Court Opinion

ID: 4429131
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:18:39.023822+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:10.237269
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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 NOS. A-0460-16T4
                                                                     A-2535-16T4

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

SPENCER S. YOUNG and
JAHMIR K. BOUIE, a/k/a
JAH,

          Defendant-Appellant.

                   Submitted January 14, 2019 – Decided March 12, 2019

                   Before Judges Fasciale, Gooden Brown and Rose.

                   On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                   Division, Monmouth County, Indictment No. 14-03-
                   0459.

                   Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                   appellants (Stephen W. Kirsch, Assistant Deputy Public
                   Defender, of counsel and on the brief in A-0460-16;
                   Lauren S. Michaels, Assistant Deputy Public Defender,
                   of counsel and on the brief in A-2535-16).
              Christopher J. Gramiccioni, Monmouth County
              Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Carey J. Huff,
              Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief in A-
              0460-16; Ian D. Brater, Assistant Prosecutor, of
              counsel and on the brief in A-2535-16).

PER CURIAM

        These two appeals, calendared back-to-back and consolidated for

purposes of our opinion, arise out of a single indictment charging defendants

Jahmir K. Bouie and Spencer S. Young with second-degree robbery, N.J.S.A.

2C:15-1 (count one); first-degree felony murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(3) (count

two); and first-degree purposeful or knowing murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(1) or

(2) (count three). The charges ensued from the beating death of Tommy Sudano,

following an apparent drug deal around midnight on July 26, 2013, in Asbury

Park.

        The State tried defendants separately. A jury convicted Bouie of all three

counts as charged. After ordering appropriate mergers, the trial court sentenced

Bouie on the murder conviction, to a fifty-five-year prison term, with an eighty-

five percent period of parole ineligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act

(NERA), N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2. Thereafter, a jury convicted Young of counts one

and two, found him not guilty of count three, but convicted him of the lesser -

included offense of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-

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                                         2
4(a)(1). The court ultimately sentenced Young to a prison term of fifty years,

subject to NERA.1

      We affirm the convictions and sentence as to Young. We also affirm the

convictions as to Bouie, but we remand for reconsideration of his sentence. We

first address Bouie's contentions, and then those raised by Young.

                                        I.

      On appeal, Bouie raises the following points for our consideration:

            POINT I

            REVERSAL IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE COURT
            REFUSED TO GRANT A MISTRIAL AFTER THE
            ONLY EYEWITNESS TOLD THE JURY THAT THE
            VICTIM'S FAMILY DESERVES JUSTICE AND
            THEREFORE THEY SHOULD CONVICT [BOUIE].

            POINT II

            THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE ANY LIMITING
            INSTRUCTION ABOUT EVIDENCE THAT [BOUIE]
            SOLD DRUGS DENIED HIM DUE PROCESS AND
            A FAIR TRIAL.
            (Not raised below)

1
 The court initially sentenced Young to a thirty-year term of parole ineligibility,
but later amended the judgment of conviction (JOC) to properly reflect the
mandatory eighty-five percent parole ineligibility term under NERA.
                                                                           A-0460-16T4
                                        3
POINT III

THE FAILURE TO CHARGE THE JURY ON THIRD-
PARTY GUILT DENIED BOUIE DUE PROCESS
AND A FAIR TRIAL.
(Not raised below)

POINT IV

THE      CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF   THE
AFOREMENTIONED ERRORS DENIED [BOUIE
OF] A FAIR TRIAL.
(Not raised below)

POINT V

THE MATTER SHOULD BE REMANDED FOR
RESENTENCING.

A. Bouie's sentence was imposed without proper
consideration of his youth and attendant circumstances,
despite the fact that he was a juvenile at the time of the
crime. This violated the Eighth Amendment and
Article One, Paragraph Twelve, and rendered his
sentence illegal, requiring resentencing under State v.
Zuber[, 227 N.J 422, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 138 S.
Ct. 152 (2017)].

B. The judge erred in finding and weighing aggravating
and mitigating factors, and in failing to provide an
adequate basis for his decision.

C. The [fifty-five]-year NERA sentence is manifestly
excessive and unduly punitive.

                                                             A-0460-16T4
                            4
                                         A.

        We begin by addressing Bouie's contention that the trial court erroneously

denied his motion for a mistrial because a comment by the State's sole

eyewitness was "wholly improper and exceedingly prejudicial." We disagree.

        The remark in question was elicited during J.B.'s2 testimony. At the time

of the incident, J.B. was sitting on the porch of his apartment building when he

saw Bouie and Young exit the building after what J.B. believed was "maybe a

drug sale." Defendants then attacked Sudano from behind, striking him in the

head and shoulders.       When Sudano fell to the ground, Bouie and Young

"continu[ed] to hit him . . . punch him and kick him . . . all over" his body.

Defendants left the scene, but returned shortly thereafter, and "search[ed]

[Sudano's] pockets[, . . . ] going through his pants . . . looking for stuff."

        After responding to defense counsel's inquiry regarding                  J.B.'s

identification of Bouie, J.B. asked whether he were permitted to "say

something." Although the court would not allow J.B. to comment at that point,

the court permitted him to respond to the prosecutor's question on redirect

examination, as follows:

              [PROSECUTOR:] You wanted to say something
              concerning [Bouie's] mustache, correct?

2
    We use initials to protect the privacy of the witness.
                                                                             A-0460-16T4
                                          5
            [J.B.:] It wasn't even concerning the mustache. Well,
            it was that, but I just wanted to say to the jury, you
            know, this happened three years ago. Some things I
            may remember to the T, other things not so much, but I
            know for a fact that was the guy. The family deserves
            justice.

            [(Emphasis added).]

The prosecutor immediately refocused J.B. on the certainty of his identification

of Bouie, and concluded her examination.          J.B. made no other comments

pertaining to justice for the victim's family.3

      Minutes later, at the conclusion of J.B.'s testimony, Bouie moved for a

mistrial. The trial court denied the motion, then excused the jury for lunch.

Following the lunch break, the prosecutor requested that the court issue a

3
  In a footnote of his merits brief, Bouie claims, for the first time on appeal that
"[a]dding to the prejudice, the prosecutor echoed [J.B.]'s outburst" during
summation with several comments pertaining to fairness. In particular, the
prosecutor summarized the evidence, then asked rhetorically, after each
summary, "Was that fair?" Bouie does not, however, argue how those comments
are prejudicial. Nor do any of the comments pertain to justice for the victim's
family. Moreover, Bouie did not object to the comments during or immediately
following the prosecutor's remarks. We find no plain error here. See State v.
Timmendequas, 161 N.J. 515, 576 (1999) (recognizing that when a defendant
does not object to the prosecutor's summation, the remarks generally "will not
be deemed prejudicial"); see also State v. Murray, 338 N.J. Super. 80, 87-88
(App. Div. 2001) ("The failure to make a timely objection not only indicates the
defense did not believe the remarks were prejudicial at the time they were made,
but also deprives the judge of the opportunity to take the appropriate curative
action.").

                                                                            A-0460-16T4
                                         6
limiting instruction, "in an abundance of caution[,]" indicating the jury should

disregard J.B.'s remark because it was improper opinion testimony. The trial

court granted the State's application, reasoning:

             [J.B.] added something which he was not asked, and
             that remark should be stricken from the record. The
             jury will be instructed to disregard that remark. [The
             court] will simply say that [J.B.] ventured his opinion
             about his view of the cause of justice, which he is not
             entitled to do, and the jury will disregard it. And I [the
             court] will give that instruction.

                    So there [i]s no mistake, what [the court] will tell
             the jury is [t]hat witnesses -- unless they [a]re qualified
             as experts, cannot express their opinions. They can
             only testify as to their personal observations of events
             which they then relate to the jury.

      Bouie did not object to the court's proposed curative instruction. When

the jurors returned from lunch, the court gave the following instruction, in

pertinent part:

             Later on in the case we anticipate you [wi]ll be hearing
             from some expert witnesses. I will be giving you a legal
             instruction about how you judge the credibility of
             expert witnesses. Expert witnesses are permitted to
             express their opinion about things to assist you in
             finding the facts.

                    Lay witnesses generally . . . are not permitted to
             express their opinions about anything. They are
             permitted to testify as to what they observed, what they
             recall seeing, and what they recall happening. They
             [a]re not permitted to express their opinion.

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                                         7
                  You may recall earlier today that there was at one
            point where [J.B.] was being questioned about [Bouie's]
            mustache but in the course of being asked the question,
            he volunteered his opinion about the merits of a cause.
            He [i]s not permitted to express his opinion about
            anything, let alone what he did express his opinion
            about. So that testimony has been stricken from the
            record, and you are to disregard it entirely.

                  ....

                   The best example I can give is, if a witness gets
            up and testifies about pink elephants, and I determine
            for legal reasons that that testimony should not be part
            of your considerations, I instruct you, as I have
            instructed you already, to disregard that testimony
            about pink elephants[. H]uman nature being what it is,
            as soon as I mention the word "pink elephants" in your
            head pops a vision of a pink elephant, and that [i]s just
            human nature.

                   But I [a]m instructing you and you have to follow
            this instruction that that comment that was ventured as
            his opinion is not part of the case. You may not rely
            upon it, and you must disregard it entirely in
            determining the facts of this case when you get to that
            point in the trial.

      Bouie did not object to that instruction. He now argues the instruction not

only was insufficient "to cure the prejudice[,]" but also it was "so delayed and

so vague that its impact, if any, was minimal." As further support, he relies on

our recent decision in State v. Herbert, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2019)

                                                                         A-0460-16T4
                                       8
(slip op. at 1), decided after briefing in the present matter. 4 Bouie's argument is

unavailing.

        In Herbert, we reversed the defendant's convictions for murder and

weapons offenses where the lead detective, in violation of a prior court ruling,

referenced the defendant's alleged gang membership and the presence of gangs

in the area of the homicide. Id. at 2. Importantly, we determined the references

to gang membership impermissibly suggested to the jury that the defendant was

"a bad person with the propensity to commit crimes." Id. at 24.

        We further observed, "Each time the detective referred to gangs, the trial

came to an abrupt halt. The second time, when the detective called the defendant

a gang member, the jury gasped, according to defense counsel at sidebar." Id.

at 23. Under those particular circumstances, and because the curative instruction

was otherwise inaccurate, we concluded the instruction was insufficient to

alleviate the prejudice caused by the detective's remarks. Id. at 25-27.

        Conversely, here, J.B.'s remark, while an improper opinion, was fleeting

and did not suggest Bouie committed prior bad acts. See Jackowitz v. Lang, 408

N.J. Super. 495, 505 (App. Div. 2009) ("Fleeting comments, even if improper,

may not warrant a new trial, particularly when the verdict is fair."). J.B. did not

4
    See R. 2:6-11(d). The State did not file a responding submission.
                                                                            A-0460-16T4
                                         9
violate a prior court ruling, nor is there any evidence in the record that the jury

reacted in any way to the remark.

      Further, our decision in Herbert did not overrule well-established

principles enunciated by our Supreme Court, i.e., when inadmissible testimony

is inadvertently admitted in evidence at trial, the decision to give a curative

instruction or grant the "more severe response of a mistrial" is "peculiarly within

the competence of the trial judge, who has the feel of the case and is best

equipped to gauge the effect of a prejudicial comment on the jury in the overall

setting." State v. Winter, 96 N.J. 640, 646-47 (1984). We review the denial of

a mistrial for an abuse of discretion and uphold the trial court's decision unless

manifest injustice would result. State v. LaBrutto, 114 N.J. 187, 207 (1989).

      Similarly, "when weighing the effectiveness of curative instructions," we

"should give equal deference to the determination of the trial court" and reverse

only when the possibility of an unjust verdict was "sufficient to raise a

reasonable doubt as to whether the error led the jury to a result it otherwise might

not have reached." Winter, 96 N.J. at 647. In fact, "[e]ven in the context of a

constitutional error, a curative instruction will not be deemed inadequate unless

there is a real possibility that the error led the jury to a result it otherwise might

                                                                              A-0460-16T4
                                         10
not have reached." State v. Scherzer, 301 N.J. Super. 363, 441 (App. Div. 1997)

(citing Winter, 96 N.J. at 647).

      Reviewing the curative instruction, here, we are satisfied it was sufficient

to cure any possible prejudice to Bouie. See State v. Vallejo, 198 N.J. 122, 134

(2009) (recognizing an adequate curative instruction is "firm, clear, and

accomplished without delay"). Without repeating the improper remark, the trial

court clearly referenced J.B.'s comment that "he volunteered his opinion about

the merits of a cause." In doing so, the judge minimized the impact of the

reference, but firmly instructed the jurors to disregard the improper opinion

testimony in their deliberations. See N.J.R.E. 701. Further, the instruction was

given right after the jurors returned from lunch and before the State called its

next witness. Under these circumstances, we find the court properly denied

Bouie's motion for a mistrial and gave an effective curative instruction instead.

State v. Allah, 170 N.J. 269, 281 (2002) (a mistrial is not appropriate if there is

"an appropriate alternative course of action").

                                        B.

      Bouie next asserts a new trial is mandated because the culmination of two

trial errors denied him a fair trial. State v. Rivera, 437 N.J. Super. 434, 444

(App. Div. 2014). We find these arguments lack merit. R. 2:11-3(e)(2). We add

                                                                           A-0460-16T4
                                       11
the following brief comments on the two challenges raised, noting Bouie 's

failure to challenge the court's instructions to the jury at trial constitutes a waiver

to object to those instructions on appeal. R. 1:7-2; see State v. Torres, 183 N.J.

554, 564 (2005). Accordingly, we will reverse on the basis of unchallenged jury

instruction error only if the error was "clearly capable of producing an unjust

result." R. 2:10-2; State v. Ross, 229 N.J. 389, 407-08 (2017).

                                          1.

      Bouie claims he was deprived of a fair trial and his due process rights

were violated because the trial record is replete with references to his uncharged

drug dealing, yet the trial court failed, sua sponte, to issue a limiting instruction

pursuant to N.J.R.E. 404(b). Because the uncharged conduct was "intrinsic" to

the charged crimes, we disagree.

      Evidence may be intrinsic to the charged crime in two ways. "First,

evidence is intrinsic if it 'directly proves' the charged offense." State v. Rose,

206    N.J.   141,    180    (2011).    "Second,     uncharged      acts   performed

contemporaneously with the charged crime may be termed intrinsic if they

facilitate the commission of the charged crime." Ibid. (internal quotation marks

omitted). Evidence that is "intrinsic" to the charged crime is not "other crimes"

evidence, and therefore not subject to N.J.R.E. 404(b). Ibid.; State v. Sheppard,

                                                                               A-0460-16T4
                                         12
437 N.J. Super. 171, 193 (App. Div. 2014). However, even "intrinsic evidence"

is subject to N.J.R.E. 403, which permits exclusion of "relevant evidence . . . if

its probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk of . . . undue

prejudice." Rose, 206 N.J. at 177.

      In this case, evidence of Bouie's drug dealing was minimal, limited to the

date of the incident, and relevant because it arguably provided an opportunity

for the robbery. Indeed, the sole reference to prior drug transactions between

Bouie and Sudano was made during defense counsel's opening statement: "Now,

the evidence will show that for a period of time [Bouie] either facilitated or sold

small amounts of drugs to Mr. Sudano. He was the person Mr. Sudano would

contact when he would come to Asbury Park to purchase his drugs."

Conversely, the prosecutor limited references of Bouie's drug dealing to the day

in question. Because the evidence was not offered to show Bouie's criminal

propensity, see id. at 180-81, a limiting instruction was not necessary.

Accordingly, we discern no error, let alone plain error.

                                        2.

      Little needs to be said regarding Bouie's final argument that the trial court

was obligated, sua sponte, to supply the jury with the model instruction on third -

party guilt. See Model Jury Charges (Criminal), "Third Party Guilt Jury Charge"

                                                                           A-0460-16T4
                                       13
(approved Mar. 9, 2015).       That instruction essentially reinforces the more

general instruction to the jurors, which was repeatedly delivered by the court,

underscoring that the State always maintains the burden of proof in a criminal

trial, and the defense has no obligation to prove anything or present any

evidence. The third-party guilt instruction simply ties those general precepts to

a context where, as here, a defendant is suggesting that some other person is

responsible for the harm he is alleged to have caused.

      Viewing, as we must, the charge as a whole in light of the record, we are

unpersuaded that the court's omission of the unrequested third-party guilt charge

was likely to cause an unjust outcome in this case. "Plain error in the context

of a jury charge . . . [must be] sufficiently grievous . . . to convince the court

that of itself the error possessed a clear capacity to bring about an unjust result."

State v. Hyman, 451 N.J. Super. 429, 455 (2017) (alterations in original).

"Under the plain error standard, defendant has the burden of proving t hat the

error was clear and obvious and that it affected his substantial rights." State v.

Koskovich, 168 N.J. 448, 529 (2001) (internal quotation marks omitted).

      That burden is not met here. The prosecutor did not suggest in summation

or otherwise that the defense had a burden to prove that someone else, rather

than Bouie and Young, stomped the victim to death, or that Bouie was not

                                                                             A-0460-16T4
                                        14
allowed to rely on evidence from the State's case-in-chief to support such an

alternative theory. The third-party-guilt charge was not needed here to defuse

some misimpression injected into the case. Nor is the situation even remotely

akin to the omission of a lesser-included offense instruction that is "clearly

indicate[d]" by the proofs. Cf. State v. Jenkins, 178 N.J. 347, 361 (2004).

      In sum, we are satisfied that neither of the errors alleged by Bouie,

individually or cumulatively, warrants the granting of a new trial. See State v.

Jenewicz, 193 N.J. 440, 473 (2008).

                                       C.

      Finally, we address Bouie's sentencing arguments. Bouie contends his

fifty-five-year prison term is excessive and unconstitutional because the court

imposed the sentence without properly considering his age pursuant to Zuber,

227 N.J. 422. He also argues the court erred in finding and weighing aggravating

and mitigating factors.

      In particular, Bouie contends the court unconstitutionally failed to

adequately consider his youth, as required by recent United States Supreme

Court and New Jersey Supreme Court precedent, restricting lengthy custodial

terms for juvenile-aged offenders that have the practical impact of imposing a

life sentence without a realistic prospect of parole. Having considered these

                                                                         A-0460-16T4
                                      15
arguments of unconstitutionality in light of that precedent, some of which was

decided after the sentence was imposed by the trial court in this case, we are

constrained to remand for reconsideration of the sentence.

      Our analysis is guided by a series of opinions by the United States

Supreme Court and, most recently, the New Jersey Supreme Court. In Graham

v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 82 (2010), the United States Supreme Court held that

the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits the

imposition of a life without parole (LWOP) sentence "on a juvenile offender

who did not commit homicide." The Court observed that juveniles generally

have lessened culpability and are "less deserving of the most severe

punishments." Id. at 68. The Court recognized in Graham that a LWOP sentence

is "especially harsh" for a juvenile, who will "on average serve more years and

a greater percentage of his life in prison than an adult offender." Id. at 70. The

Court noted that LWOP affords no chance for true rehabilitation because a

juvenile who knows that he or she will never leave prison has "little incentive

to become a responsible individual." Id. at 79. The Court's holding in Graham,

however, was limited to nonhomicide offenders. Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S.

460, 473 (2012).

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                                       16
      In Miller, the United States Supreme Court clarified that the Constitution

prohibits the imposition of statutory mandatory LWOP sentences upon minors,

even in homicide cases. Id. at 465. The Court stated that the "mandatory penalty

schemes" at issue, which required a LWOP sentence for anyone convicted of

murder regardless of age, improperly prevented the sentencing court from taking

account of the mitigating qualities of youth as required by Graham. Id. at 474-

77. Specifically, the Court found that sentencing a juvenile to LWOP under a

mandatory sentencing statute

            precludes consideration of his chronological age and its
            hallmark      features—among       them,     immaturity,
            impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and
            consequences. It prevents taking into account the
            family and home environment that surrounds him—and
            from which he cannot usually extricate himself—no
            matter how brutal or dysfunctional. It neglects the
            circumstances of the homicide offense, including the
            extent of his participation in the conduct and the way
            familial and peer pressures may have affected him.
            Indeed, it ignores that he might have been charged and
            convicted of a lesser offense if not for incompetencies
            associated with youth—for example, his inability to
            deal with police officers or prosecutors (including on a
            plea agreement) or his incapacity to assist his own
            attorneys.

            [Id. at 477-78.]

                                                                        A-0460-16T4
                                      17
      Despite holding that mandatory LWOP statutes should not be applied to

juveniles, the Supreme Court nonetheless made clear in Miller that it had not

"foreclose[d] a sentencer's ability to make [the] judgment in homicide cases" on

a case-by-case discretionary basis, that a juvenile offender's crime "reflects

irreparable corruption" warranting a LWOP sentence. Id. at 479-80 (citation

omitted). However, the Court stressed that appropriate occasions for imposing

this degree of penalty would be "uncommon." Id. at 479. Thereafter, the Court

specified that the principles of Graham and Miller apply retroactively.

Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. ___, 136 S. Ct. 718, 732-33 (2016).

      Our own Supreme Court recently addressed these juvenile offender

sentencing concerns in Zuber, 227 N.J. at 446-47, and a companion appeal in

State v. Comer, 227 N.J. 422, 433-34, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 138 S. Ct. 152

(2017). In Zuber, the Court determined "Miller's command that a sentencing

judge 'take into account how children are different, and how those differences

counsel against irrevocably sentencing them to a lifetime in prison,' applies with

equal strength to a sentence that is the practical equivalent of [LWOP]." Id. at

446-47 (quoting Miller, 567 U.S. at 480). The Court explained that the "proper

focus" under the Eighth Amendment is "the amount of real time a juvenile will

spend in jail and not on the formal label attached to his sentence." Id. at 429.

                                                                          A-0460-16T4
                                       18
      In sum, a judge must conduct "an individualized assessment of the

juvenile about to be sentenced—with the principles of Graham and Miller in

mind." Id. at 450. Stated differently, the Court distilled the "Miller factors" as

entailing "[the] defendant's 'immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate

risks and consequences'; 'family and home environment'; family and peer

pressures; 'inability to deal with police officers or prosecutors' or his own

attorney; and 'the possibility of rehabilitation.'" Id. at 453 (quoting Miller, 567

U.S. at 477-78).

      Importantly, as in Graham and Miller, our Supreme Court in Zuber did

not categorically prohibit the imposition of sentences on juvenile-aged offenders

that are the functional equivalent of LWOP. Id. at 450-52. Instead, the Court

stated that "even when judges begin to use the Miller factors at sentencing,"

some juveniles may appropriately receive long sentences with substantial

periods of parole ineligibility, "particularly in cases that involve multiple

offenses on different occasions or multiple victims." Id. at 451.

      Here, Bouie was seventeen years old 5 when he committed the present

offenses. Recognizing defendant's age, and the United States Supreme Court's

5
  Because Bouie was a juvenile when the offenses were committed, jurisdiction
of his delinquency case was waived to the Law Division by the Family Part
pursuant to Rule 5:22-2.
                                                                           A-0460-16T4
                                       19
mandates under Miller and its progeny, the trial court acknowledged it was

unconstitutional and inappropriate to sentence Bouie to life imprisonment.

However, the court did not address the Miller factors when analyzing potential

mitigating factors of the sentence imposed.

      In fairness to the court, it did not have the benefit of our Supreme Court 's

2017 opinion in Zuber when it imposed sentence on Bouie in September 2016.

Nor did the court have the benefit of the legislation enacted in July 2017 aimed

at implementing the constitutional policies underlying Graham, Miller, and

Zuber. See N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(b), amended by L. 2017, c. 150.

      We recognize Bouie's fifty-five-year sentence with forty-six years and

nine months of parole ineligibility is not literally a LWOP sentence. However,

as a practical matter, it closely approaches it. Accordingly, we conclude Bouie's

sentence must be revisited on remand for an evaluation taking into account the

Miller constitutional factors of youthfulness, this time with the beneficial

guidance of Montgomery, Zuber, and the recent statutory amendment.

      Because we are remanding for resentencing in view of the Miller factors,

we need not reach Bouie's remaining arguments regarding the court's assessment

of the aggravating and mitigating factors, which shall be reassessed on

resentencing.

                                                                           A-0460-16T4
                                       20
      Affirmed as to Bouie's convictions. Remanded for reconsideration of the

sentence. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                      II.

      We next consider Young's arguments on appeal:

            POINT I

            THE JURY INSTRUCTIONS ERRED IN TWO
            RESPECTS: (1) FAILING TO EXPLAIN THE
            FINDINGS NECESSARY FOR A JURY TO
            CONCLUDE THAT ONE IS GUILTY AS AN
            ACCOMPLICE OF AGGRAVATED OR RECKLESS
            MANSLAUGHTER WHEN THOSE CRIMES
            REQUIRE A RECKLESS STATE OF MIND, BUT
            ACCOMPLICE         LIABILITY REQUIRES   A
            PURPOSEFUL STATE OF MIND, AND (2) FAILING
            TO EXPLAIN THAT, DEPENDING ON HIS
            MENTAL STATE, [YOUNG] MIGHT ONLY BE
            GUILTY OF RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY
            EVEN IF [BOUIE] COMMITTED A ROBBERY.
            (Not raised below)

            A. The jury instruction failed to explain how a verdict
            can be returned for accomplice liability for a reckless
            crime like aggravated manslaughter when accomplice
            liability requires a purposeful state of mind.

            B. The accomplice-liability instruction only detailed
            the option of a lesser-offense verdict for aggravated or
            reckless manslaughter, but did not address the
            possibility that [Young] may have only been guilty of
            receiving stolen property even if [Bouie] intended a
            robbery of the victim.

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                                      21
             POINT II

             THE MATTER SHOULD BE REMANDED FOR
             RESENTENCING.

                                        A.

                                        1.

       Initially, we consider Young's arguments that the accomplice liability

charge was erroneous, observing he failed to object to the charge when it was

given. As we observed above in considering Bouie's jury-charge argument, "we

analyze his claim . . . through the lens of plain error review." Ross, 229 N.J. at

408.

       When the State proceeds under a theory of accomplice liability, "the court

is obligated to provide the jury with accurate and understandable jury

instructions regarding accomplice liability even without a request by defense

counsel." State v. Bielkiewicz, 267 N.J. Super. 520, 527 (App. Div. 1993); see

also State v. Ingram, 196 N.J. 23, 38-39 (2008). "[W]hen an alleged accomplice

is charged with a different degree offense than the principal or lesser[-]included

offenses are submitted to the jury, the court has an obligation to carefully impart

to the jury the distinctions between the specific intent required for the grades of

the offense." Ingram, 196 N.J. at 38 (second alteration in original).

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      "[J]ury instructions on accomplice liability must include an instruction

that a defendant can be found guilty as an accomplice of a lesser[-]included

offense even though the principal is found guilty of the more serious offense."

State v. Norman, 151 N.J. 5, 37 (1997). Thus, "when an alleged accomplice is

charged with a different degree offense than the principal[,] or lesser[-]included

offenses are submitted to the jury, the court has an obligation to 'carefully

impart[] to the jury the distinctions between the specific intent required for the

grades of the offense.'" Bielkiewicz, 267 N.J. Super. at 528 (third alteration in

original) (quoting State v. Weeks, 107 N.J. 396, 410 (1987)).

      Here, Young first argues the accomplice liability instruction for the lesser-

included offenses of aggravated and reckless manslaughter was erroneous, and

that his rights to due process and a fair trial under the Fourteenth Amendment

were violated. We disagree.

      Pertinent to this appeal, the court's instructions concerning accomplice

liability closely tracked the Model Jury Charge, Model Jury Charges (Criminal),

"Liability for Another's Conduct (N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6): Accomplice Charge Two"

(rev. June 11, 2018). See Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt.

8.1 on R. 1:8-7 (2019) ("Use by the court of model jury charges is recommended

as a method, albeit not perfect, for avoiding error.").

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      Nonetheless, Young claims the instruction "badly distorted the requisite

elements of accomplice liability as applied to aggravated manslaughter" because

the court used the terms, "solicited," "aided," "purpose," and "promote," which

do not evince reckless conduct. To support his argument, Young references the

following portion of the court's instruction:

                   Therefore, in order to find [Young] guilty of the
            lesser included offenses of aggravated manslaughter or
            reckless manslaughter, the State must prove beyond a
            reasonable doubt that . . . Bouie committed the crime
            of murder as alleged in the indictment or the lesser
            included offense of aggravated manslaughter or
            reckless manslaughter; that [Young] solicited . . . Bouie
            to commit aggravated manslaughter or reckless
            manslaughter or did aid or agree to or attempt to aid
            him in planning to commit the aggravated manslaughter
            or reckless manslaughter; that [Young]'s purpose was
            to promote or [facilitate] at any time the commission of
            an aggravated manslaughter or a reckless
            manslaughter; that [Young] possessed the criminal
            state of mind that is required for the commission of an
            aggravated manslaughter or reckless manslaughter.

Young's argument is misplaced.

      In State v. Bridges, 254 N.J. Super. 541 (App. Div. 1992), we discussed

the concept of vicarious liability for crimes with a culpability requirement of

recklessness.

                  What then of vicarious liability for a crime whose
            culpability requirement is not knowing or purposeful

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action but rather reckless action? If vicarious liability
requires the purpose that the crime be committed, but if
the crime does not have a purposeful element, can there
be vicarious liability at all? The apparent conundrum
is how one can intend a reckless act. We are, however,
satisfied that that conundrum is semantical rather than
substantive.

      ....

[I]mposition of vicarious liability for a crime whose
culpability requirement is recklessness requires an
initial focus on the actor's conduct rather than on the
crime itself. As a first condition, the accomplice . . .
must have intended that the actor's conduct take place,
i.e., that the accomplice . . . had the purpose of
promoting or facilitating the commission of that
conduct by the actor and took some step or steps, as
stipulated . . . in order actually to promote or facilitate
that conduct.

       If the actor is liable for a "reckless" crime,
vicarious liability for that crime or a lesser-included
"reckless" crime may attach to an accomplice . . . who
purposely promoted or facilitated the actor's conduct;
who was aware when he did so, considering the
circumstances then known to him, that the criminal
result was a substantial and [un]justifiable risk of that
conduct; and who nevertheless promoted that conduct
in conscious disregard of that risk. . . . Vicarious
liability for a "reckless" crime may also, however,
attach when the actor commits an "intent" crime and the
accomplice . . . did not intend that that crime be
committed but nevertheless intended that the actor take
a specific action or actions which resulted in the crime.
If criminal liability for the criminal result of that

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                           25
            conduct can be predicated on a reckless state of mind,
            an accomplice . . . can be vicariously liable for that
            "reckless" crime under the same principles which apply
            where the actor's culpability is also based on
            recklessness. This is so even if the actor himself is
            guilty of an "intent" crime. The point . . . is that each
            participant in a common plan may participate therein
            with a different state of mind. The liability of each
            participant for any ensuing crime is dependent on his
            own state of mind, not on anyone else's.

            [Id. at 563-66 (footnotes and citations omitted).]

See also Bielkiewicz, 267 N.J. Super. at 528-30.

      Here, we find Young's arguments concerning the judge's accomplice

liability charge are more "semantical rather than substantive." Bridges, 254 N.J.

Super. at 564; see also Bielkiewicz, 267 N.J. Super. at 528-30. The court

initially informed the jurors to consider "whether [Young] should be found not

guilty or guilty of acting as an accomplice of . . . Bouie with full and equal

responsibility for the crimes charged." The judge then stated,

                  If, however, you find [Young] not guilty of acting
            as an accomplice . . . on the specific crimes charged,
            then you should consider whether [Young] did act as an
            accomplice of . . . Bouie but with the purpose of
            promoting or facilitating the commission of some lesser
            offenses than the actual crimes charged in the
            indictment.

      In accordance with our discussion in Bridges, the court further instructed:

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                   Our law recognize[s] that two or more persons
             may participate in the commission of an offense, but
             each may participate therein with a different state of
             mind. The liability or responsibility of each participant
             for any ensuing offense is dependent on his own state
             of mind and not on anyone else's.

       We are satisfied that the charge was not in error. The court instructed the

jury that Young's liability depended on his state of mind, and that a defendant

could be found guilty as an accomplice of a lesser-included offense. In doing

so, the court provided the jury with "accurate and understandable jury

instructions regarding accomplice liability." Bielkiewicz, 267 N.J. Super. at

527.

                                        2.

       We have considered Young's second argument, that the accomplice

liability charge was flawed because it omitted receiving stolen property, and

find it lacks sufficient merit to warrant discussion in our written opinion. R.

2:11-3(e)(2). Instead, we add the following brief remarks.

       The trial court specifically charged receiving stolen property as a lesser -

included offense of second-degree robbery. In particular, the court instructed

the jury: "It is alleged here that [Young] received stolen property, specifically

. . . Sudano's cell phone." To support "a rational basis" for that charge, see

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                                       27
N.J.S.A. 2C:1-8(e), Young claimed he "accepted the victim's phone from

[Bouie] after the fact." Indeed, four days after the incident, police apprehended

Young with Sudano's cell phone in his possession. Young voluntarily waived

his Miranda rights,6 and initially said he received the stolen phone from Bouie.

       Later in his statement, Young admitted he struck Sudano and kicked him

in the face "[t]hree times." Young then acknowledged he and Bouie robbed

Sudano. Young's video-recorded statement was played for the jury at trial,

which found him guilty of robbery.

       Nonetheless, at the very least, Young admitted he acted as a principal with

regard to receiving the stolen cell phone. Under those circumstances, we discern

no error, let alone plain error in the court's failure to charge accomplice liability

for receiving stolen property, especially where, as here, the court charged that

offense as a lesser-included offense of robbery.

                                         B.

       Finally, Young contends the matter should be remanded for resentencing

because the court imposed a thirty-year parole-ineligibility term instead of the

mandatory eighty-five percent term pursuant to NERA, and the Department of

Corrections "correct[ed]" the sentence without a hearing. Citing our decision in

6
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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                                        28
State v. Ramsey, 415 N.J. Super. 257 (App. Div. 2010), Young claims "a remand

for a full reconsideration of sentencing" is necessary. Young's argument is

legally and factually incorrect.

       In short, in Ramsey, we remanded for resentencing because the court did

not consider the defendant's parole ineligibility period under NERA. Id. at 271-

72.    Conversely, here, the court explicitly stated it was imposing Young's

sentence pursuant to NERA, but mistakenly calculated the parole ineligibility

term as thirty years. Thereafter, the court amended the JOC to reflect the correct

NERA parole ineligibility term. 7      Young's contentions require no further

comment. R. 2:11-3(e)(2).

       Affirmed as to Young.

7
    Inexplicably, Young only provided the initial JOC in his appendix.
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