Court Opinion

ID: 8311503
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-17 14:05:17.962153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:44:44.761617
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-4407-18

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

R.J.R.,

     Defendant-Appellant.
_______________________

                   Submitted September 20, 2022 – Decided October 17, 2022

                   Before Judges Sumners, Geiger and Susswein.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                   Division, Union County, Indictment No. 17-02-0139.

                   Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                   appellant (Lee March Grayson, Designated Counsel, on
                   the brief).

                   William C. Daniel, Union County Prosecutor, attorney
                   for respondent (Michele C. Buckley, Assistant
                   Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      Defendant R.J.R.1 was indicted for first-degree aggravated sexual assault

upon A.S. (Ava) when she was less than thirteen years old, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a);

second-degree sexual assault upon Ava when she was less than thirteen years

old and defendant was at least four years older than Ava, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b);

and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child with sexual conduct,

N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1).

      After two Rule 104 testimonial hearings, Judge Candido Rodriguez, Jr.

granted the State's motions to admit Ava's out-of-court statements. First, the

judge, applying the tender years hearsay exception, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), ordered

the admission of Ava's statements to Union County Prosecutor's Office Special

Victim's Unit Detective Nicholas Falcicchio, which was video-recorded, and

school guidance counselor Jasmine Lee. Next, the judge ordered the admission

of Ava's statements to nurse practitioner Romelia Hasegawa, finding they were

made for the purpose of a medical evaluation, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4).

1
   We use initials and pseudonyms to protect the privacy of the victim and
preserve the confidentiality of these proceedings. N.J.S.A. 2A:82-46(a); R.
1:38-3(c)(9). We use the pseudonym first name of the victim's mother for
convenience; we mean no disrespect.

                                                                          A-4407-18
                                       2
      Following a five-day jury trial, in which Ava, Lee, Falcicchio, Hasegawa,

and J.S. (Jill), Ava's mother, testified, defendant was found guilty of all charges.

He was subsequently sentenced to an aggregate fifteen-year prison term.

      In this appeal, defendant contends:

            POINT I

            THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS SHOULD BE
            REVERSED BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT
            IMPROPERLY GRANTED THE STATE'S MOTION
            TO ADMIT STATEMENTS MADE BY THE
            ALLEGED       VICTIM      TO   THE   NURSE
            PRACTITIONER        UNDER    THE   MEDICAL
            DIAGNOSIS EXCEPTION OF THE HEARSAY
            RULE, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4).

            POINT II

            THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS SHOULD BE
            REVERSED BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ERRED
            BY PERMITTING THE NURSE PRACTITIONER,
            WHO WAS NOT A FORENSIC NURSE CERTIFIED
            SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINER (FN-CSA), TO
            TESTIFY AS AN EXPERT WITNESS FOR THE
            STATE   IN   THE   FIELD    OF   CHILD
            MALTREATMENT.

            POINT III

            THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS SHOULD BE
            REVERSED BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ERRED
            BY FAILING TO INSTRUCT THE JURY ON THE
            LIMITED   USE    OF    FRESH   COMPLAINT
            TESTIMONY. (Not Raised Below).

                                                                              A-4407-18
                                         3
            POINT IV

            THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS SHOULD BE
            REVERSED BECAUSE THE JURY VERDICT WAS
            AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE. (Not
            Raised Below).

            POINT V

            THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE TRIAL COURT
            WAS UNDULY EXCESSIVE.

            POINT VI

            REVERSAL IS REQUIRED IN THIS CASE
            BECAUSE OF THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF
            THE     ERRORS DURING    THE  PRETRIAL
            HEARINGS, TRIAL[,] AND SENTENCING. (Not
            Raised Below).

      Having considered these arguments and the applicable law, we affirm for

the reasons set forth below.

                                       I.

      We first address defendant's contentions in Point I and II concerning the

Rule 104 ruling that Ava's statements to Hasegawa regarding the sexual assaults

were admissible at trial and that Hasegawa could testify as expert regarding

sexual mistreatment of children. Before detailing the admitted testimony and

our analysis of Judge Rodriguez 's rulings, we begin with the understanding that

a trial judge retains broad discretion in determining the admissibility of

                                                                          A-4407-18
                                       4
evidence. State v. Garcia, 245 N.J. 412, 430 (2021). "The abuse of discretion

standard instructs us to 'generously sustain [the trial court's] decision, provided

it is supported by credible evidence in the record.'" State v. Brown, 236 N.J.

497, 522 (2019) (quoting Est. of Hanges v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 202

N.J. 369, 384 (2010)).

      Ava's Statements

      At the Rule 104 hearing, Hasegawa, a nurse practitioner employed at the

Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center (RDTC), Newark Beth Israel

Medical Center, testified she routinely conducted medical examinations of three

to four child patients a week for child maltreatment, sexual abuse, and physical

abuse, the majority of which were done at the request of the New Jersey Division

of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). She explained the examinations

were not to collect evidence, but to ensure the child patient was "okay

medically," check for injuries, facilitate testing, and provide appropriate

treatment.

      As to Ava's medical exam–done at DCPP's request, Hasegawa said she

first spoke with a DCPP worker, then spoke separately with Jill and Ava. After

asking Jill about Ava's medical history and eating and sleeping habits, Hasegawa

obtained Jill's consent to privately question and examine Ava.

                                                                             A-4407-18
                                        5
        Hasegawa examined Ava in a child-friendly medical suite. She told Ava

she was a nurse practitioner and was going to examine her body like a doctor to

make sure her "body's okay." In response to Hasegawa's question if Ava knew

why she was there, Ava "spontaneously reported" that an adult male had "raped"

her.2   Ava disclosed the abuse started when she was eight years old and

continued until she was ten years old. Based on Ava's detailed revelations of

the abuse, Hasegawa noted in her report that Ava suffered penile-vaginal

penetration;    penile-anal   penetration;   oral-vaginal   contact;   penile-oral

penetration; and digital-vaginal penetration.

        Due to Jill's and Ava's statements, Hasegawa conducted a full physical

examination of Ava. The results were normal; Hasegawa expressed that given

the passage of time between the examination and the last incident of abuse, she

was not surprised because vaginas and anuses heal "quickly and completely."

        Hasegawa's medical report regarding Ava's examination was only

provided to DCPP. However, Hasegawa notified Jill and Ava of her findings.

        In an oral decision, Judge Rodriguez ruled Ava's statements to Hasegawa

2
  In admitting Ava's statements to Hasegawa under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4), the judge
ruled that her identification of defendant was not admissible under the hearsay
exception, thus the only identifying information permitted was "that the
perpetrator of the abuse was an adult male."
                                                                            A-4407-18
                                        6
were admissible under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4) because they "were made in the

context of [a] pediatric health examination . . . with a focus to areas that [Ava]

brought attention to in her disclosures of her injuries she incurred as a result of

the alleged abuse in her statements." The judge found "[Ava] made [her]

statements in good faith reliance that [Hasegawa] would treat her after she has

established a significant rapport with both [Ava] and her mother before

conducting the physical examination."       The judge further noted Hasegawa

"immediately relayed" her findings to Ava and Jill at "each step of the

examination." Consequently, the judge rejected defendant's contention that

because Ava's statements "to [Hasegawa] were for the purpose of gathering

evidence," they did not fall within the ambit of N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4).

      In his appeal, defendant repeats the argument dismissed by Judge

Rodriguez. The law and the record support the judge 's ruling.

      Under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4)(A), a hearsay statement is admissible provided

it "is made in good faith for purposes of, and is reasonably pertinent to, medical

diagnosis or treatment." See also Biunno, Weissbard & Zegas, Current N.J.

Rules of Evidence, cmt. on N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4) (2022) ("The N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4)

exception to the hearsay exclusionary rule is well known in New Jersey law and

is based on the assumption that the declarant is more interested in obtaining a

                                                                             A-4407-18
                                        7
diagnosis and treatment culminating in a medical recovery than he is in

obtaining a favorable medical opinion culminating in a legal recovery.").

Hasegawa's Rule 104 testimony supports the judge's finding that she was

interviewing and examining Ava to determine medical diagnosis and treatment,

and Ava 's statements were made in good faith response for those purposes.

       Defendant mistakenly relies on State v. Pillar, 359 N.J. Super. 249, (App.

Div. 2003), in arguing Ava's statements to Hasegawa were inadmissible because

Hasegawa's examination was for evidence gathering. In Pillar, the defendant

was accused of sexually assaulting P.T., a female minor. Id. at 257. After the

indictment, P.T. was taken to a [Division of Youth and Family Services]3 doctor

where she indicated that "'the kind of sexual abuse she was alleging included

penile to genital area touching.'" Id. at 287. "If the examination . . . was

conducted for evidence gathering purposes, the hearsay statements contained in

the medical history would be inadmissible as not falling within [N.J.R.E.

803(c)(4)]." Id. at 289 (citing State in Interest of C.A., 201 N.J. Super. 28, 33-

34 (App. Div.1985)). In excluding only the part of the doctor's testimony

relating to the specifics of sexual abuse alleged by P.T., we said "[t]he record is

3
    The Division of Youth and Family Services is the predecessor to DCPP.
                                                                             A-4407-18
                                        8
not entirely clear as to why P.T. was referred to [the doctor] for examination."

Ibid.

        Pillar is not determinative in this matter. Unlike in Pillar, the record here

is clear that Ava's examination was for medical purposes. Hasegawa examined

Ava for purposes of medical diagnosis and treatment; ensuring Ava was "okay

medically." Hasegawa explained that Ava's statements regarding her abuse

directly impacted the course of the examination, making them relevant to her

medical diagnosis and potential treatment. Consequently, there was no abuse of

discretion in the judge's determination that Ava's statements were admissible

under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4). Hasegawa's Rule 104 hearing testimony supported

the judge's finding that she was interviewing and examining Ava to determine

medical diagnosis and treatment and that Ava 's statements were made in a good

faith response for those purposes.

        Admissibility of Hasegawa as an Expert

        At trial, Judge Rodriguez qualified Hasegawa as an expert witness in child

maltreatment based upon her testimony detailing her experience and training.

Hasegawa has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and a Master of Science

degree in nursing for advance nurse practitioners, which authorized her to see

her own patients, write prescriptions, and perform acts similar to a medical

                                                                               A-4407-18
                                          9
doctor. During her more than five years at the RDTC, she treated more than 150

children for sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect. Approximately ninety

percent were referred for sexual abuse, and approximately seventy percent of

those involved females under the age of eighteen. Hasegawa acknowledged she

was not certified as a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE nurse) but stated she

had more than 700 hours of clinical training, more than the sixty-four hours

required for a SANE certification. Moreover, Hasegawa explained that, unlike

a SANE nurse who is limited to forensic examinations, examining children, and

collecting evidence for rape kits, she is qualified to examine children, make a

diagnosis, and treat them.     In sum, the judge found "[Hasegawa] has the

experience and the schooling to give an opinion as [an] expert."

      Defendant contends that because Hasegawa was not a New Jersey

Forensic Nurse - Certified Sexual Assault Examiner (FN-CSA), she lacked the

necessary training and expertise to testify as a child endangerment expert.

Defendant maintains Hasegawa's testimony, if permitted at all, should have been

limited to the results of her medical examination. We are unpersuaded.

      A trial judge's determination "that a witness is competent to testify as an

expert is entitled to deference absent a showing of abuse of discretion." State v.

Berry, 471 N.J. Super. 76, 121 (App. Div. 2022). The admissibility of expert

                                                                            A-4407-18
                                       10
testimony is governed by N.J.R.E. 702, which states: "If scientific, technical,

or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the

evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by

knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify thereto in the

form of an opinion or otherwise." The rule also requires that: "(1) the intended

testimony must concern a subject matter that is beyond the ken of the average

juror; (2) the field testified to must be at a state of the art such that an expert's

testimony could be sufficiently reliable; and (3) the witness must have sufficient

expertise to offer the intended testimony." State v. Jenewicz, 193 N.J. 440, 454

(2008). These requirements are construed "liberally in light of Rule 702's tilt in

favor of the admissibility of expert testimony." State v. Rosales, 202 N.J. 549,

562 (2010) (quoting Jenewicz, 193 N.J. at 454).

      The fact that Hasegawa was not a FN-CSA is not dispositive of her

qualification to testify as an expert in this matter. Her education and experience,

particularly her role at the RDTC in examining children suffering from

maltreatment, including victims of sexual abuse, spoke to her qualifications

concerning the issues before the jury. Defendant points to no requirement that

Hasegawa have a specific amount of experience or engage in a specific training

protocol. In fact, as the judge reasoned, her experience at the RDTC qualified

                                                                               A-4407-18
                                        11
her to give expert testimony. See State v. Torres, 183 N.J. 554, 572 (2005)

(citing to State v. Moore, 122 N.J. 420, 457-60 (1991)) ("The expert may be

qualified on the basis of his experience, even when it is limited."). Moreover,

to the extent that Hasegawa had any deficiencies in her experience, this was

appropriately explored at length during cross-examination. See Jenewicz, 193

N.J. at 455 (noting that "courts allow the thinness and other vulnerabilities in an

expert's background to be explored in cross-examination and avoid using such

weaknesses as a reason to exclude a party's choice of expert witness to advance

a claim or defense").

      Hasegawa's Testimony

      Defendant contends Hasegawa's lack of qualification demonstrated "great

bias" when she refused to acknowledge the possibility that a lack of forensic

evidence could indicate a false allegation of sexual abuse. Defendant points to

the following cross-examination exchange:

            [Defense Attorney]: We add to this the fact that there
            are no forensic findings because of the possibility that
            the disclosure itself is false.

            [Hasegawa]: I do medical examinations. I don't do
            forensic evaluations.

            [Defense Attorney]: You accept the possibility that in
            a given case there could be no residual findings because
            the disclosure of sexual abuse is false?

                                                                             A-4407-18
                                       12
[Hasegawa]: No.

[Defense Counsel]: That would mean then that to you
the disclosure of sexual abuse is always true?

[Hasegawa]: It's based on what the child tells me.

[Defense Counsel]: So the child in your mind never
lies?

[Prosecutor]: Objection. Your Honor, it's for the jury
to decide, not this witness.

THE [JUDGE]: I think it's a proper question. I'll allow
it.

[Hasegawa]: Go ahead. Please state it again.

[Defense Counsel]: So the child in your mind never
lies?

[Hasegawa]: Children under the age of 10 typically are
not the best liars, if I may say. They tend to –

[Defense Counsel]: Are you –

[Prosecutor]: He asked the question.

[Defense Counsel]:     The question was yes or no
question.

THE [JUDGE]: Can you answer it yes or no?

[Hasegawa]: No, I can't.

THE [JUDGE]: She's going to answer it the way she
can answer it.

                                                          A-4407-18
                           13
            [Defense Counsel]: Well, I didn't ask her why. I just
            asked her is it possible.

            [Hasegawa]: I can't answer it yes or no.

      Defendant contends Hasegawa's testimony suggesting Ava was not lying

bolstered Ava's credibility and was harmful error clearly capable of producing

an unjust result.    This contention, however, is raised in the context of

challenging the trial judge's qualification of Hasegawa as an expert. Defendant's

brief does not articulate a substantive legal analysis that the testimony was

bolstering Ava's credibility.    Consequently, whether Hasegawa's testimony

improperly bolstered the credibility of Ava's accusations is not properly before

us and need not be addressed on appeal. R. 2:6-2(6); R. 2:6-9. See, e.g., Nextel

of N.Y., Inc. v. Bd. of Adjustment, 361 N.J. Super. 22, 45 (App. Div. 2003)

(citing Miller v. Reis, 189 N.J. Super. 437, 441 (App. Div.1983)) ("Where an

issue is based on mere conclusory statements by the brief writer, we will not

consider it."); State v. Hild, 148 N.J. Super. 294, 296 (App. Div. 1977) (stating

"parties may not escape their initial obligation to justify their positions by

specific reference to legal authority").

      Nevertheless, in considering defendant's contention, we conclude it is

without merit. While it is well-established that an expert "cannot express an

opinion on the credibility of a witness or party," State v. Sowell, 213 N.J. 89,

                                                                           A-4407-18
                                       14
103 (2013), Hasegawa did not definitively state children always tell the truth;

rather, her cross-examination response attempted to explain why she could not

provide a direct response regarding the veracity of child victims.      Because

neither the question nor Hasegawa's response referred to Ava, defendant's

contention that her statements bolstered Ava's credibility falls short.

Furthermore, consistent with our well-established guidelines, the judge

instructed the jury it was free to weigh the credibility of Hasegawa's testimony,

and it could accept or reject some or all of her testimony.

      In addition, defendant contends Hasegawa's lack of training "was critical

because she was permitted to speculate to the jury as an expert about why her

forensic findings of a normal exam were expected." Defendant's objection

relates to Hasegawa's testimony that approximately ninety to ninety-five percent

of her cases involving vaginal penetration yielded "normal" vaginal exams, with

the remaining amount involving "fresh injuries." Hasegawa opined that given

the passage of time since Ava's last reported incident, Ava's "normal" physical

examination results were expected, as abrasions or transections in the vagina

generally heal "quickly and completely." Defendant, however, did not object to

this testimony. Thus, we need not address the issue. R. 2:6-2(6); Sklodowsky

                                                                           A-4407-18
                                       15
v. Lushis, 417 N.J. Super. 648, 657 (App. Div. 2011) ("An issue not briefed on

appeal is deemed waived.").

      Yet, in considering defendant's contention, we conclude it is without

merit. Hasegawa's opinion was consistent with N.J.R.E. 703, which mandates

an expert opinion be grounded in "facts or data derived from . . . the expert's

personal observations . . . ." State v. Townsend, 186 N.J. 473, 494 (2006)

(quoting Biunno, Weissbard & Zegas, Current N.J. Rules of Evidence, cmt. on

N.J.R.E. 703 (2005)). Further support is found in Pillar, where we held that,

while the child's statements to the doctor were inadmissible under N.J.R.E.

803(c)(4), the remainder of the doctor's testimony was admissible, including her

"expert testimony as to whether her negative physical examination of [the child]

was consistent with the abuse testified to by [the child] . . . ." 359 N.J. Super.

at 290. The doctor's testimony included statements that she had expected normal

results, and such findings were consistent with her examination of other girls.

Id. at 288-89. Because Hasegawa's statements regarding "normal" findings were

based on her relevant training and experience, the judge did not abuse his

discretion in permitting Hasegawa to offer this opinion.

                                       II.

                                                                            A-4407-18
                                       16
      In Point III, defendant contends the trial judge erred by failing to instruct

the jury on the limited use of fresh complaint testimony when admitting the

testimony of Lee and Falcicchio about Ava's disclosure that defendant sexually

abused her.   Because their testimony was admitted under the tender years

exception to the hearsay rule, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), and not as fresh complaint

testimony, the contention is without merit. 4

      In his written decision granting the State's application to admit Ava's

statements to Lee and Falcicchio under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), Judge Rodriguez

found:   (1) defendant had sufficient notice the State intended to offer the

statements at trial; (2) Ava's statement was made within two years of the alleged

abuse, with sufficient content to make it trustworthy; (3) Ava's statements were

made spontaneously, she expressed discomfort when describing certain acts, and

her description of the sexual abuse showed an understanding of sexual behavior

consistent with that of a ten year old; and (4) there was little indication of a

motivation to fabricate. Considering there is no argument that Ava's statements

4
  We note that at the conclusion of Lee's trial testimony, the judge misspoke by
referring to her testimony as fresh complaint testimony, but he immediately
corrected himself and clarified the testimony was admissible under the tender
years hearsay exception, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27).

                                                                             A-4407-18
                                       17
were improperly introduced under N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), there is no reason to

address the judge's rulings.

                                          III.

        In Point IV, defendant contends there was insufficient credible evidence

to support the jury's verdict. Because he failed to move under Rule 3:20-15

before the trial judge for a new trial, his contention is not cognizable on appeal.

See R. 2:10-1;6 see also State v. Fierro, 438 N.J. Super. 517, 530 (App. Div.

2015) ("We do not consider a weight-of-the evidence argument on appeal unless

the appellant moved in the trial court for a new trial on that ground.").

5
    Rule 3:20-1, provides in relevant part:

              The trial judge shall not . . . set aside the verdict of the
              jury as against the weight of the evidence unless,
              having given due regard to the opportunity of the jury
              to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, it clearly
              and convincingly appears that there was a manifest
              denial of justice under the law.

6
  Under Rule 2:10-1, "[i]n both civil and criminal actions, the issue of whether
a jury verdict was against the weight of the evidence shall not be cognizable on
appeal unless a motion for a new trial on that ground was made in the trial court."

                                                                             A-4407-18
                                          18
Nevertheless, we can consider the merits of defendant's contention in the interest

of justice. State v. Smith, 262 N.J. Super. 487, 511 (App. Div. 1993). We do

so here.

      "In considering whether a jury verdict was against the weight of the

evidence, our task is to decide whether 'it clearly appears that there was a

miscarriage of justice under the law.'" Id. at 512 (quoting R. 2:10-1). "We must

sift through the evidence 'to determine whether any trier of fact could rationally

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

were present.'" Ibid. (quoting State v. Carter, 91 N.J. 86, 96 (1982)). "But an

appellate court may not overturn the verdict 'merely because it might have found

otherwise upon the same evidence.'" Ibid. (quoting State v. Johnson, 203 N.J.

Super. 127, 134 (App. Div. 1985)).

      "On a motion for a new trial, the objective is not to second-guess the jury

but to correct [an] injustice that would result from an obvious jury error." State

v. Saunders, 302 N.J. Super. 509 (App. Div. 1997). Thus, "[a]ppellate

intervention is warranted only to correct an 'injustice resulting from a plain and

obvious failure of the jury to perform its function.'" Smith, 262 N.J. Super. at

512 (quoting Johnson, 203 N.J. Super. at 134). "Where the jury's verdict was

grounded on its assessment of witness credibility, a reviewing court may not

                                                                            A-4407-18
                                       19
intercede, absent clear evidence on the face of the record that the jury was

mistaken or prejudiced." Ibid. (citing State v. Haines, 20 N.J. 438, 446-47

(1956)).

      Defendant contends the jury's verdict was unjust because it relied on Ava's

credibility, which was lacking. He argues Lee's, Falcicchio's, and Hasegawa's

testimony was not based on witnessing any sexual abuse but merely recounting

Ava's false disclosures; there was no forensic evidence of sexual abuse

supporting Ava's accusations; and Ava purportedly was the only witness to the

abuse, despite some incidents allegedly having occurred in the presence of Elias,

her three-year younger half-brother. Consequently, defendant contends Ava's

credibility issues, compounded by the repetition of Ava's disclosures and the

lack of fresh-complaint instruction, resulted in an unjust verdict.

      We discern no cause to vacate the jury's verdict because there is no

apparent jury error. See State v. Saunders, 302 N.J. Super. at 524 (On a motion

for a new trial, the objective is not to second-guess the jury but to correct the

injustice that would result from an obvious jury error.). Ava's testimony alone

––she was sexually penetrated on more than one occasion by defendant, a man

who resided with her and whom she viewed as a father––established all the

elements of the convicted crimes. The jury had the discretion to weigh her

                                                                           A-4407-18
                                       20
testimony, assess her demeanor, and judge her credibility, which indeed, it was

charged to do. In assessing the evidence, the jury also was able to consider Jill's

testimony that Ava did not tell her about the abuse, and determine to what extent,

if any, it contradicted Ava's testimony. Moreover, it was able to draw its own

conclusions regarding her accusations to Lee, Falcicchio, Hasegawa, as well as

Hasegawa's testimony regarding Ava's examination and the lack of forensic

evidence that Ava was abused.

      The jury's verdict was based on its assessment of witness credibility, and

there was nothing in the record demonstrating it was without factual support.

See Smith, 262 N.J. Super. at 512 (citing Haines, 20 N.J. at 446-47) ("Where

the jury's verdict was grounded on its assessment of witness credibility, a

reviewing court may not intercede, absent clear evidence on the face of the

record that the jury was mistaken or prejudiced.").        Moreover, defendant's

attacks on Lee's, Falcicchio's, and Hasegawa's testimony do not support his

weight against the evidence argument. As mentioned above, Ava's statements

to Lee and Falcicchio were properly admitted under the tender years exception,

and her statements to Hasegawa were appropriately admitted under made for the

purpose of a medical evaluation N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4).           Hence, defendant's

convictions must stand.

                                                                             A-4407-18
                                       21
                                       IV.

      In Point V, Defendant contends that the sentence imposed was unduly

excessive in that the judge failed to apply any mitigating factors,

overemphasized the aggravating factors, did not impose a sentence "one degree

lower than the presumptive sentence," and did not impose a sentence towards

the bottom end of the range for first-degree sentences. We are unpersuaded.

      Defendant was sentenced to a fifteen-year prison term with a period of

eighty-five percent parole ineligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act,

N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, for first-degree aggravated sexual assault. The offense of

second-degree sexual assault was merged into the aggravated sexual assault

offense. He was sentenced to a concurrent seven-year prison term for second-

degree endangering the welfare of a child.

      In imposing defendant's sentence, the judge applied aggravating factors

two ("[t]he gravity and seriousness of harm inflicted on the victim"); three ("the

risk that the defendant will commit another offense"); and nine ("need for

deterring the defendant and others from violating the law"). N.J.S.A. 2C:44 -

1(a)(2), (3), and (9).   The judge's analysis was aided by an Avenel Adult

Diagnostic and Treatment Center risk assessment report by a licensed

                                                                            A-4407-18
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psychologist, which concluded defendant's "behavior meets the criteria for a

repetition but not for compulsion."

      The judge did not find any mitigating factors. He rejected mitigating

factor seven ("no history of prior delinquency or criminal activity"), N.J.S.A.

2C:44-1(b)(7), because defendant had prior criminal convictions albeit remote

in time. The judge also declined to consider mitigating factor eight ("defendant's

conduct was the result of circumstances unlikely to recur"), N.J.S.A. 2C:44-

1(b)(8), reasoning that, while defendant's parole supervision and Jill's decision7

prevent him from having contact with Ava in the future, he must also protect

"all [possible] victims" from future harm. In refusing to apply mitigating factor

nine ("character and attitude of the defendant indicate that the defendant is

unlikely to commit another offense"), N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(9), the judge found

that any positive representations regarding defendant's character were

undermined by his behavior towards Ava in the presence of her stepbrother. The

judge also declined to apply mitigating factor eleven ("imprisonment of the

defendant would entail excessive hardship to the defendant or the defendant’s

dependents"), N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(11), stating that while defendant's son with

7
  At sentencing, the State presented Jill's letter stating she and defendant agreed
to be apart and the future interactions with their shared son will be under
supervised conditions.
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Jill may be adversely impacted from his separation from defendant, his son had

Jill's support. In sum, the judge determined aggravating factors outweigh non-

existent mitigating factors.

      The scope of our review of a sentence is limited. As a general matter, we

review sentences under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Pierce, 188 N.J.

155, 166 (2006). Under that standard, a "reviewing court must not [simply]

substitute its judgment for that of the sentencing court." State v. Fuentes, 217

N.J. 57, 70 (2014) (citing State v. O'Donnell, 117 N.J. 210, 215 (1989)). Rather,

            [t]he 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."

            [Ibid. (second alteration in original) (quoting State v.
            Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 364–65 (1984)).]

      In this instance, Judge Rodriguez carefully considered the aggravating and

mitigating circumstances and sufficiently explained his findings. See State v.

Case, 220 N.J. 49, 64–65 (2014) (requiring judges to consider any relevant

aggravating and mitigating factors called to their attention and to explain how

they arrived at a particular sentence). The judge presided over the trial and thus

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                                       24
was intimately familiar with the circumstances of the offense.             He gave

appropriate weight to aggravating factors and carefully considered, but rejected,

the mitigating factors proposed by defendant. The judge imposed a sentence in

the middle of the range, with ten years for a first-degree offense and seven years

for a second-degree offense.

      Finally, downgrading defendant's conviction from a first-degree conviction to

a second degree for sentencing purposes occurs on a limited basis. N.J.S.A. 2C:44-

1(f)(2) provides a downgrade of an offense to a crime that is one degree lower is

only proper where the judge is clearly convinced that the mitigating factors

"substantially outweigh the aggravating factors and where the interest of justice

demands." To downgrade, the judge must be clearly convinced that the mitigating

factors substantially outweigh the aggravating factors, the interests of justice must

be compelling, and in addition to the mitigating factors, there must be something

extra, which points to downgrading the offense. State v. Megargel, 143 N.J. 484,

504-05 (1996).

      The judge rejected defendant's request to reduce his sentence a degree lower

because there were no mitigating factors which substantially outweighed the

aggravating factors, and the interest of justice did not demand a downward sentence.

The judge's finding is supported by the record and should not be disturbed.

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                                        25
      In sum, defendant's sentence was consistent with our sentencing

guidelines in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice. The sentence is neither

shocking nor manifestly excessive. Accordingly, we discern no basis to second-

guess the sentence.

                                            V.

      Finally, in Point VI, defendant contends the cumulative errors––rulings

from pre-trial through sentencing––warrant reversal of his convictions or

remand for trial or resentencing. We disagree.

      When multiple errors are alleged, "the predicate for relief for cumulative

error must be that the probable effect of the cumulative error was to render the

underlying trial unfair."    State v. Wakefield, 190 N.J. 397, 538 (2007).

However, even where a defendant alleges multiple errors, "the theory of

cumulative error will still not apply where no error was prejudicial and the t rial

was fair." State v. Weaver, 219 N.J. 131, 155 (2014). Given our conclusions

that defendant has failed to demonstrate there were prejudicial pretrial and trial

errors, there was no cumulative effect that denied defendant a fair trial.

      Affirmed.

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