Court Opinion

ID: 4669085
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-18 14:19:43.110781+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:56:44.050924
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-1408-19

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

       Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

RAMONA P. MERCADO-
VASQUEZ, a/k/a RAMONA
P. MERCADO, and
RAMONA P. VASQUEZ,

     Defendant-Appellant.
_______________________

                Submitted February 10, 2021 – Decided March 18, 2021

                Before Judges Geiger and Mitterhoff.

                On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                Division, Bergen County, Indictment No. 14-12-1883.

                Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                appellant (Kimmo Abbasi, Designated Counsel, on the
                brief).

                Mark Musella, Bergen County Prosecutor, attorney for
                respondent (William P. Miller, Assistant Prosecutor, of
                counsel; Catherine A. Foddai, Legal Assistant, on the
                brief).
PER CURIAM

        Defendant Ramona P. Mercado-Vasquez appeals from a September 25,

2019 order denying her petition for post-conviction relief (PCR) without an

evidentiary hearing.       On appeal, defendant argues her trial counsel was

ineffective for (1) failing to request a Spanish interpreter throughout the court

proceedings; (2) pressuring her to plead guilty; (3) misrepresenting her

sentencing exposure; and (4) not providing her with full discovery. We affirm,

substantially for the reasons set forth in Judge Gary Wilcox's twenty-three-page

written opinion. We add only the following comments.

        We discern the following facts from the record. Defendant befriended

codefendant Jorge Valencia, the superintendent of her building, who informed

her and other codefendants that a resident, F.D.,1 had money and jewelry in his

apartment. Valencia valued these items at $5 million. In September 2013, all

defendants formulated a plan to steal the items from F.D.'s apartment and split

the proceeds. Defendant agreed with the plan to go into F.D.'s apartment in the

middle of the night while he was sleeping, threaten him with a gun,2 and steal

1
    We refer to the victims by their initials to protect their privacy.
2
  A few days before the robbery, Valencia brought the gun he had stolen from
F.D. to defendant's apartment.
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the items. She also agreed to the plan to summon M.C., the doorman of the

building, to F.D.'s apartment and restrain him while the codefendants disposed

of the building's surveillance footage. Defendant's role was to wait in her

apartment to receive the stolen goods. Defendant never renounced the plan. In

fact, a test run was conducted where defendant propped the side door of the

building open using a magazine.

      On November 26, 2013, defendant and her codefendants carried out the

plan. Valencia brought the items back to defendant's apartment in a book bag

and a green case. Valencia put the items in the electrical panel of defendant's

jacuzzi tub. Defendant later moved the stolen goods from the tub and hid them

among her child's clothes. Defendant also put some of the items in the laundry

room and others inside a closet.

      On December 12, 2014, a Bergen County grand jury returned a fifteen -

count indictment against defendant. Defendant subsequently pled guilty to first-

degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6 and N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, and second-

degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 and N.J.S.A. 2C:13-

1(b). The judge sentenced defendant, pursuant to the plea agreement, to fourteen

years' imprisonment for the armed robbery conviction, and a concurrent eight-

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                                       3
year term for conspiracy to commit kidnapping.3 Each sentence was subject to

the No Early Release Act N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2 and Graves Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-

6.

      On September 4, 2018, defendant filed a pro se petition for PCR. On

March 27, 2019, defendant filed a supplemental certification.        Thereafter,

defendant was appointed counsel, who filed a brief in support of her petition.

On September 25, 2019, Judge Wilcox issued an order and written decision

denying defendant's petition.

      On appeal, defendant raises the following argument for our consideration:

            THE PCR COURT ERRED IN DENYING
            DEFENDANT AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING
            DESPITE THE FACT SHE DEMONSTRATED A
            [PRIMA FACIE] CASE OF [] INEFFECTIVE
            ASSISTANCE [OF] COUNSEL AS DEFENSE
            COUNSEL'S CONDUCT WAS DEFICIENT FOR
            NUMEROUS REASONS.

      We review a PCR court's denial of a petition without an evidentiary

hearing de novo. State v. Jackson, 454 N.J. Super. 284, 291 (App. Div. 2018)

(citing State v. Harris, 181 N.J. 391, 421 (2004)); see also State v. Blake, 444

3
  Thereafter, defendant filed a direct appeal challenging only her sentence on
our excessive sentence calendar. R. 2:9-11. On May 24, 2016, we affirmed
defendant's sentence as it was "not manifestly excessive or unduly punitive and
[did] not constitute an abuse of discretion." We remanded for articulation of the
aggravating and mitigating factors considered by the judge.
                                                                           A-1408-19
                                       4
N.J. Super. 285, 294 (App. Div. 2016). To establish a prima facie claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must satisfy the two-pronged test

enumerated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), which our

Supreme Court adopted in State v. Fritz, 105 N.J. 42, 58 (1987). To satisfy the

first prong of the Strickland standard, a defendant must establish that his counsel

"made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the 'counsel'

guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment." 466 U.S. at 687. The

defendant must rebut the "strong presumption that counsel's conduct [fell]

within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance[. . . .]" Id. at 689.

Thus, this court must consider whether counsel's "representation fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness." Id. at 688.

      To satisfy the second Strickland prong, a defendant "must show that the

deficient performance prejudiced the defense." Id. at 687. In other words, a

defendant must establish "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's

unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. "

Id. at 694. To satisfy the second prong of the Strickland standard where a

defendant seeks to set aside a conviction based on a guilty plea, he or she must

show that "had he [or she] been properly advised, it would have been rational

for him [or her] to decline the plea offer and insist on going to trial" under the

                                                                             A-1408-19
                                        5
circumstances. State v. Maldon, 422 N.J. Super. 475, 486 (App. Div. 2011)

(citing Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 372 (2010)). That determination must

be "based on evidence, not speculation." Ibid. Our Supreme Court has made

clear that the "error committed must be so serious as to undermine the court's

confidence in the jury's verdict or result reached." State v. Chew, 179 N.J. 186,

204 (2004) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694).

      "With respect to both prongs of the Strickland test, a defendant asserting

ineffective assistance of counsel on PCR bears the burden of proving his or her

right to relief by a preponderance of the evidence." State v. Gaitan, 209 N.J.

339, 350 (2012) (citing State v. Echols, 199 N.J. 344, 357 (2009); State v.

Goodwin, 173 N.J. 583, 593 (2002)). A failure to satisfy either prong of the

Strickland standard requires the denial of a PCR petition. Fritz, 105 N.J. at 52

(quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687). A defendant must "do more than make

bald assertions that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel" to

establish a prima facie claim entitling her to an evidentiary hearing. State v.

Cummings, 321 N.J. Super. 154, 170 (App. Div. 1999).

      In support of her petition for PCR, defendant certifies that she does not

speak English proficiently and could not understand the complex legal terms

used during the proceedings. Defendant argues that her trial counsel's failure to

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                                       6
obtain an interpreter constituted ineffective assistance of counsel and, at a

minimum, entitled her to an evidentiary hearing. We find this contention to be

without merit as it is contradicted by the record.

      It is well-settled that "a defendant who is unable to speak and understand

English has a right to have his trial proceedings translated so as to permit him

to participate effectively in his own defense." State v. Kounelis, 258 N.J. Super.

420, 427 (App. Div. 1992) (citing United States ex rel. Negron v. New York,

434 F.2d 386, 389 (2d Cir. 1970)); see also State v. Linares, 192 N.J. Super.

391, 393 (Law Div. 1983) ("[A] defendant in a criminal case has the right to the

assistance of an interpreter so that he [or she] can understand the nature of the

ongoing proceedings."). "The constitutional right to a defense interpreter may

not be waived by mere acquiescence or nonverbal conduct on the part of the

accused." Kounelis, 258 N.J. Super. at 427-28.

      At the plea hearing, the judge asked defendant whether she needed the aid

of an interpreter, as well as whether she was able to read and write in English:

            [Court:] Ms. Mercado, do you [] need the benefit of a
            Spanish interpreter?

            [Defendant:] No.

            [Court:] Are you completely comfortable in English?

            [Defendant:] Yes.

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                                        7
           [Court:] Do you read and write English?

           [Defendant:] Yes.

Later, the judge again inquired:     "[d]o you read and write in English?"

Defendant replied, "[y]es." Beyond this, defendant testified at length at the

sentencing hearing:

           [Defendant:] Yes. I know what happened was awful
           and terrible. And I want to apologize to [F.D.] I'm really
           sorry for what happened. I never wanted any of you or
           anybody to get hurt. Everyone I hurt, my son, my
           family. I wish I could change things up and – and go
           back and never let this to happen. I'm sorry. And I wish
           I could change things, Judge, and – and maybe let them
           know that (indiscernible) know what Valencia was
           planning to do. And mentally, emotionally at that
           moment I was going though a trauma, wasn't doing
           well. I feel like I was in a tough situation, because I
           don't – I don't want to talk on my baby father. We've
           been together for so many years. I don't want him – I
           don't want to hurt him. I don't want to him –

           [Defense Counsel:] Take a second. Catch your breath.
           Take a second. You're okay.

           [Defendant:] Your Honor, from my heart, I want you
           to take a consideration with me and my son, and take
           my apologies. I know what happened was terrible. I can
           never be part of it. I should say something. I let
           something like that happen. I'm really sorry. I would
           like to have a second chance to be with my son and my
           mother.

                                                                        A-1408-19
                                       8
The foregoing testimony belies defendant's contention that she did not have a

firm grasp of the English language. Any argument that her trial counsel was

ineffective in failing to request and utilize an interpreter has no merit.

      Next, defendant claims that her trial counsel pressured her into pleading

guilty. Defendant's plea colloquy, however, convinces us that her trial counsel

did not pressure or coerce her in any manner:

            [Court:] Okay. Did anyone force you or pressure you in
            any way to do this?

            [Defendant:] No.

            [Court:] Have you had sufficient time to make this
            decision?

            [Defendant:] Yes.

            [Court:] Are you comfortable with the decision you've
            made?

            [Defendant:] Yes.

            [Court:] Have any promises been made that are not in
            writing here? Are there any side agreements that I'm not
            aware of?
            [Defendant:] No.

            [Court:] Have you had sufficient time to discuss your
            decision with your attorney?

            [Defendant:] Yes.

                                                                             A-1408-19
                                         9
             [Court:] Are you satisfied with all the advice you've
             received from your attorney?

             Defendant: Yes.

Clearly, defendant's assertion that trial counsel pressured her to plead guilty is

nothing more than a bald assertion that is contradicted by the record.

      Next, defendant contends that trial counsel misinformed her that she

would be sentenced to no more than ten years. A defendant's Sixth Amendment

right to a fair trial extends to the plea-bargaining process and "an attorney's gross

misadvice of sentencing exposure . . . constitutes remediable ineffective

assistance." State v. Taccetta, 351 N.J. Super. 196, 200 (App. Div. 2002). Here,

the prosecutor accurately communicated the nature of the plea and the

recommended sentence:

             Your Honor, at this time I'm pleased to report that it's
             my understanding that today [defendant], here with
             counsel, has agreed to retract her previously entered
             plea of not guilty and enter pleas of guilty to Counts
             [Three] and [Five] of the indictment[,] Your Honor[,]
             previously referred to. Count [Three] relates to an
             armed robbery in the first[-]degree. And Count [Five]
             relate[s] to the conspiracy to kidnap in the second[-
             ]degree.

             Your Honor, in exchange for a truthful plea and a
             factual basis supporting these offenses, as well as a
             factual basis supporting the actions of her co-
             defendants, in commission of these crimes, the state
             will at the time of sentencing recommend the following:

                                                                               A-1408-19
                                        10
            That [defendant] receive a maximum [fourteen] years
            [in] New Jersey State Prison on Count [Three], and that
            sentence . . . run concurrent to a maximum [eight] years
            in New Jersey State Prison on Count [Five].

            [(emphasis added)].

Defendant was present in court when the plea terms were set forth on the record.

There is no evidence she objected at that time, nor did she seek to withdraw her

plea. Moreover, the New Jersey Judiciary Plea Form, which defendant initialed

and signed, indicated the recommended sentence of fourteen years. There is no

evidence, aside from defendant's bald assertions, that she was ever promised a

sentence of no more than ten years.

      Finally, defendant asserts her trial counsel failed to provide her with full

discovery. More specifically, defendant claims that defense counsel failed to

inform her of F.D.'s medical records, which ultimately supported the judge's

determination that aggravating factor two, "that the victim . . . was particularly

vulnerable[,]" N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(2), applied.

      We conclude, as did Judge Wilcox, that defendant's trial counsel

strategically argued that because defendant was not in the apartment at the time

of the offense, no physical harm was contemplated by her and, therefore,

aggravating factor two did not apply to her. Strategic choices by counsel "will

not serve to ground a constitutional claim of inadequacy . . . ." Fritz, 105 N.J.

                                                                            A-1408-19
                                       11
at 54. In any event, defendant failed to convince us, in her certification or

otherwise, that but for her counsel's failure to obtain these records, she would

have rejected the plea offer and proceeded to trial. See Maldon, 422 N.J. Super.

at 486. In that regard, Judge Wilcox correctly noted defendant was confronted

with a thirty-year sentence on the two counts of the indictment that she

ultimately pled guilty to. The plea was thus extremely favorable, and in light of

the overwhelming evidence against her, it is unlikely that defendant would have

rejected the plea offer and proceeded to trial.

      Affirmed.

                                                                           A-1408-19
                                       12