 

search warrant, but that—obviously, that 

(indiscernible). I know you had mentioned you wanted 

your phone back right away. 

[SCURRY]: Yeah. 

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: And, you know, 

(indiscernible) willing to give you, you know, 

(indiscernible). 

It's up to you. I'm just trying (indiscernible) to

get your phone (indiscernible). 

[SCURRY]: If I say no, (indiscernible) keep me 

here until—
13 A-5102-18

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Well, 

(indiscernible) keep the phone (indiscernible) apply for 

a full search warrant and get that information off of 

there. 

Scurry consented to a search of his phone, signed a consent form, and gave 

detectives his passcode. 

Officer Stadnick's police report did not designate Scurry as either a 

witness or a suspect, and instead denoted him in an "other" category. The officer 

explained this was because Scurry had not witnessed the actual crime and, at the 

time, "wasn't anything other than somebody on scene that I spoke with." 

Likewise, Detective Martinez testified he did not consider Scurry a suspect at 

the time, but only a witness who had discovered the body. Scurry was not under 

arrest at the time of the interview. 

The trial judge credited the testimony of the State's witnesses. He found 

the "objective facts of this case at the time of the questioning" did not "lead to a 

conclusion that [Scurry] was a natural suspect." Scurry's romantic relationship 

with Cannon had already terminated, they no longer lived together, and Scurry 

was in a relationship with Green. He went to Cannon's house with Green; Green 

was the one who called 9-1-1; and Scurry waived down police after he 

discovered Cannon's body. Further, at the time of the interview, there was no 

physical evidence linking Scurry to the murder. 
14 A-5102-18

The judge concluded Scurry was not in custody at the time of the 

interview. Moreover, the detectives' questions were not coercive, but intended 

to record Scurry's account, which he had already provided at the scene. He

concluded Scurry validly consented to the search of his phone and never revoked 

his consent. 

The judge's finding Scurry was not in custody was sound and supported 

by the credible evidence in the record. For these reasons, Scurry's argument the 

text messages retrieved from his phone were fruit of the poisonous tree also 

fails. 

Separately, Scurry argues for the first time on appeal, that he felt pressured 

to consent to the search, because he was led to believe that, absent his consent, 

he would not be permitted to leave until detectives had secured a warrant. 

Consent to search must be voluntary. State v. Maristany, 133 N.J. 299, 305 

(1993). Consent must be given "with a free and unconstrained will . . . that is 

not overborne by physical or psychological duress or coercion," State v. 

Carvajal, 202 N.J. 214, 226 (2010). The voluntariness of consent is viewed 

within the totality of the circumstances, including whether the individual was 

already arrested or handcuffed, "consent was obtained despite a denial of guilt" 

or "only after the accused had [already] refused initial requests for consent to 
15 A-5102-18

search," or "consent was given where the subsequent search resulted in a seizure 

of contraband which the accused must have known would be discovered . . . ." 

State v. King, 44 N.J. 346, 352-53 (1965). 

The record shows Scurry voluntarily consented to the search. There is no 

evidence detectives coerced or manipulated him by answering his question about 

what would happen if he declined to grant consent to search his phone. The 

totality of the circumstances does not show his consent was undermined. There 

were no threats, and Scurry was neither arrested nor handcuffed, and he was free 

to leave. 

II. 

"We defer to a trial court's evidentiary ruling absent an abuse of 

discretion." State v. Garcia, 245 N.J. 412, 430 (2021). "We will not substitute 

our judgment unless the evidentiary ruling is 'so wide of the mark' that it 

constitutes 'a clear error in judgment.'" Ibid. (quoting State v. Medina, 242 N.J. 

397, 412 (2020)). Reversal of a conviction is only warranted when a mistaken 

evidentiary ruling has the "clear capacity to cause an unjust result . . . ." Ibid. 

A.

For the first time on appeal, Scurry contends he was denied the right to a 

fair trial when the court permitted the State to impeach Brown with her prior 
16 A-5102-18

inconsistent statement. He argues the court erred by not holding a Gross2

hearing to establish the statement's reliability. 

A prior inconsistent statement may be admitted for impeachment purposes 

and as substantive evidence, provided the witness is available for crossexamination. Id. at 8. Under N.J.R.E. 607(a)(2), "[t]he party calling a witness 

may not neutralize the witness' testimony by a prior contradictory statement 

unless the statement is in a form admissible under Rule 803(a)(1) . . . ." 

Admissibility of a prior inconsistent statement under N.J.R.E. 803(a)(1) must be 

determined at a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing outside the presence of the jury. State v. 

Baluch, 341 N.J. Super. 141, 179 (App. Div. 2001). "[T]he purpose of the 

[N.J.R.E. 104] inquiry 'is not to determine the credibility of the out-of-court 

statements' but 'whether the prior statement was made or signed under 

circumstances establishing sufficient reliability that the factfinder may fairly 

consider it as substantive evidence.'" State v. Spruell, 121 N.J. 32, 46 (1990) 

(quoting State v. Gross, 216 N.J. Super. 98, 110 (App. Div. 1987)). The burden 

rests with the proponent of the statement to prove its reliability by a 

preponderance of the evidence. Gross, 121 N.J. at 15-16.

2

 State v. Gross, 121 N.J. 1 (1990). 
17 A-5102-18

Reliability is determined in light of any relevant surrounding 

circumstances, including: 

(1) the declarant's connection to and interest in the 

matter reported in the out-of-court statement, (2) the 

person or persons to whom the statement was given, (3) 

the place and occasion for giving the statement, (4) 

whether the declarant was then in custody or otherwise 

the target of investigation, (5) the physical and mental 

condition of the declarant at the time, (6) the presence 

or absence of other persons, (7) whether the declarant 

incriminated himself or sought to exculpate himself by 

his statement, (8) the extent to which the writing is in 

the declarant's hand, (9) the presence or absence, and 

the nature of, any interrogation, (10) whether the 

offered sound recording or writing contains the 

entirety, or only a portion or a summary, of the 

communication, (11) the presence or absence of any 

motive to fabricate, (12) the presence or absence of any 

express or implicit pressures, inducements or coercion 

for the making of the statement, (13) whether the 

anticipated use of the statement was apparent or made 

known to the declarant, (14) the inherent believability 

or lack of believability of the statement and (15) the 

presence or absence of corroborating evidence. 

[Id. at 10 (quoting Gross, 216 N.J. Super. at 109-10).] 

Brown gave a statement to police memorializing her version of the events 

of the evening of the murder, after she was Mirandized and waived her rights. 

She told police she dropped Scurry off at Green's house, Clark exited the car as 

well and had a brief conversation with Scurry, then Clark asked Brown to drive 

him to another Wawa. When Clark changed his mind, she made a U-turn while 
18 A-5102-18

halfway over the bridge, and she saw Clark throw an object out of the car 

window as if aiming for the water below. 

When Brown testified at trial, she stated Clark exited the car with Scurry 

at Green's house for "only like two seconds" and denied she had witnessed the 

two having any conversation, because she was not paying attention. When the 

prosecutor refreshed Brown's recollection with her prior statement, she then said 

at most Scurry and Clark "said bye to each other" and "that was it." 

Brown also testified she had turned around before even reaching the 

bridge, but then eventually acknowledged she made a U-turn in the middle of 

the bridge when reminded about her prior statement. She denied having seen 

Clark "do anything" at that point. When confronted with her statement, she

admitted she told police she had seen Clark reach out the window, but denied 

seeing him throw anything, and questioned the accuracy of the transcript of her 

statement to police. 

Brown also testified she told police the object Clark threw was "small" 

and assumed it might have been a cigarette or similar object. On crossexamination she stated Clark had thrown something "out the window" but not 

"over the bridge." 
19 A-5102-18

The next day of trial, the State sought to admit Brown's recorded 

statement. The court held a hearing to determine the statement's admissibility. 

Defense counsel argued the State's introduction of the recorded statement, after 

Brown had already left the stand, deprived the defense of its Sixth Amendment 

right to further cross-examine her about the statement. 

The trial judge concluded the statement was admissible both for 

impeachment purposes and as substantive evidence, under N.J.R.E. 803(a)(1) 

and N.J.R.E. 607. He reasoned as follows: 

The prior statement would be admissible if made by the 

witness while testifying—that's satisfied; two, that the 

maker of the statement is called as a witness before the 

jury and is available for cross-examination—that was 

satisfied, she was called; and three, that the prior 

statement is made under circumstances establishing its 

reliability and is either contained in a sound recording, 

or contained in a writing made by or signed by the 

witness—my understanding [is] this is a video 

recording of the witness's statement; it's admissible. 

The judge noted: Brown had denied portions of the statement when the State 

confronted her with it; defense counsel already had the opportunity to crossexamine her in that regard; and the defense would be permitted to recall her if 

further cross-examination was necessary. 

Portions of the recording were played for the jury during Detective 

Martinez's testimony. In the judge's final jury instructions, he explained at some 
20 A-5102-18

length how the jury could consider the prior statement in connection with 

Brown's testimony. 

On appeal, Scurry does not challenge the admission of the prior statement 

on confrontation grounds. Instead, he argues the failure to hold a Gross hearing 

to determine the statement's reliability prior to admission—and the failure to 

give an appropriate limiting instruction requiring the jury to evaluate the 

statement pursuant to the same standard for reliability—is reversible error. He 

questions whether the statement was inconsistent, noting Brown neither 

"disavow[ed]" it nor denied recalling having made it. Scurry argues the 

statement was highly prejudicial because it suggested he had given Clark the 

murder weapon that was later found in the river and colluded with Clark to 

dispose of the weapon. 

We are unpersuaded by these arguments. At the outset, there was no claim 

asserted before the trial judge that the statement was unreliable. Therefore, a 

Gross hearing was not required. Scurry's brief does not apply the Gross factors 

to the circumstances in which Brown gave her statement. Even so, we are not 

convinced Brown's statement would be declared unreliable under the fifteen 

Gross factors. 
21 A-5102-18

Indeed, factors one, two, three, and six do not favor Scurry. Brown was 

Mirandized before she gave the statement. There is no assertion the Miranda

rights were invalid, or that her statement was involuntary, or that Brown did not 

understand the reasons she was being questioned, thereby satisfying factors four, 

nine, twelve, and thirteen. Factors five, seven, and eight are not applicable. 

Factor ten is satisfied because the recording of her statement is complete. 

Factors eleven and fourteen do not favor Scurry because there is no indication 

Brown was motivated to fabricate her statement, or that it was not inherently 

believable. Additionally, factor fifteen was met because her trial testimony 

corroborated much of her statement; a gun was found in the river, and a license 

plate reader captured her car in the vicinity of the bridge, also corroborating her 

statement. 

Brown's statement to police was plainly inconsistent with her testimony. 

The judge did not abuse his discretion by admitting the statement. The defense 

had an opportunity to cross-examine Brown and was not barred from recalling 

her. Additionally, the judge instructed the jury on how to treat the prior 

inconsistent statement, namely, to judge credibility and treat it as substantive 

evidence. The judge's instruction detailed at length how the jury must consider 
22 A-5102-18

the totality of the circumstances surrounding Brown's prior statement and her 

testimony. 

We affirm the judge's decision to admit Brown's prior statement for the 

reasons he expressed following the evidentiary hearing. The admission of 

Brown's prior inconsistent statement was not reversible error. 

B.

For the first time on appeal, Scurry asserts he was deprived of an 

opportunity to present evidence of third-party guilt. He claims the judge erred 

when he prohibited the defense from questioning Thompson in a manner that

would have implicated Thompson in the murder. 

Both the federal and state constitutions "guarantee criminal defendants 'a 

meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense'" to the charges against 

them. State v. Garron, 177 N.J. 147, 168 (2003) (quoting Crane v. Kentucky, 

476 U.S. 683, 690 (1986); State v. Budis, 125 N.J. 519, 531 (1991)). Essential 

to that opportunity is a right to introduce evidence of third-party guilt. State v. 

Cotto, 182 N.J. 316, 332 (2005). Evidence of a third party's guilt need not 

substantially prove the guilt of the third party to warrant admission, but "need 

only be capable of raising a reasonable doubt of [the] defendant's guilt . . . ." 

State v. Fortin, 178 N.J. 540, 591 (2004) (quoting State v. Koedatich, 112 N.J. 
23 A-5102-18

225, 299 (1988)). However, the evidence of third-party guilt must have more 

than a speculative connection to the case, and "must be capable of demonstrating 

'some link between the [third-party] evidence and the victim or the crime.'" 

State v. Perry, 225 N.J. 222, 239 (2005) (alteration in original) (quoting 

Koedatich, 112 N.J. at 301). 

Thompson testified about his prior criminal record and admitted on crossexamination he once owned a .22 caliber gun but denied owning other guns. 

Defense counsel impeached Thompson, showing he was previously convicted 

for possession of .38 caliber hollow-point bullets, and then asked him about the 

.38 gun itself. Thompson replied the gun was "long gone." Defense counsel 

also asked him about his other convictions, including one for aggravated assault. 

Following a brief redirect examination by the State, defense counsel 

sought to re-cross-examine Thompson regarding the details of his aggravated 

assault conviction. The defense intended to show that if Thompson shot 

someone3 with a .38 caliber weapon, it would further undermine his credibility 

given his testimony that he had only ever owned the .22 caliber weapon. 

However, the judge denied defense counsel's request, reasoning that only 

3

 At sidebar, both counsel and the court recalled Thompson having volunteered 

on re-direct that he had "shot somebody," but that testimony is not evident from 

the transcript. 
24 A-5102-18

Thompson's convictions were relevant for impeachment purposes, not the 

underlying circumstances. Moreover, the testimony was redundant because the 

defense already impeached Thompson on this point. 

Although the defense's challenge at trial was on impeachment grounds, on 

appeal Scurry now claims he was deprived of the ability to show third-party 

guilt. He asserts the circumstances underlying the prior conviction, to the extent 

it entailed a shooting, would have shown Thompson had a propensity to commit 

the murder. Because Scurry never raised this issue at trial, we review the trial 

judge's ruling for plain error to see if it was "clearly capable of producing an 

unjust result." R. 2:10-2. 

This argument lacks merit. Cannon was murdered with a nine-millimeter 

gun. Therefore, evidence of Thompson's prior use of a different sort of weapon 

bears no obvious connection to this case, invites speculation, and would only 

serve to confuse the jury. 

Moreover, defense counsel was afforded considerable leeway to explore 

third-party guilt with Thompson. Counsel asked Thompson on crossexamination whether he had killed Cannon and questioned him regarding his: 

gun ownership; knowledge Cannon had considered terminating her pregnancy; 
25 A-5102-18

involvement in another romantic relationship at the time of the murder; and 

whether he was jealous when Ramsey visited Cannon. 

Defense counsel also questioned detectives about their reasons for 

excluding Thompson as a suspect. Counsel elicited testimony from detectives 

directly bearing on propensity and third-party guilt, namely, a prior accusation 

that Thompson had held a gun to a woman's head. 

We are satisfied the trial judge did not abuse his discretion by limiting the 

re-cross-examination of Thompson. The judge's exercise of discretion limiting 

a line of questioning, which at best was tenuous, was not clearly capable of 

producing an unjust result. 

C.

Scurry argues the judge abused his discretion by permitting the State to 

introduce the still image from the video on his phone showing a nine-millimeter 

handgun near him. He asserts the evidence should have been excluded as "other 

crimes" evidence. 

Other crimes evidence may be admitted for purposes other than to prove 

disposition, including to establish "motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, 

plan, knowledge, identity or absence of mistake or accident when such matters 

are relevant to a material issue in dispute." N.J.R.E. 404(b). However, other 
26 A-5102-18

crimes evidence has a "unique tendency" to prejudice jurors, State v. Stevens, 

115 N.J. 289, 302 (1989), by influencing them to convict a defendant "not on 

the evidence of the specific crime at issue but because of the perception that the 

defendant is a 'bad' person in general." State v. Gibbons, 105 N.J. 67, 77 (1987). 

Therefore, such evidence is admitted only with great caution. State v. 

Willis, 225 N.J. 85, 97 (2016). Evidence of a prior bad act is admissible only if 

(1) it is "relevant to a material issue" in the case, (2) the prior act is "similar in 

kind and reasonably close in time to the offense charged[,]" (3) the evidence of 

the prior act is clear and convincing, and (4) its probative value is not 

"outweighed by its apparent prejudice." State v. Cofield, 127 N.J. 328, 338 

(1992) (quoting Abraham P. Ordover, Balancing the Presumptions of Guilt and 

Innocence, 38 Emory L.J. 135, 160 (1989)). Additionally, the court must issue 

a careful, precise limiting instruction to the jury regarding the appropriate use 

of the evidence in its deliberations. Id. at 340-41. 

"The threshold determination under Rule 404(b) is whether the evidence 

relates to 'other crimes,' and thus is subject to continued analysis under Rule 

404(b), or whether it is evidence intrinsic to the charged crime, and thus need 

only satisfy the evidence rules relating to relevancy, most importantly Rule 

403." State v. Rose, 206 N.J. 141, 179 (2011). Evidence is intrinsic "if it 
27 A-5102-18

'directly proves' the charged offense. . . . If uncharged misconduct directly 

proves the charged offense, it is not evidence of some 'other' crime." Id. at 180 

(quoting United States v. Green, 617 F.3d 233, 248-49 (3d Cir. 2010)). Also, 

"'uncharged acts performed contemporaneously with the charged crime may be 

termed intrinsic if they facilitate the commission of the charged crime.' But all 

else must be analyzed under Rule 404(b)." Ibid. 

Scurry moved in limine to exclude the still image on grounds it was 

irrelevant, highly prejudicial, and improper other crimes evidence. Following 

an evidentiary hearing, the judge concluded the evidence was intrinsic. Pursuant 

to Cofield, he reasoned there were distinctive features visible both in the image 

and the gun recovered from the river to enable a jury to conclude the weapons 

were the same. The judge found the image was clear and convincing evidence 

of Scurry's unlawful possession of a weapon, an offense he was charge with, and 

the image was made reasonably close in time to the charged offense. Therefore, 

the probative value of the image in establishing the relationship between the 

murder weapon and the gun in Scurry's possession exceeded any prejudice from 

its admission. The judge ruled the image would be admitted, subject to a 

limiting instruction to the jury. 
28 A-5102-18

After the State introduced the image, the judge instructed the jury it could 

consider it "for the purposes of determining whether or not . . . Scurry had access 

to . . . the weapon in this case." The judge reminded the jury it could consider 

the still image only for this purpose. If the jury concluded the weapon in the 

still image was not the same as the murder weapon in evidence, then it could not 

consider it for any other purpose, and "[c]ertainly not [for] the propensity to 

have a weapon, or anything else." 

We are satisfied the judge's ruling was not an abuse of discretion. The 

Cofield factors were met. The still image was clearly relevant to whether Scurry 

unlawfully possessed a weapon, which made the offense similar in kind to the 

one charge. The image was made close in time to Cannon's murder and was 

clear and convincing evidence of weapons possession because the gun was lying

next to Scurry. Therefore, the probative value outweighed the prejudice. And 

the jury instruction clearly limited how the jury could use the evidence. 

D.

For the first time on appeal, Scurry argues he was denied the right to a fair 

trial because the officers who testified on behalf of the State identified him in 

the Wawa surveillance footage. He asserts the testimony impermissibly 

encroached on the jury's role as factfinder. 
29 A-5102-18

N.J.R.E. 701 permits lay witness opinion testimony "if it: (a) is rationally 

based on the witness' perception; and (b) will assist in understanding the witness' 

testimony in determining a fact in issue." The purpose of the rule is to "ensure 

that lay opinion is based on an adequate foundation." State v. Sanchez, 247 N.J. 

450, 466 (2021) (quoting State v. Singh, 245 N.J. 1, 14 (2021)). 

A lay witness "need not have witnessed the crime or been present when 

[a] photograph or video recording was made in order to offer admissible 

testimony" regarding the identity of an individual in the photograph or 

recording. Id. at 469. The witness need only "have actual knowledge, acquired 

through his or her senses, of the matter to which he or she testifies.'" Id. at 466 

(quoting State v. LaBrutto, 114 N.J. 187, 197 (1989)). In Sanchez, an officer 

was permitted to testify that she identified the defendant in surveillance footage 

taken shortly after the crimes occurred, because she had met with him on 

numerous occasions while supervising him on parole and was familiar with his 

appearance from personal observation. Id. at 458, 469. 

As to the second requirement, assisting the jury to understand a disputed 

fact, the lay opinion testimony must pertain to a matter about which the jury is 

not equally "competent as [the witness] to form a conclusion." Id. at 469-70 

(alteration in original) (quoting State v. McLean, 205 N.J. 438, 459 (2011)). A 
30 A-5102-18

court should consider the "nature, duration, and timing of the witness's contacts 

with the defendant" and the extent to which the contact occurred near the time 

of the offense or permitted the witness to observe aspects of the defendant's 

appearance that might not be readily observable at trial. Id. at 470-72. Other 

considerations include if "there has been a change in the defendant's appearance 

since the offense at issue" to enhance the value of the witness's observations of 

the defendant closer to the time of the offense, and whether the recording at 

issue is either so clear, or of such poor quality, that the witness's identification 

would be unhelpful at best or highly prejudicial at worst. Id. at 472-73. The 

court may also consider whether any witnesses outside law enforcement would 

be available to identify the defendant in the same manner at trial. Ibid. 

Ultimately, admissibility will depend on a consideration of all the relevant 

circumstances, and no one factor is dispositive. Id. at 473-74. 

Scurry argues Officer Vinzinski's and Detective Martinez's testimony—

identifying him and describing his clothing while discussing the significance of 

the surveillance footage they had collected and reviewed during their 

investigation—was improper lay opinion testimony. Officer Vinzinski testified 

he reviewed seven hours of surveillance footage from the Wawa, and was "able 

to identify" Scurry entering the Wawa at 3:22 a.m. He pointed out Scurry in the 
31 A-5102-18

video by noting the clothing he was wearing. Officer Vinzinski also recounted 

collecting and reviewing other footage from a nearby business he believed was 

on the perpetrator's "possible route of travel," and observed that an individual 

depicted in the video had a similar "physical build," "appearance," and 

"clothing" to the individual he had identified as Scurry in the Wawa footage. 

Detective Martinez testified he could identify Scurry from the Wawa 

footage because he had interviewed Scurry a few days prior to viewing the 

video. The detective also gathered footage from a residence near Cannon's 

home, which depicted an individual in dark pants and a light-colored sweatshirt 

moving "away from the scene at a hurried pace," but he could not identify the 

person. 

Defense counsel did not object to this testimony. Regardless, we discern 

no plainly prejudicial error warranting our intervention because the jury had the 

opportunity to view the videos and evaluate the credibility of the officers' 

representations regarding what the videos depicted. Moreover, both officers 

interacted with Scurry at the scene just hours after the murder occurred and the 

surveillance footage was captured. Their testimony was rationally based on their 

personal observation of Scurry and the surrounding facts, including that Brown 

had placed Scurry at the Wawa. The testimony aided the jury, because it 
32 A-5102-18

provided context and explained the relevance of the surveillance footage the jury 

was shown and the overall investigation. 

III. 

For the first time on appeal, Scurry argues the judge erred by failing to 

remind the jury in the final instructions to disregard that he had asserted his right 

against self-incrimination during police questioning. We discern no reversible 

error. 

A suspect's invocation of the privilege against self-incrimination "cannot 

be used against [them] in a criminal trial." State v. Muhammad, 182 N.J. 551, 

558 (2005). A violation of this right at trial may be cured with a timely, 

appropriate instruction to the jury. State v. Scherzer, 301 N.J. Super. 363, 441 

(App. Div. 1997). In this regard, a curative instruction "will not be deemed 

inadequate" on review "unless there is a real possibility that the error led the 

jury to a result it otherwise might not have reached." Ibid. 

During the defense's cross-examination of Officer Vinzinski about the 

investigation, counsel asked him whether he had ever spoken with Scurry about 

having seen Scurry in the Wawa surveillance footage. Officer Vinzinski 

responded Scurry "requested a lawyer when [the officer] tried to talk to him." 
33 A-5102-18

The trial judge immediately called a sidebar, and admonished defense 

counsel for asking a question guaranteed to elicit the problematic response. 

Defense counsel then requested a mistrial, which the judge denied. The judge 

and counsel then agreed to instruct the jury to disregard the question and 

response, because it would be stricken from the record. The judge instructed the 

jury as follows: 

Whether or not somebody seeks the services of an 

attorney is a constitutional right. You can infer nothing 

from that. Do you understand that? So if somebody

says or you find out that somebody sought the services 

of an attorney, you can't consider that at all in any way, 

shape, or form in your decisions with regards to this 

case. Do you understand that? So I'm striking that. 

You're not to consider it at all. 

At the close of the case, the final jury instructions reminded the jury it 

could not consider evidence the judge had stricken. The judge said: 

[A]ny testimony that I may have had occasion to strike 

is not evidence and should not enter into your final 

deliberations. And I did do that a couple times, 

remember? Okay. Now, it must be disregarded by you. 

This means that even though you may remember the 

testimony, you are not to use it in your discussions or 

deliberations. 

On appeal, Scurry asserts the failure to repeat the earlier, curative 

instruction was plain error. This argument lacks merit. 
34 A-5102-18

The curative instruction was idiosyncratic of the issue to be resolved, 

namely, to promptly strike from the record and direct the jury to ignore the

improper question and answer. We are unconvinced the jury failed to follow the 

instruction or that repeating it at the end of the case, e.g., reminding the jury of 

the stricken evidence, was required under the circumstances. The problematic 

question and answer were fleeting and not especially egregious. See State v. 

Feaster, 156 N.J. 1, 77 (1998) (convictions and sentence affirmed due to the 

"fleeting nature" of "defendant's invocation of his right to counsel"). Moreover, 

the judge's final instructions reminded jurors they were not to consider any 

evidence that had been stricken. 

IV. 

Clark argues the judge should have granted his motion to sever his case 

from Scurry's. This issue is entrusted to the trial judge's sound discretion and 

will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of that discretion. State v. 

Sanchez, 143 N.J. 273, 283 (1996). 

A trial judge deciding a motion to sever must "balance the potential 

prejudice to [a] defendant's due process rights against the State's interest in 

judicial efficiency." State v. Brown, 118 N.J. 595, 605 (1990) (citing State v. 

Coleman, 46 N.J. 16, 24 (1965)). "A joint trial is preferable because it fosters 
35 A-5102-18

the goal of judicial economy and prevents inconsistent verdicts." State v. 

Weaver, 219 N.J. 131, 157 (2014). 

The test for granting severance is rigorous. Brown, 118 N.J. at 605-06. 

"The mere existence of hostility, conflict, or antagonism between defendants is 

not enough." Id. at 606. A mere risk of prejudice is insufficient to warrant

severance as the defendant must show actual prejudice. State v. Moore, 113 N.J. 

239, 274 (1988). "Separate trials are required only when defendants 'present 

defenses that are antagonistic at their core.'" Brown, 118 N.J. at 606 (quoting

United States v. Berkowitz, 662 F.2d 1127, 1134 (5th Cir. 1981)). 

"When [a] defendant's defense strategy is antagonistic at its core to the 

defense strategy of his co-defendant so that the jury could only believe one of 

them, severance is in order." Weaver, 219 N.J. at 157. However, "[i]f the jury 

can return a verdict against one or both defendants by believing neither, or 

believing portions of both, or, indeed, believing both completely, the defenses 

are not mutually exclusive." Brown, 118 N.J. at 606. 

The trial judge acknowledged Clark was not charged with any offense 

related to the commission of the killing itself, but found the allegation that Clark 

hindered the investigation and prosecution of Scurry for the murder was 

inseparable from Scurry's conduct. Indeed, the evidence of the homicide was 
36 A-5102-18

integral to the jury's understanding of the hindering case against Clark. The

evidence relating to disposal of the weapon was relevant to the prosecution of 

both cases. The defenses were not antagonistic to one another because neither 

defendant made a statement implicating the other, and all third-party witness 

testimony would be admissible in either case. The judge therefore concluded 

there was no justification for severance that would outweigh the interests of 

judicial economy. 

On appeal, Clark concedes the jury would have to hear at least some 

evidence of the homicide in his case but argues the level of detail necessary to 

prove the homicide in Scurry's case pervaded and prejudiced his chances of

acquittal at a joint trial. Clark asserts he was merely an "after-the-fact, bit 

player" in Cannon's murder and the bulk of the evidence relevant to the murder, 

namely the: abusive texts Scurry sent Clark, crime scene photos of Cannon's 

body, and evidence showing she was pregnant and her children were home when 

she was shot, was irrelevant to whether he helped Scurry conceal evidence of 

the homicide. 

The judge did not abuse his discretion. We are unconvinced the jury was 

unable to parse the evidence as it related to each defendant. Nor does the record 

convince us the jury was impelled to convict Clark based on Scurry's actions. 
37 A-5102-18

The State never alleged, and the evidence presented did not suggest, that Clark 

played a role beyond the hindering. The judge instructed the jury as to the 

offenses committed by each defendant and Clark does not challenge those jury 

charges. We must presume the jury followed the judge's instructions. State v. 

Martini, 187 N.J. 469, 477 (2006) (citing State v. Marshall, 173 N.J. 343, 355 

(2002)). 

Clark's reliance on State v. Savage, 198 N.J. Super. 507, 508-09, 513 (Law 

Div. 1984), is misplaced. Savage, also involved one defendant charged with 

murder and another charged with hindering apprehension after the fact, but not 

the murder itself. Id. at 513. However, severance was granted in Savage 

because it was a capital murder case involving the selection of a "death 

qualified" jury, for whom the selection process was different. Id. at 509. In 

such cases, jurors could convict a defendant, but then decline to hear the death 

penalty phase of the case. Ibid. Therefore, the court found "if death 

qualification followed the guilt phase, it is possible that not enough jurors would 

remain to hear the penalty phase due to their absolute views for or against the 

death penalty . . . ." Ibid. Severance was required because the possibility that

the same jury would not hear all phases of the cases was contrary to "legislative 
38 A-5102-18

policy favoring trial of all phases of a capital case before the 'same jury' . . . ." 

Id. at 510. 

Savage is inapposite. The offenses charged here were different and the 

jury selection process for each defendant was not unique to their offenses. 

We also reject Clark's reliance on State v. Sterling, 215 N.J. 65, 73 (2013). 

That case involved the severance of charges against a single defendant who 

committed multiple criminal transactions. Ibid. The concern there was the 

"danger when several crimes are tried together, that the jury may use the 

evidence cumulatively; that is, that, although so much as would be admissible 

upon any one of the charges might not have persuaded them of the accused's 

guilt, the sum of it will convince them as to all." Ibid. (quoting State v. Pitts, 

116 N.J. 580, 601 (1989)). The offenses here were committed by two defendants 

within the context of one broad criminal transaction. 

V.

Clark asserts the judge should have granted his post-trial motion for a 

judgment of acquittal on the unlawful possession of a weapon charge. He argues 

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-2(b), which permits the jury to draw an inference that defendant 

did not have a firearm permit unless the defendant establishes otherwise, was 
39 A-5102-18

unconstitutional as applied here because the State failed to introduce any 

evidence showing he lacked a permit. 

A post-trial motion for judgment of acquittal is governed by Rule 3:18-2. 

The motion judge may consider all the evidence, direct or circumstantial, 

presented by the State and the defendant, giving the State the benefit of all the 

favorable evidence and all the favorable inferences drawn from that evidence, 

and then determine whether a reasonable jury could find guilt beyond a 

reasonable doubt. State v. Lodzinski, 249 N.J. 116, 144 (2021); State v. Fuqua, 

234 N.J. 583, 590-91 (2018); State v. Williams, 218 N.J. 576, 594 (2014). "The 

evidence should be sifted to determine whether any trier of fact could rationally 

have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the essential elements of the crime 

were present." State v. Carter, 91 N.J. 86, 96 (1982). A court must recognize 

"jurors 'may draw an inference from a fact whenever it is more probable than 

not that the inference is true . . . .'" Lodzinski, 249 N.J. at 144 (quoting State v. 

Brown, 80 N.J. 587, 592 (1979)). We apply the same standard on appellate 

review. Id. at 145.

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1), criminalizes the unlawful possession of a weapon, 

which it defines as "[a]ny person who knowingly has in his possession any 
40 A-5102-18

handgun . . . without first having obtained a permit to carry the same . . . ." 

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-2(b) states: 

When the legality of a person's conduct under this 

chapter depends on [their] possession of a license or 

permit or on [their] having registered with or given 

notice to a particular person or agency, it shall be 

presumed that [they] do[] not possess such a license or 

permit or ha[ve] not registered or given the required 

notice, until [they] establish[] the contrary. 

In State v. Ingram, our Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of 

the statutory presumption under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-2. 98 N.J. 489, 491 (1985). The 

Court held: 

(1) the absence of a required permit is an essential 

element of a weapons offense as defined under N.J.S.A. 

2C:39-5; (2) once possession of a weapon is shown and 

an accused fails to come forward with evidence of a

permit, the State may employ the statutory presumption 

of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-2 to establish the absence of the

required permit; and (3) a jury should be instructed that 

although such a statute authorizes the inference that 

there is no such permit, the ultimate burden of 

persuasion rests on the State, with the jury being at 

liberty to find the ultimate fact one way or the other. 

[Id. at 500.] 

Detective Martinez testified he "personally did not look" for any permits 

for Clark, but in reviewing the evidence gathered during the investigation he had 
41 A-5102-18

not seen any permits. The defense offered no evidence to the contrary. The 

judge instructed the jury on the inference issue as follows: 

The third element the State must prove beyond a 

reasonable doubt is that the defendant did not have a 

permit to possess such a handgun. If you find the 

defendant knowingly possessed the handgun and there

is no evidence that the defendant had a valid permit to 

carry such a handgun, then you may infer, if you think 

it appropriate to do so, based upon the facts presented, 

that defendant had no such permit. 

Know however, as with all other elements, the 

State bears the burden of showing beyond a reasonable 

doubt the lack of a valid permit, and that you may draw 

the inference only if you feel it is appropriate to do so 

under all the facts and circumstances. 

Defense counsel moved for a judgment of acquittal, pointing out the State 

had offered no substantive evidence bearing on Clark's lack of a permit, and 

applying the statutory inference would oblige Clark to testify on his own behalf, 

which was contrary to his right to remain silent. The trial judge denied the 

motion, reasoning the State could not be expected to prove a negative and could 

rely on the statutory inference. However, because the State had the burden of 

proof, the jury would be free to accept or reject the inference in the context of 

its evaluation of the evidence. 

 Giving the State the favorable inference, it is clear the jury accepted 

Detective Martinez's testimony the evidence gathered during the investigation 
42 A-5102-18

revealed no gun permit for Clark. It is also obvious the jury properly applied 

the jury instruction regarding the statutory inference. As the judge aptly noted, 

the State was not required to do more to invoke the statutory presumption. We 

discern no error. 

VI. 

A.

 Finally, both defendants challenge their sentences. Sentencing decisions 

are discretionary in nature. State v. Cuff, 239 N.J. 321, 347 (2019). Therefore, 

we review for an abuse of discretion. State v. Jones, 232 N.J. 308, 318 (2018). 

We defer to the sentencing court's factual findings and should not "secondguess" them. State v. Case, 220 N.J. 49, 65 (2014). 

"To facilitate meaningful appellate review, trial judges must explain how 

they arrived at a particular sentence." Ibid. We will reverse a sentence where: 

the findings of fact on the aggravating and mitigating factors were not based on 

competent and credible evidence in the record; the court applied the incorrect 

sentencing guidelines enunciated in the criminal code; or the application of the 

facts to the law constituted such an error of judgment as to shock the judicial 

conscience. State v. Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 363-65 (1984). 
43 A-5102-18

B.

Scurry asks us to remand his sentence because the trial judge failed to 

explicitly address the fairness of imposing consecutive prison terms for his firstdegree murder and certain-persons convictions as required by State v. Torres, 

246 N.J. 246, 270-73 (2021). The State agrees. For these reasons, we remand 

for a statement regarding the overall fairness of Scurry's sentence as required by 

Torres. 

We add, however, that the judge should also make findings under the State 

v. Yarbough factors. 100 N.J. 627, 643-44 (1985). There, our Supreme Court 

held when a court determines whether a sentence should be concurrent or 

consecutive it should qualitatively weight the following factors: 

(a) the crimes and their objectives were predominantly 

independent of each other; 

(b) the crimes involved separate acts of violence or 

threats of violence; 

(c) the crimes were committed at different times or

separate places, rather than being committed so closely 

in time and place as to indicate a single period of

aberrant behavior; 

(d) any of the crimes involved multiple victims; 

(e) the convictions for which the sentences are to be 

imposed are numerous . . . . 
44 A-5102-18

[Torres, 246 N.J. at 264 (quoting Yarbough, 100 N.J. at 

643-44).]

The judge's sentencing in Scurry's case lacks an assessment under Torres 

and Yarbough. For these reasons, we remand and direct the judge to reconsider 

Scurry's sentence by making the findings required under Torres and Yarbough. 

Scurry does not otherwise challenge his sentence. Therefore, our remand is 

circumscribed. 

C. 

Clark argues his sentence was excessive. He alleges the court gave too 

much weight to aggravating factor three because his criminal record was not 

substantial. He asserts to the extent the judge's finding of aggravating factor 

nine relied on Clark's knowledge that the object he threw off the bridge was a 

gun, the judge impermissibly double-counted elements of the offenses for which 

he was convicted. He contends his eight-year sentence was unjustified and the 

judge should have sentenced him to the minimum sentence of five years with 

forty-two months of parole ineligibility. 

The trial judge observed that Clark, at thirty-two years of age, had three 

arrests as a juvenile, including two diversions and one adjudication, and thirteen 

arrests as an adult, including five ordinance violations and three disorderly 

persons convictions. Although the judge noted Clark had no indictable 
45 A-5102-18

convictions he nonetheless "had repeated contact with the criminal justice 

system[.]" Therefore, he found aggravating factor three—the risk he would 

commit another offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3), applied and should be given 

substantial weight. 

The trial judge found aggravating factor nine—the need for deterrence, 

N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(9), because even assuming Clark initially believed he was 

only doing a favor for a friend, he knowingly accepted the gun, with knowledge 

of Scurry's criminal background. The judge noted Clark was friends with Scurry 

and knew him for "a good portion of his life. He knows he's had a murder charge 

before. . . . He knows he has an extensive criminal record, and he asked the jury 

to believe, which they did not believe, that he handed him a package. And he 

had no idea what was in there." The judge found: 

Under the circumstances, as we know them, 

there's no way he didn't know that was a gun. Zero. No 

way. 

. . . . 

So what . . . is that saying about . . . the risk 

associated with this individual and the need for 

deterrence. That's the moment of nope. I'm not doing 

that. . . . 

So even if he was willing to drive him here and 

drive him there at all ungodly hours of the morning, . . . 

the decision to take the gun from him, that's a 
46 A-5102-18

nonstarter. That's where deterrence comes in, because 

at some point, no matter who it is, you say no, and that's 

where deterrence comes in. 

The trial judge found no mitigating factors and concluded the aggravating 

factors clearly preponderated. 

As we noted, the judge sentenced Clark to an eight-year term, subject to a 

four-year period of parole ineligibility pursuant to the Graves Act, N.J.S.A. 

2C:43-6(c), on the unlawful possession count, concurrent to a flat four-year term 

on the hindering count. He then merged the remaining counts into the unlawful

possession count and imposed appropriate fines and penalties. 

Clark's sentence was not an abuse of discretion. Both aggravating factors 

were supported by the evidence in the record. The judge did not double-count 

Clark's offense when he found aggravating factor nine. Although the judge 

found Clark could not credibly claim ignorance that the object he disposed of 

was a gun, the reasons for applying aggravating factor nine did not hinge on the 

gun possession. Rather, the judge was pointing out Clark's willingness to 

commit the offenses given the circumstances. 

Clark received the midrange sentence on the unlawful possession count. 

See N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(a)(2) (sentencing range of between five and ten years for 

second-degree offense). The sentence does not shock our judicial conscience. 
47 A-5102-18

Affirmed in part and remanded in part in A-5102-18. Affirmed in A-2666-

20. We do not retain jurisdiction.