Court Opinion

ID: 4429485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:24:50.387054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:28.995182
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-1405-17T3

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

JOHN D. TAYLOR,
a/k/a JON D. TAYLOR,

          Defendant-Appellant.

                    Submitted November 28, 2018 - Decided January 29, 2019

                    Before Judges Koblitz and Currier.

                    On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                    Division, Burlington County, Indictment No. 17-03-
                    0054.

                    Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                    appellant (Michael T. Denny, Assistant Deputy Public
                    Defender, of counsel and on the briefs).

                    Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
                    respondent (Arielle E. Katz, Deputy Attorney General,
                    of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM
       Defendant John Taylor raises two issues on appeal following his jury

conviction of second-degree certain persons not to have weapons, N.J.S.A.

2C:39-7(b). He asserts the trial judge erred in denying his motion for a Franks1

hearing and contends the jury instructions violated his constitutional right to a

fair trial. After a review of his contentions in light of the record and applicable

principles of law, we affirm.

       We derive the following facts from the record, including the testimony

presented at the motion hearing and elicited at defendant's trial. In May 2016,

New Jersey State Police Detective Douglas Muraglia filed an affidavit for a

search warrant, explaining he had received an anonymous tip from a documented

New Jersey State Police Confidential Source (CS). The CS claimed a person

named "JT" was distributing marijuana from a specific address.           Muraglia

advised the CS had provided "accurate information in the past that ha[d] led to

several arrests," he had verified the CS's tip by contacting the local police

department, who confirmed defendant's identity and his residence, and the CS

had identified defendant's photograph.

       The affidavit detailed two controlled buys between the CS and defendant

organized by the local and state police. The police witnessed defendant and the

1
    Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978).
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CS conduct two hand-to-hand drug transactions during the weeks of May 1 and

May 8, 2016. The CS turned over the drugs, later determined to be marijuana,

to the police. Based on the affidavit, a search warrant was issued on May 12,

2016.

        The following morning, the New Jersey State SWAT team entered

defendant's home and learned a gun was hidden underneath defendant's pillow.

Defendant was restrained and read his Miranda2 rights, before defendant

confirmed he had a gun in his bedroom and divulged the location of two

additional guns hidden in the garage – one on a shelf in a baseball glove and the

other in a bin. After searching the residence and discovering all three guns, the

detectives also found four unused twelve-gauge shotgun shells in defendant's

bedroom.

        Defendant was charged in an indictment with: 1) three counts of second-

degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b) (Counts One,

Two, and Three); 2) third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A.

2C:39-5(c)(1) (Count Four); 3) third degree possession with intent to distribute

marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(b)(11) (Count Five); 4)

fourth-degree possession of marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(3) (Count Six);

2
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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                                       3
and 5) second-degree certain persons not to have weapons, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(b)

(Count Seven).

      In July 2017, defendant moved for a Franks hearing to challenge the

veracity of Muraglia's affidavit. In arguing he had not sold drugs during the

weeks in question, defendant provided his own affidavit "categorically

deny[ing] [selling] anything to anyone during the first two weeks in May 2016."

Because defendant's affidavit merely provided a self-serving "general denial,"

the judge found defendant did not meet the threshold for a Franks hearing and

denied the motion.

      After the State dismissed the charges, except Count Seven, a one-day jury

trial was held on September 14, 2017. Before the trial began, the parties agreed

defendant's prior convictions classified him as a "certain person," and stipulated

to the specific language in the jury charge. At the conclusion of the trial, the

judge gave the following instruction:

                  The third element the State must prove beyond a
            reasonable doubt is that the defendant is a person who
            previously has been convicted of a crime in the third
            degree or a predicate offense.

                  In this matter the parties have stipulated or agreed
            that the defendant has previously been convicted of
            such a crime or predicate offense. You are instructed
            as follows with regard to the stipulation. That you

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                                        4
            should treat those facts as being undisputed, that is, the
            parties agree that the facts are true.

                  As with all evidence, undisputed facts can be
            accepted or rejected by the jury in reaching a verdict.
            Normally, evidence of a defendant's prior conviction is
            not permitted under our court rules of evidence. This
            is because our rules specifically exclude evidence that
            a defendant has committed a prior crime when it is
            offered only to show that he has a disposition or a
            tendency to do wrong and, therefore, must be guilty of
            the present offense. However, our rules do permit
            evidence of prior crimes when the evidence is used for
            some other purpose.

                   In this case the evidence has been introduced for
            the specific purpose of establishing an element of the
            present offense. You may not use it as evidence to
            decide that the defendant has a tendency to commit
            crimes or that he’s a bad person. That is, you may not
            decide that just because the defendant has committed a
            prior crime he must be guilty of the present crime. The
            evidence produced by the State concerning a prior
            conviction is to be considered in determining whether
            the State has established its burden of proof beyond a
            reasonable doubt.

            [(emphasis added).]

The jury convicted defendant and he was sentenced to a seven-year term of

imprisonment with a mandatory five-year period of parole ineligibility.

      On appeal, defendant raises the following points:

            POINT I

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                                        5
            THE COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE
            DEFENDANT'S  MOTION REQUESTING A
            FRANKS HEARING.

            POINT II

            THE COURT'S CHARGE ON THE CERTAIN
            PERSONS NOT TO HAVE ANY FIREARMS COUNT
            WAS INCORRECT BECAUSE IT EXPANDED THE
            SCOPE OF CERTAIN PERSONS OFFENSES,
            ALLOWING THE JURY TO CONVICT THE
            DEFENDANT WITHOUT PRO[O]F BEYOND A
            REASONABLE     DOUBT    AND   WITHOUT
            UNANIMITY AMONGST THE JURORS (Not raised
            below).

      It is well settled that there is "a presumption of validity with respect to the

affidavit supporting the search warrant." State v. Broom-Smith, 406 N.J. Super.

228, 240 (App. Div. 2009) (quoting Franks, 438 U.S. at 171). "[A]n appellate

court's role is not to determine anew whether there was probable cause for

issuance of the warrant, but rather, whether there is evidence to support the

finding made by the warrant-issuing judge." State v. Chippero, 201 N.J. 14, 20-

21 (2009). Therefore, we "accord substantial deference to the discretionary

determination resulting in the issuance of the [search] warrant."           State v.

Sullivan, 169 N.J. 204, 211 (2001) (alteration in original) (quoting State v.

Marshall, 123 N.J. 1, 72 (1991).

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                                         6
      "When determining whether probable cause exists, courts must consider

the totality of the circumstances." State v. Jones, 179 N.J. 377, 389 (2004).

Information from confidential informants may constitute grounds for probable

cause if there is "a substantial basis" to credit it.    Ibid.   In evaluating an

informant's tip, "an informant's veracity and his or her basis of knowledge . . .

[are] the two most important factors." Sullivan, 169 N.J. at 212. The veracity

of an informant's tip may be shown if the informant has provided reliable and

dependable information in previous police investigations. State v. Keyes, 184

N.J. 541, 555 (2005).

      "[I]ndependent police 'corroboration is necessary to ratify the informant's

veracity and validate the truthfulness of the tip' and is considered 'an essential

part of the determination of probable cause.'" Keyes, 184 N.J. at 556 (quoting

Jones, 179 N.J. at 390).      "[R]elevant corroborating facts may include a

controlled drug buy performed on the basis of the tip" or "records confirming

the informant's description of the target location" as well as "the experience of

the officer who submitted the supporting affidavit." Ibid. (citing Jones, 179 N.J.

at 390-91).

      While a controlled buy alone, "would not conclusively establish probable

cause," it is "persuasive evidence."    Jones, 179 N.J. at 392.      "[E]ven one

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additional circumstance might suffice, in the totality of the circumstances, to

demonstrate probable cause when the police successfully have performed a

controlled drug buy."    Ibid.   In Sullivan, the Court adopted the following

description of a controlled buy that may support a probable cause finding:

            (1) a police officer meets the informant at a location
            other than the location where [it is] suspected that
            criminal activity is occurring; (2) the officer searches
            the informant to ensure the informant has no drugs on
            his person and (usually) furnishes the informant with
            money to purchase drugs; (3) the officer escorts or
            follows the informant to the premises where it is alleged
            illegal activity is occurring and watches the informant
            enter and leave those premises; and (4) the informant
            turns over to the officer the substance the informant has
            purchased from the residents of the premises under
            surveillance.

            [169 N.J. at 215 (alteration in original) (quoting
            Commonwealth v. Desper, 419 Mass. 163, 168
            (1994)).]

      Here, the detective's warrant affidavit satisfied these essential components

of a controlled buy. There were two controlled buys and the record reflects

additional corroboration of the informant's veracity and basis of knowledge.

The informant also provided accurate details about defendant and his residence,

which law enforcement later confirmed when observing the controlled buys.

Therefore, the issuing judge did not abuse his discretion in issuing the search

warrant.

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                                        8
      We are also unpersuaded by defendant's claim that he was entitled to a

Franks hearing based on the denial posited in his affidavit. We review the court's

decision regarding the need for an evidentiary hearing for an abuse of discretion.

Broom-Smith, 406 N.J. Super. at 239. We discern none here.

      Under Franks, a defendant is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to contest

the veracity of a warrant affidavit, "where the defendant makes a substantial

preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with

reckless disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant

affidavit, and if the allegedly false statement is necessary to the finding of

probable cause." 438 U.S. at 155-56; see also State v. Howery, 80 N.J. 563,

566-68 (1979). In making a "substantial preliminary showing," a defendant

"must allege 'deliberate falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth,' pointing

out with specificity the portions of the warrant that are claimed to be untrue."

Howery, 80 N.J. at 567 (quoting Franks, 438 U.S. at 171).

      The defendant's "attack must be more than conclusory." Broom-Smith,

406 N.J. Super. at 240 (quoting Franks, 438 U.S. at 171). The defendant's

"allegations must be accompanied by an offer of proof" such as "[a]ffidavits or

sworn or otherwise reliable statements of witnesses." Id. at 240-41 (quoting

Franks, 438 U.S. at 171). Generally, denying the State's claims is not sufficient

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                                        9
to reach the threshold required for a Franks hearing. See State v. Green, 346

N.J. Super. 87, 91 (App. Div. 2001) (explaining the "defendant's assertion that

he denies the truth of the State's allegations" did not create a material fact in

dispute requiring an evidentiary hearing). Here, because the only evidence

presented to contradict Muraglia's affidavit was defendant's own self-serving

affidavit, the motion judge did not abuse her discretion in denying the

evidentiary hearing.

      Finally, we consider, and reject, defendant's argument that the trial court's

jury instruction denied him a fair trial. "When a defendant fails to raise an issue

at trial, appellate review is governed by the plain error standard." State v.

Maloney, 216 N.J. 91, 104 (2013). In the context of a jury charge, plain error is

"[l]egal impropriety in the charge prejudicially affecting the substantial rights

of the defendant and sufficiently grievous to justify notice by the reviewing

court and to convince the court that of itself the error possessed a clear capacity

to bring about an unjust result." State v. Camacho, 218 N.J. 533, 554 (2014)

(alteration in original) (quoting State v. Adams, 194 N.J. 186, 207 (2008)).

      In reviewing any claim of error relating to a jury charge, "[t]he charge

must be read as a whole in determining whether there was any error." State v.

Torres, 183 N.J. 554, 564 (2005). A defense attorney's failure to object to jury

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                                       10
instructions not only "gives rise to a presumption that [s]he did not view [the

charge] as prejudicial to h[er] client's case," but it is also "considered a waiver

to object to the instruction on appeal." State v. McGraw, 129 N.J. 68, 80 (1992);

Maloney, 216 N.J. at 104 (2013).

        When a defendant stipulates to a conviction of a predicate offense,

"evidence of the predicate offense is extremely limited: '[t]he most the jury

needs to know is that the conviction admitted by the defendant falls within the

class of crimes that . . . bar a convict from possessing a gun.'" State v. Bailey,

231 N.J. 474, 488 (2018) (alterations in original) (quoting Old Chief v. U.S.,

519 U.S. 172, 190-91 (1997)). When there is a stipulation, the State is not

required to prove this element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Bailey,

231 N.J. at 488.

        By stipulating, a defendant "prevent[s] the State from presenting evidence

of the name and nature of the offense." Ibid. As long as the "stipulation is a

knowing and voluntary waiver of rights, placed on the record in defendant's

presence, the prosecution is limited to announcing to the jury that the defendant

has committed an offense that satisfies the statutory predicate-offense element."

Ibid.

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                                        11
      Here, defendant's counsel stipulated that defendant was a "certain person"

and did not object during the jury instruction. The discussions between the

prosecutor, defense counsel, and the court reveal strategic lawyering decisions,

rather than errors made by the trial judge. When taken as a whole, the jury

charge was legally accurate, indicated the stipulated material, and did not have

the capacity to mislead the jury. See Torres, 183 N.J. at 564.

      Affirmed.

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