Court Opinion

ID: 4466981
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-23 15:07:24.355678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:18.946613
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-2462-17T2

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

MICHAEL E. ROSS a/k/a
MICHAEL E. ROSS, II,

     Defendant-Appellant.
_____________________________

                    Submitted November 4, 2019 – Decided December 23, 2019

                    Before Judges Messano and Ostrer.

                    On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                    Division, Middlesex County, Indictment No. 06-10-
                    1640.

                    Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                    appellant (Ruth Elizabeth Hunter, Designated Counsel,
                    on the brief).

                    Christopher L.C. Kuberiet, Acting Middlesex County
                    Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Nancy Anne
                    Hulett, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting
                    Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM

      In 2008, a jury convicted defendant Michael Ross II of two counts of first-

degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(1) and (2), and related charges in the 2003

shooting deaths of Alesky Bautin and Sergey Barbashov, killed as they sat in a

car outside an apartment complex in Avenel. State v. Michael Ross II, No. A-

2193-08 (App. Div. March 8, 2016) (slip op. at 1–2), aff'd, 229 N.J. 389 (2017).

The trial judge sentenced defendant to two consecutive life terms of

imprisonment, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), N.J.S.A. 2C:43-

7.2, and a consecutive five-year term on defendant's conviction for hindering

apprehension. Id. at 2.

      We affirmed defendant's convictions. Id. at 4. Although we found no

fault in the imposition of consecutive terms for the two murders, id. at 33, we

remanded the matter to the trial judge for resentencing "to explain fully the

justification for imposing [two maximum terms], particularly after . . . rejecting

the State's argument that other specific aggravating factors were present and

finding only the frequently-found aggravating factors three, six and nine

applied." Id. at 35. We also noted our agreement "with defendant that the judge

gave no explanation for the imposition of a consecutive term on the hindering

charge." Ibid.

                                                                          A-2462-17T2
                                        2
      Resentencing took place before the trial judge. Defendant supplied the

court with various certifications demonstrating his completion of courses

offered in prison, "character letters" from several individuals, and defendant, his

father, and the mother of his thirteen-year-old daughter addressed the judge.

The judge also considered the statement made by defendant's grandmother at the

original sentencing, which was included in the transcript of those proceedings.

Defense counsel urged the judge to impose concurrent sentences that did not

exceed forty years in the aggregate.

      The prosecutor requested that the judge impose the same sentences as he

did previously. He asked the judge to find the same aggravating sentencing

factors, and, in addition, aggravating factor one. See N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(1)

("[t]he nature and circumstances of the offense, and the role of the actor therein,

including whether or not it was committed in an especially heinous, cruel, or

depraved manner"). Noting that one victim lived for a short time after being

shot, the prosecutor stated that although the judge did not find this factor at the

time of the original sentencing, the transcript revealed the judge's language

"seem[ed] to indicate that [he] believe[d] . . . [a]ggravating [f]actor [one] was

there." He asked the judge to consider factor one "for the purposes of justifying

consecutive life terms."    The prosecutor also cited defendant's disciplinary

                                                                           A-2462-17T2
                                        3
record in prison, which indicated a 2014 adjudication for "fighting and conduct

that disrupts[.]"

      After reviewing the underlying facts of the case, the judge said:

             So, in terms of the aggravating factors, in reviewing, I
             agree with the prosecutor that I basically didn't
             specifically cite [a]ggravating [f]actor [one] back on
             August 13[], 2008, but basically . . . as the Appellate
             Division said, the frequently found [a]ggravating
             [f]actors [three, six and nine], basically, you're always
             concerned about double counting. But looking at this
             case and having time to revisit the case, I do find
             [a]ggravating [f]actor [one] . . . .

Again describing the evidence adduced at trial, the judge continued,

             So, I believe that . . . the nature and circumstances of
             the offense, that basically it wasn't just where
             [defendant] came across someone, they got in an
             argument. No, nothing like that. Basically, [defendant]
             mistook [the victims], he then premeditated, he planned
             it by going back, getting the handgun . . . returning and
             just blowing them away. And that basically is a very
             cruel, depraved manner in which he committed these
             offenses.

The judge reiterated his findings as to aggravating factors three, six and nine,

and found no mitigating factors. After merging all other offenses, including the

hindering conviction, into the murder convictions, the judge again imposed two

consecutive life terms subject to NERA. This appeal followed.

      Defendant raises the following points for our consideration:

                                                                          A-2462-17T2
                                        4
              POINT I

              THE RESENTENCING COURT SHOULD HAVE
              CONSIDERED DEFENDANT'S YOUTH AND, AS A
              RESULT, SHOULD HAVE FOUND THAT
              DEFENDANT DOES NOT DESERVE A SENTENCE
              THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO LIFE WITHOUT
              PAROLE, I.E., TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE
              SENTENCES SUBJECT TO NERA. SEE STATE v.
              ZUBER, 227 N.J. 422, 429 (2017); MILLER v.
              ALABAMA, 567 U.S. 460, 471 (2012). [1]

              POINT II

              THE    RESENTENCING     COURT    DOUBLE
              COUNTED      AGGRAVATING        FACTORS,
              IMPROPERLY ADDED AGGRAVATING FACTOR
              ONE, AND FAILED TO CONSIDER THE REAL-
              TIME CONSEQUENCES OF TWO CONSECUTIVE
              LIFE SENTENCES SUBJECT TO NERA.

              POINT III

              THE RESENTENCING COURT FAILED TO
              CONSIDER DEFENDANT'S REHABILITATIVE
              EFFFORTS (sic) SINCE THE TIME OF THE
              ORIGINAL SENTENCING.           SEE STATE v.
              RANDOLPH, 210 N.J. 330 (2012).

       We reject the argument raised in Point I. In Zuber, the Court said, "In the

past decade, the United States Supreme Court has sent a clear message . . . :

'children are different' when it comes to sentencing, and 'youth and its attendant

1
    We have omitted the sub-points contained in defendant's brief.
                                                                          A-2462-17T2
                                        5
characteristics' must be considered at the time a juvenile is sentenced to life

imprisonment without the possibility of parole." 227 N.J. at 429 (emphasis

added) (quoting Miller, 567 U.S. at 465, 480).             The Court approved

consideration of a number of sentencing factors cited in Miller and held "that[]

before a judge imposes consecutive terms that would result in a lengthy overall

term of imprisonment for a juvenile, the court must consider the Miller factors

along with other traditional concerns." Ibid. (emphasis added) (citing State v.

Yarbough, 100 N.J. 627 (1985)).2

      At his resentencing, defendant did not argue that Zuber should apply and,

even if we were to consider the merits of this contention raised for the first time

on appeal, Zuber has no impact on our review of defendant's sentence.

Defendant was almost twenty-one years of age when he committed the murders.

Simply put, he was not a juvenile.

      Defendant cites certain neuroscientific studies and law review articles for

the proposition that one's brain continues to develop into one's twenties and

argues, therefore, that the judge should have considered the Miller factors upon

2
   These factors include: "'the mitigating qualities of youth' . . . including
immaturity and 'failure to appreciate risks and consequences'; 'family and home
environment'; family and peer pressures; 'an inability to deal with police officers
or prosecutors' or the juvenile's own attorney; and 'the possibility of
rehabilitation.'" Zuber, 227 N.J. at 429 (quoting Miller, 567 U.S. at 478).
                                                                           A-2462-17T2
                                        6
resentencing.    We do not dismiss these findings about a young adult's

neurodevelopment. A court already may appropriately consider a young adult's

youth and immaturity as a mitigating factor under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(13)

("[t]he conduct of a youthful defendant was substantially influenced by another

person more mature than the defendant"), as well as, if the circumstances

warrant, under (2) ("[t]he defendant did not contemplate that his conduc t would

cause or threaten serious harm"); (4) ("[t]here were substantial grounds tending

to excuse or justify the defendant's conduct, though failing to establish a

defense"); and (8) ("[t]he defendant's conduct was the result of circumstances

unlikely to recur").   But, defendant cites no controlling case law that has

expanded Miller's holding to sentences imposed on young adults, as opposed to

juvenile offenders tried as adults.

      Defendant cites to an appellate court decision from Illinois, People v.

House, where, relying on the state constitution, the court ordered resentencing

of a nineteen-year old defendant who faced a mandatory life sentence. 72
N.E.3d 357, 388–89 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). Defendant fails to note, however, that

the Illinois Supreme Court directed the appellate court to vacate its judgment

and reconsider the defendant's sentencing in light of the court's subsequent

decision in People v. Harris, 120 N.E.3d 900 (Ill. 2018). 111 N.E.3d 940 (Ill.

                                                                        A-2462-17T2
                                       7
2018). In Harris, the Illinois court refused to extend Miller to defendants over

the age of eighteen and noted such claims "have been repeatedly rejected."

Harris, 120 N.E.3d at 914 (collecting cases).

      In Point III, citing Randolph, 210 N.J. at 354, defendant asserts the judge

did not consider his "rehabilitative efforts" while in prison, and therefore failed

to "view defendant as he [stood] before the court" on the day of resentencing.

We disagree. The judge could have provided a more fulsome discussion of the

certificates produced by defendant demonstrating that he took advantage of

various courses while in prison. However, the judge acknowledged his receipt

and review of the information. We can fairly infer that he concluded defendant's

laudable rehabilitative efforts did not justify a finding of any specific mitigating

sentencing factor. See N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b). We find no mistaken exercise of

discretion by the judge in this regard and no basis to reverse the sentences

imposed on this ground.

      In Point II, defendant argues the judge "double counted" by relying upon

elements of the offense in finding aggravating factor one. He further asserts the

judge "added" an aggravating factor upon resentencing that he failed to find at

the original sentencing, without explaining "what had changed about the facts

of the crime to defendant's detriment." Defendant argues that the judge failed

                                                                            A-2462-17T2
                                         8
to consider the "real-time consequences" of the sentence, since the two

consecutive NERA life sentences means defendant must serve 127.5 years

before becoming eligible for parole.

      "Appellate review of the length of a sentence is limited." State v. Miller,

205 N.J. 109, 127 (2011).

            The appellate court must affirm the sentence unless (1)
            the sentencing guidelines were violated; (2) the
            aggravating and mitigating factors found by the
            sentencing court were not based upon competent and
            credible evidence in the record; or (3) "the application
            of the guidelines to the facts of [the] case makes the
            sentence clearly unreasonable so as to shock the
            judicial conscience."

            [State v. Fuentes, 217 N.J. 57, 70 (2014) (alteration in
            original) (quoting State v. Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 364–65
            (1984)).]

      As to aggravating factor one, "the sentencing court reviews the severity

of the defendant's crime, 'the single most important factor in the sentencing

process,' assessing the degree to which defendant's conduct has threatened the

safety of its direct victims and the public." State v. Lawless, 214 N.J. 594, 609

(2013) (quoting State v. Hodge, 95 N.J. 369, 378–79 (1984)). "When it assesses

whether a defendant's conduct was especially 'heinous, cruel, or depraved,' a

sentencing court must scrupulously avoid 'double-counting' facts that establish

the elements of the relevant offense."     Fuentes, 217 N.J. at 74–75 (citing

                                                                         A-2462-17T2
                                       9
Yarbough, 100 N.J. at 645; State v. Kromphold, 162 N.J. 345, 353 (2000)).

Aggravating factor one may properly be found "by reference to the extraordinary

brutality involved in an offense[,]" id. at 75 (citing State v. O'Donnell, 117 N.J.
210, 217 (1989)), or if "defendant's behavior extended to the extreme reaches of

the prohibited behavior." Id. at 76 (quoting State v. Henry, 418 N.J. Super. 481,

493 (Law Div. 2010)).

      Certainly, the judge's vivid description of the crimes at the time of

resentencing was intended to satisfy these requirements. Referring to the double

homicide as an "assassination" and act of "domestic terrorism," the judge

detailed how defendant planned the fatal assault as an act of revenge, and shot

both innocent victims in a case of mistaken identity.      However, as the Court

pointed out in Fuentes, aggravating factor one is usually reserved to those

situations in which the defendant cruelly inflicts pain and suffering to the victim,

in addition to causing death. Id. at 75 (collecting cases). Here, the prosecutor

argued and the judge accepted that aggravating factor one was justified because

one of the victims did not immediately perish at the scene. But, that fact does

not support a finding that the killings were "especially heinous, cruel or

depraved." N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(1). We agree with defendant that finding

                                                                            A-2462-17T2
                                        10
aggravating factor one amounted to double counting of an essential element of

the crime of murder, i.e., the knowing or purposeful killing of another.

      Even if we were wrong as to the misapplication of aggravating factor one

to this case, we agree with defendant that the judge erred by finding that it

applied for the first time at resentencing. At the original sentencing hearing, the

prosecutor urged the judge to find and apply aggravating factors one and two.

See N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(2) ("[t]he gravity and seriousness of harm inflicted on

the victim, including whether or not the defendant knew or reasonably should

have known that the victim of the offense was particularly vulnerable").

Contrary to what the prosecutor asserted at resentencing, there is nothing in the

transcript of the original sentencing proceedings that suggests the judge

"seem[ed] to indicate that [he] believe[d] . . . [a]ggravating [f]actor [one] was

there." The judge never addressed and certainly never found any aggravating

factors other than factors three, six and nine. N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3) (the risk

of re-offense); (6) (defendant's prior criminal record); and (9) (the need to deter

defendant and others).

      Although our prior opinion did not disapprove of the imposition of

consecutive sentences for the two murders, our remand required the trial judge

to explain his reasons for imposing two consecutive life sentences, i.e., two

                                                                           A-2462-17T2
                                       11
maximum sentences, and resentence defendant accordingly. As the Court has

explained,

             [W]hen 'reconsideration' of sentence or 'resentencing' is
             ordered after appeal, the trial court should view
             defendant as he stands before the court on that day
             unless the remand order specifies a different and more
             limited resentencing proceeding such as correction of a
             plainly technical error or a directive to the judge to view
             the particular sentencing issue from the vantage point
             of the original sentencing.

             [Randolph, 210 N.J. at 354.]

Although the prosecutor argued at resentencing that defendant's request to

impose concurrent sentences on the murders was foreclosed by our prior

opinion, a fair reading of the hearing transcript reveals the judge was not

confused as to the scope of our remand. As the judge stated early in the

proceedings, "this is a full resentencing. . . . [W]e're going back to square one

basically on the resentencing."

      However, even though a court may appropriately apply the Yarbough

factors and impose consecutive sentences on resentencing, "[t]he decision to

impose a maximum sentence concomitantly requires the finding and analysis of

the aggravating and mitigating factors identified in N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)–(b)."

Randolph, 210 N.J. at 352–53 (citing State v. Cassady, 198 N.J. 165, 181–84

(2009)). The nettlesome issue here is whether the judge was free to find an

                                                                           A-2462-17T2
                                        12
aggravating factor based solely on the nature and circumstances of the offenses

without new information unavailable at the time of the original sentencing, and

after the judge failed to find that aggravating factor at the original sentencing

despite the State's urging. We conclude this presents another reason why the

judge's finding of aggravating factor one was error and requires reversal,

vacation of the sentences imposed on the murder convictions, and another

remand for resentencing anew.

      Most of our jurisprudence in the area of resentencing on remand following

appeal discusses the court's obligation to consider additional evidence of a

defendant's post-conviction efforts at rehabilitation. See, e.g., Zuber, 227 N.J.

at 453; Randolph, 210 N.J. at 355; State v. Towey, 244 N.J. Super. 582, 593–

94, (App. Div. 1990). However, in a number of cases, the Court has not limited

the resentencing court's ability to consider all post-conviction conduct as to both

aggravating and mitigating sentencing factors. As the Court said in remanding

for resentencing in State v. Case,

            [T]he sentencing court may consider defendant's
            conduct and comportment while imprisoned, whether
            positive or negative. Defendant is entitled to bring to
            the court's attention to any rehabilitative or other
            constructive measures he has taken in the intervening
            years. The State, likewise, is not limited in its
            presentation. The only restriction placed on both parties

                                                                           A-2462-17T2
                                       13
            is that the evidence presented be competent and
            relevant.

            [220 N.J. 49, 70 (2014).]

See also State v. Jaffe, 220 N.J. 114, 124 (2014) ("[T]he trial court should view

a defendant as he or she stands before the court on the day of sentencing. This

means evidence of post-offense conduct, rehabilitative or otherwise, must be

considered in assessing the applicability of, and weight to be given to ,

aggravating and mitigating factors.") (emphasis added). Thus, in this case, it

was entirely appropriate for the judge to consider, as he did, defendant's conduct

while imprisoned that led to administrative discipline, as well as any post-

conviction rehabilitative evidence.

      However, other than the cases already mentioned, neither the State nor

defendant cite any authority for the proposition that resentencing defendant

"anew" permitted the judge to find an aggravating factor related solely to the

"nature and circumstances of the offense," despite not having found that factor

when urged to do so by the State at the time of the original sentence, and without

any additional post-conviction evidence. Our research revealed only one case

where, absent additional evidence, the judge on resentencing found an

aggravating factor based on the nature and circumstances of the crime which he

                                                                          A-2462-17T2
                                        14
did not find at the time of the original sentence. It arose in procedurally different

circumstances.

       In State v. Lawless, the defendant pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter

after driving while intoxicated and killing the driver of another car and injuring

two of its occupants. 423 N.J. Super. 293, 297 (App. Div. 2011). We vacated

the sentence and remanded for resentencing, concluding the trial judge erred in

finding aggravating factors two and six. Id. at 298. In particular, we construed

the language of aggravating factor two, i.e., the "gravity and seriousness of harm

inflicted on the victim," N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(2), to limit the sentencing court's

consideration to only the death of the other driver, not to the injuries suffered

by his passengers, when imposing sentence on the defendant's aggravated

manslaughter conviction. Id. at 304–05.

       The Court granted the State's motion for leave to appeal. Lawless, 214
N.J. at 605.     It affirmed our judgment, concluding "[t]he word 'victim' in

N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(2) . . . has never been held to extend beyond the direct

victims of the offense or offenses for which the sentence is imposed." Id. at

612.   However, although the State never asked the trial court to consider

aggravating factor one at the original sentencing, id. at 604, the Court concluded

that on remand, "the sentencing court may consider the severe injuries suffered

                                                                             A-2462-17T2
                                        15
by [one passenger] and the less serious but significant injuries suffered by [the

other passenger] as part of the 'nature and circumstances of the offense' inquiry

authorized by N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(1)." Id. at 615.3

      We do not think Lawless controls in this case. Here, the State specifically

asked the judge to apply factor one at the original sentencing, and the judge did

not make such a finding. Nothing new was presented to the judge at the time of

resentencing. Indeed, the State's brief, which is contained in its appendix,

reiterated the same reasons previously advanced in 2008. The State sought

nothing more than the proverbial second bite at the apple.          Aggravating

sentencing factor one was neither supported by the "nature and circumstances"

of these crimes, nor was the sentencing court permitted now to find that

aggravating factor applied having failed to find it before, despite the State's

urging and in the absence of any new evidence.

      In Randolph, the Court addressed the scope of our remand that required

the sentencing court to consider the appropriateness of imposing three

3
  On remand, the judge found aggravating factor one and two other aggravating
factors previously found at the time of the original sentence, considered
defendant's rehabilitative efforts while imprisoned, and reduced the sentence
from the maximum sentence of thirty-years previously imposed to twenty-four
years. Lawless, No. A-830-13 (Aug. 21, 2015).
                                                                  (continued)
                                                                         A-2462-17T2
                                      16
consecutive maximum terms on defendant. 210 N.J. at 352. In reversing and

remanding for the resentencing court to consider the defendant's post-conviction

rehabilitative efforts, id. at 354–55, the Court said: "we adhere to the cautioning

in Miller and Pennington [4] against the imposition of multiple consecutive

maximum sentences unless circumstances justifying such an extraordinary

overall sentence are fully explicated on the record." Id. at 354.

      Here, the judge's decision to once again impose two consecutive terms of

life imprisonment was marred by consideration of aggravating factor one. As

noted, the prosecutor specifically urged the judge find factor one so as to justify

the imposition of consecutive maximum sentences. Under these circumstances,

we vacate the sentences imposed and remand the matter for resentencing. The

judge may not consider aggravating factor one, nor may he or she consider in

the absence of any new evidence, other aggravating sentencing factors based

upon the events surrounding the murders. The court may consider any additional

competent evidence adduced by the State or defendant that relates to post-

conviction conduct. See Case, 220 N.J. at 70. We leave to the court's discretion

4
  State v. Miller, 108 N.J. 112 (1987); State v. Pennington, 154 N.J. 344 (1998).
We cited both in our prior opinion remanding for resentencing and a full
explanation of why imposition of two consecutive maximum life terms was
appropriate. Ross, slip op. at 34.
                                                                           A-2462-17T2
                                       17
whether to update defendant's presentence report or request an institutional

report. Randolph, 210 N.J. at 351.

      Reversed. The sentences are vacated and the matter is remanded for a full

resentencing. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                                       A-2462-17T2
                                     18