Court Opinion

ID: 4542274
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-18 14:09:11.413917+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:29.839559
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                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-4142-17T4

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

GERY F. DESTRA,

     Defendant-Appellant.
____________________________

                    Submitted May 28, 2020 – Decided June 16, 2020

                    Before Judges Fuentes, Haas and Enright.

                    On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                    Division, Essex County, Indictment No. 15-09-1971.

                    Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                    appellant (Stefan Van Jura, Assistant Deputy Public
                    Defender, of counsel and on the brief).

                    Theodore N. Stephens II, Acting Essex County
                    Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Lucille M.
                    Rosano, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting
                    Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      On September 3, 2015, an Essex County grand jury returned an eight-

count indictment charging defendant with two counts of first-degree aggravated

sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1) (counts one and two); three counts of

second-degree sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b) (counts three, four, and five);

third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(7) (count six); and two

counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)

(counts seven and eight).

      Following a multi-day trial, the jury found defendant guilty of counts one,

four, six, seven, and eight. 1 The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict

on counts two and five.

      At sentencing, the trial judge granted the State's motion to dismiss counts

two and five. The judge then sentenced defendant to twenty-five years in prison

on count one, with a twenty-five-year period of parole ineligibility pursuant to

the Jessica Lunsford Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2. The judge also sentenced defendant

to a consecutive four-year term on count four, and concurrent terms on the

remaining counts. 2 Finally, the judge placed defendant on parole supervision

1
  Prior to deliberations, the trial court granted the State's motion to dismiss
count three of the indictment.
2
  Thus, defendant's aggregate sentence was twenty-nine years, subject to the
parole ineligibility term discussed above.
                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                       2
for life and ordered him to comply with the registration requirements of Megan's

Law, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2.

      On appeal, defendant raises the following contentions:

            POINT I

            IMPROPER ADMISSION OF -- AND INSTRUCTION
            ON -- "TENDER YEARS" EVIDENCE DEPRIVED
            DEFENDANT OF DUE PROCESS AND A FAIR
            TRIAL, AND REQUIRES REVERSAL OF THE
            CONVICTIONS. (Not Raised Below).

            A.    The Failure of the Trial Court to Hold a Hearing
                  on the Admissibility of Tender Years Evidence
                  Through [The Victim's Mother] Requires
                  Reversal of the Convictions.

            B.    The Inadequate and Erroneous Instruction on the
                  Use of Tender Years Evidence Requires Reversal
                  of the Convictions.

            POINT II

            THE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CONVICTION
            SHOULD BE REVERSED BECAUSE THE STATE
            PRESENTED NO EVIDENCE FROM WHICH A
            REASONABLE JURY COULD FIND SIGNIFICANT
            BODILY INJURY.

            POINT III

            DEFENDANT'S FIRST STATEMENT SHOULD
            HAVE BEEN SANITIZED BECAUSE REFERENCES
            TO [THE DIVISION OF YOUTH AND FAMILY

                                                                        A-4142-17T4
                                       3
            SERVICES[3]] REMOVING HIM FROM HIS HOME
            AND PROHIBITING HIM TO BABYSIT HIS
            YOUNG NIECE IMPLIED A FINDING OF GUILT.
            (Not Raised Below).

            POINT IV

            IF THE CONVICTIONS ARE NOT REVERSED, THE
            MATTER MUST BE REMANDED FOR A
            RESENTENCING PROCEEDING IN WHICH THE
            TERM OF IMPRISONMENT ON COUNT SIX IS
            ORDERED TO RUN CONCURRENT WITH THE
            TERM OF IMPRISONMENT ON COUNT ONE.

      After reviewing the record in light of the contentions advanced on appeal

and the applicable law, we affirm defendant's conviction and sentence.

                                         I.

      When A.R. (Amy) 4 was six and seven years old, she lived with her mother

and stepfather, but would regularly visit her biological father, who resi ded on

the second floor of a two-family home. Defendant, who was a nineteen-year-

old high school student, lived on the first floor of that residence with his family,

3
  This agency is now known as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency
(DCPP).
4
  Pursuant to Rule 1:38-3(c)(12), we use pseudonyms to refer to the victim, the
victim's mother, A.C. (Audrey), and the victim's friend, S. (Sally), to protect the
victim's privacy.

                                                                            A-4142-17T4
                                         4
including his niece, Sally. Amy visited her father's house approximately four

times per week, and she and Sally would often play together during these visits.5

       On April 22, 2015, Amy's mother, Audrey dropped Amy off at her father's

home so she could run some errands. When Audrey returned to pick Amy up,

she saw Amy say goodbye to Sally, but not to defendant. Audrey had never seen

defendant at the house before.

       Audrey testified that she thought it was "weird" that Amy did not say

goodbye to defendant because she is a "very chipper . . . happy kid," so she asked

Amy who defendant was. Audrey explained that Amy's body language changed

when she questioned the child about the defendant. She testified that Amy

"started feeling cold, like started feeling funny," and Audrey became concerned

that something happened between defendant and her child.

       On the car ride home, Audrey asked Amy if anyone had touched her

private parts. Amy responded that she knew she could tell Audrey if anything

happened. Audrey then told Amy, "if you're lying you're going to get beaten"

and "it's very important that you tell me these things." Audrey explained that

she made this statement because she knew "something wasn't right."

5
    Sally was approximately three years older than Amy.
                                                                          A-4142-17T4
                                        5
        Amy told Audrey that defendant choked her, and he also threatened to

choke her if she did not let him touch her "butt." Amy also revealed that

defendant makes her "suck on his private parts" and that "white stuff come[s]

out."

        Audrey became angry and drove back to the home to confront defendant.

Defendant denied any inappropriate behavior and told Audrey that he had a

girlfriend and did not "need to mess with no little girl." Audrey then called the

police, who took her and Amy to the station to make a report.

        The Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) then came to

Audrey's house, and when the workers left, Audrey took Amy to the hospital. A

few days later, hospital personnel informed Audrey that Amy had chlamydia.

        Detective Eric Serio of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Special

Victims Unit testified that he conducted a forensic interview of Amy on April

23, 2015. The interview was video-recorded and played for the jury.

        During the interview, Amy stated that defendant touches her "bottom" and

her "boom boom"—meaning her vagina—with his "private" and takes out his

"private" and "put[s] it in my mouth." Amy said that defendant would pull her

pants down and touch his private on her bottom with her underwear on, and also

put his private in her bottom. She stated that it "didn't feel good," and that he

                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                        6
had done this more than ten times. Amy also said that defendant put his private

in her "boom boom" more than three times, and that defendant put his private in

her mouth more than ten times. Amy added that when defendant put his private

in her mouth, "white stuff would come out" and go in her mouth, and that it

"taste[d] like pee." Amy told Detective Serio that defendant would call her into

his room when no one was home, and if she did not obey him, he would choke

her. Amy also reported that Sally saw defendant choking her on one occasion.

      Amy said defendant told her not to tell anyone what he was doing to her.

Audrey was the first person Amy told about the assaults. She told her mother

because her mother said she would beat her if she did not tell the truth, "so I told

the truth." Amy could not recall when the first or last time the inappropriate

touching happened, but she believed she was six years old when it started. Amy

told Detective Serio that defendant was the only person who did this to her.

      Amy was nine years old when she testified at trial and her testimony was

consistent with what she reported to her mother and the police on April 22, and

23, 2015. Amy testified she told her mother that defendant told her "to put his

thing in my mouth." Amy stated that this occurred more than five times and that

"white stuff" would come out of defendant's "private" and go "in [her] mouth."

                                                                            A-4142-17T4
                                         7
       Amy stated that when she would visit the home to see her father, defendant

would call her into his bedroom, and she would kneel on the bed. Amy explained

that defendant would "put his hand on my neck and, then pull[] it forward" so

"he could put my mouth [on] his private." Amy also testified that on one

occasion, defendant was watching "something nasty" on television, which

depicted "people that put their private in their butt and in their mouth."

       An emergency room physician who examined Amy on April 22, 2015,

testified that his examination revealed no signs of trauma to Amy's vagina or

rectum. However, he explained that children generally heal quickly, and the

absence of tears or other injury to the tissue did not mean abuse had not occurred.

       On April 29, 2015, defendant voluntarily accompanied police to the police

station and, after waiving his Miranda6 rights, he provided a statement, which

was video-recorded and played for the jury. Defendant stated he knew Amy

because she played with his niece, Sally. However, he denied ever touching or

choking Amy and stated she was not allowed in his room.

       Defendant agreed to provide the police with a urine sample before leaving

the station.    Defendant later submitted to additional testing for sexually

6
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

                                                                             A-4142-17T4
                                        8
transmitted diseases at the emergency room. A nurse practitioner testified that

defendant tested positive for chlamydia.     The nurse practitioner stated that

although there are different strains of chlamydia, he was not aware of any

screening test that could be used to determine whether one person's case of

chlamydia matched another person's strain of the disease.

      Armed with this information, the police arrested defendant on May 6,

2015. According to the detectives who arrested and later interviewed defendant,

he did not appear to be under the influence of any illicit substances. At the

police station, defendant waived his Miranda rights and gave a video-recorded

statement to the detectives, which was played at the trial.

      At first, defendant denied that he touched, had sex with, or was ever alone

in the house with Amy. However, as the interrogation continued, defendant

admitted to numerous sex acts with Amy, but claimed that Amy initiated all the

encounters.

      According to defendant, the first incident occurred when Amy entered

defendant's bedroom after he had gotten out of the shower. Amy saw his penis,

asked what it was, and touched it.      Defendant told her to leave the room.

Defendant claimed that Amy soon returned, put his penis in her mouth and

                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                        9
sucked on it for five seconds. Defendant said he did not ejaculate and again told

the child to leave the room.

         After that incident, defendant explained that Amy would come into his

room and try to lie on top of him and pull his pants down. One time, Amy pulled

defendant's pants down when he was on the couch in the living room watching

television, and started to suck his penis.

         Defendant told the detectives that on a third occasion, Amy entered his

bedroom while he was watching pornography and masturbating. He stated that

the child saw the pornography on the television. Defendant left the room to

clean himself after he climaxed and returned to find Amy on his bed. Defendant

stated that the young child pulled his pants down and started sucking his penis.

Defendant told the detectives he ejaculated on the child's face. Defendant later

admitted he had called the child to come into his room as he watched

pornography, pulled his own pants down, and encouraged the child to suck his

penis.

         Defendant said that on yet another occasion, Amy entered his room, took

her clothes off, and got into bed with him. He stated that Amy put her butt

against him and rubbed it against his penis and he pulled her closer to him.

                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                       10
      Defendant initially denied having vaginal intercourse with Amy.

However, he stated that she rubbed her vagina close to his penis and that his

penis bent rather than entering her vagina. Defendant later admitted it was

possible that his penis "accidentally" slipped into Amy's vagina. He then told

the detectives that he had penetrated the child with the tip of his penis.

Defendant claimed that the vaginal penetration occurred just that one time, after

which he refused Amy's advances.

      Defendant denied that he ever choked Amy. Instead, defendant alleged

that Amy grabbed him around the neck and choked him when he tried to remove

her from his lap. He said he had to pinch her hand to get her to release her grip

and forcibly remove her.

      Defendant testified on his own behalf and denied he had any physical

interactions with Amy. Defendant stated that he had not been truthful in his

second interview with the police, because he was threatened by the detectives

and believed they would not let him go unless he told them what they wanted to

hear. He also claimed he was under the influence of Xanax when he gave the

statement. On cross-examination, however, defendant admitted he told the

detectives during both of his statements that he did not feel threatened or

coerced, and understood he could stop the interviews at any time.

                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                      11
                                        II.

      In Point I.A. of his brief, defendant argues that his convictions must be

reversed because the trial judge failed to hold a hearing on the admissibility of

the tender years evidence that the State introduced through Audrey's testimony.

While the judge erred by not conducting a N.J.R.E. 104 7 hearing concerning

Audrey's testimony, we are satisfied that the error was harmless in light of other

strong evidence of defendant's guilt.

      We begin our analysis with the language of the tender years exception to

the hearsay rule. N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) states:

              A statement by a child under the age of 12 relating to
            sexual misconduct committed . . . against that child is
            admissible in a criminal . . . proceeding if (a) the
            proponent of the statement makes known to the adverse
            party an intention to offer the statement and the
            particulars of the statement at such time as to provide
            the adverse party with a fair opportunity to prepare to
            meet it; (b) the court finds, in a hearing conducted
            pursuant to Rule 104(a), that on the basis of the time,
            content and circumstances of the statement there is a
            probability that the statement is trustworthy; and (c)
            . . . the child testifies at the proceeding . . . .

      In interpreting this evidence rule, our Supreme Court has made clear that

7
   "N.J.R.E. 104(a) provides the vehicle for the court to conduct a hearing to
determine the admissibility of evidence that is subject to a condition before the
evidence may be introduced at trial." State in Interest of A.R., 234 N.J. 82, 87
n.2 (2018).
                                                                          A-4142-17T4
                                        12
            [b]efore admitting a child's out-of-court statement
            pursuant to N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), the trial court must
            make certain findings at a [N.J.R.E.] 104 hearing. The
            court must determine whether "on the basis of the time,
            content and circumstances of the statement there is a
            probability that the statement is trustworthy." N.J.R.E.
            803(c)(27). The statement's admissibility is also
            conditioned on either the child testifying or, if the child
            is unavailable as a witness, on the presentation of
            "admissible evidence corroborating the act of sexual
            abuse." Ibid. . . . The admissibility of a child's
            testimonial statement, therefore, will be conditioned on
            the child taking the stand. State v. P.S., 202 N.J. 232,
            249 (2010) (noting the admissibility of child victim's
            statement is conditioned on not only "judicial finding
            of trustworthiness," but also "opportunity to cross-
            examine the child at trial" (quoting State v. R.B., 183
            N.J. 308, 318 (2005)); see also State v. D.G., 157 N.J.
            112, 124 (1999).

            [A.R., 234 N.J. at 102-03.]

Thus, the trial court must conduct a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing to evaluate the

proposed tender years testimony and if it determines to admit the testimony in

evidence, the court must make the required finding that "on the basis of the time,

content and circumstances of the statement there is a probability that the

statement is trustworthy." N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27).

      The trial proceedings in this matter began on September 20, 2017, when a

recall judge transferred this matter to the trial judge for trial. On that day, the

prosecutor gave the trial judge a copy of her pretrial memorandum. In the

                                                                           A-4142-17T4
                                       13
memorandum, the State advised the defense that it intended to rely upon

N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) to introduce the testimony of Detective Serio concerning

the forensic interview he conducted with Amy, and the testimony of Audrey in

connection with her discovery that defendant sexually assaulted the child. The

prosecutor asked for a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing for both witnesses.

      At that point in the proceedings, the judge had begun conducting a

Miranda hearing to address defendant's motion to suppress the two statements

he made to the police. Therefore, no further action was taken on September 20,

2017 on the tender years evidentiary issues.

      The parties convened before the judge again on September 27, 2017. At

that time, the witness needed for the Miranda hearing was not available and,

instead, defense counsel had defendant take the stand to confirm his decision to

proceed with the trial in lieu of entering a plea.

      The next day, September 28, 2017, the Miranda hearing continued.

During a late afternoon break in the proceedings, the parties and the judge began

the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing concerning Amy's forensic interview with Detective

Serio. They also agreed that jury selection could start on October 3, 2017 after

the two hearings were finished. Neither the parties nor the judge mentioned the

                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                        14
State's still-pending oral application to determine the admissibility of Audrey's

tender years testimony.

      The parties returned to court on October 3, 2017 and completed the

Miranda hearing and the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing on the admissibility of the

forensic interview. At that point, defendant withdrew his objection to the

admissibility of Detective Serio's tender years testimony.8 On October 3, 2017,

the judge entered a written order finding "that on the basis of time, content and

circumstances of [the forensic video interview (FVI)] statement[,] there is a

probability that the statement is trustworthy and the FVI of [Amy] will be

admissible contingent upon the testimony of [Amy] at trial[.]"

      The parties and the judge then proceeded with jury selection and, after the

jury was chosen, the judge scheduled the trial to begin one week later, on

October 10, 2017. If there was any further discussion between the parties and

the court concerning Audrey's tender years testimony during this one-week

hiatus, there is no record of it in the materials supplied to us on appeal.

      On October 10, 2017, the parties returned to court. As the proceedings

began, the prosecutor submitted a letter memorandum in support of the State's

8
    Defendant also withdrew his objection to the admissibility of his first
statement to the police, and the judge rejected his objections to the introduction
of his second statement.
                                                                              A-4142-17T4
                                       15
motion to admit Amy's disclosure of sexual abuse to Audrey under N.J.R.E.

803(c)(27). Defense counsel acknowledged his receipt of the memorandum, but

raised no objection to the motion. The prosecutor told the judge t hat Audrey

had not yet arrived at the courthouse and was still "[seven] minutes away."

While that statement may be an indication that the prosecutor anticipated that

the required N.J.R.E. 104 hearing would be held as soon as Audrey arrived, the

judge instead brought the jury into the courtroom to begin the trial.

      Once the jury was sworn, the judge gave the jurors her preliminary

instructions, and then directed the parties to make their opening statements.

When the attorneys concluded their remarks, the prosecutor requested a sidebar

conference. The prosecutor told the judge that Audrey had arrived, and asked

the judge, "so how do you want to do this?" Again, the record gives us no clear

indication whether the prosecutor was referring to excusing the jur y and

beginning the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing, or whether she meant the commencement

of the trial testimony. The judge instructed the prosecutor to "bring [Audrey]

in." The prosecutor stated, "And in front of the jury we'll do the - - in front of

the jury we'll do the - -[,]" and the judge replied, "The jury can sit." Neither the

prosecutor nor defense counsel raised an objection to permitting Audrey to

testify before the jury.

                                                                            A-4142-17T4
                                        16
      The prosecutor then called Audrey as her first witness, and Audrey

testified in front of the jury concerning Amy's disclosures to her. The matter

was then adjourned until the next day, and the trial continued from that point

forward. Sometime on October 10, 2017, however, the judge issued a written

order finding "that on the basis of time, content and circumstances of [Amy's

statement to Audrey,] there is a probability that the statement is trustworthy and

will be admissible as a tender years exception to the hearsay rule[,] N.J.R.E.

803(c)(27)."

      While the record contains no explanation for the judge's decision to

proceed in this fashion, it is clear that the judge erred by admitting Audrey's

testimony concerning Amy's disclosures without first conducting a N.J.R.E. 104

hearing as required by N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27). We are also convinced that we must

consider this issue even though the error was not brought to the attention of the

trial judge.   See R. 2:10-2 (stating that "[a]ny error or omission shall be

disregarded by the appellate court unless it is of such a nature as to have been

clearly capable of producing an unjust result.").

      At the outset, we note that the judge's mistake here was not a "structural

error" that would automatically require a reversal. "A structural error . . . is a

'structural defect[] in the constitution of the trial mechanism, which def[ies]

                                                                          A-4142-17T4
                                       17
analysis by harmless-error standards.'" State v. Camacho, 218 N.J. 533, 549

(2014) (second and third alterations in the original) (quoting Arizona v.

Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 309-10 (1991)). Structural errors "are so intrinsically

harmful as to require automatic reversal . . . without regard to their effect on the

outcome."     Ibid. (quoting Neder v. United States, 527 U.S. 1, 7 (1999))

(alteration in original).

      Here, the judge's mistake was a "trial error" that has been "defined as an

'error which occurred during the presentation of the case to the jury,' and

therefore may 'be quantitatively assessed in the context of other evidence

presented in order to determine whether it was harmless beyond a reasonable

doubt.'" Id. at 547 (quoting Fulminate, 499 U.S. at 307-08). As the Supreme

Court recently stated:

                    An evidentiary error will not be found "harmless"
             if there is a reasonable doubt as to whether the error
             contributed to the verdict. State v. McLaughlin, 205
             N.J. 185, 211-12 (2011) (citing [State v.] Macon, 57
             N.J. [325,] 338 ](1971))]. The prospect that the error
             gave rise to an unjust result "must be real [and]
             sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt as to whether [it]
             led the jury to a verdict it otherwise might not have
             reached." State v. Lazo, 209 N.J. 9, 26 (2012) (second
             alteration in original) (quoting [State v.] R.B., 183 N.J.
             [308,] 330 [2005]). As the Court noted in [State v.]
             W.B., "[c]onvictions after a fair trial, based on strong
             evidence proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,
             should not be reversed because of a technical or

                                                                            A-4142-17T4
                                        18
            evidentiary error that cannot have truly prejudiced the
            defendant or affected the end result." 205 N.J. [588,]
            614 [(2011)].

            [State v. J.R., 227 N.J. 393, 417 (2017).]

      The Supreme Court applied the harmless error standard in D.G. to reverse

the defendant's conviction in a case where the trial court failed to conduct an

N.J.R.E. 104 hearing and failed to make any of the findings required by N.J.R.E.

803(c)(27) prior to the admission of the tender years testimony of the child

victim's aunt. 157 N.J. at 127-28. In that case, the defendant did not make a

confession to the police, and he "denied that any sexual contact occurred" during

his trial testimony. Id. at 122. On the other hand, the victim repeatedly recanted

her accusations against the defendant, which forced the prosecutor to impeach

the victim on the witness stand. Id. at 128. In addition, the victim "made

identical allegations against her natural father."            Ibid.   Under these

circumstances, the Court held that the judge's error could not be considered

harmless in light of the victim's overall lack of credibility and, instead, required

the reversal of the defendant's convictions. Id. at 127-28.

      We reached a similar conclusion in State v. W.L., Sr., 292 N.J. Super. 100

(App. Div. 1996), a case which the Supreme Court cited with approval in its

D.G. opinion. D.G., 157 N.J. at 127-28. In W.L., the trial judge also failed to

                                                                            A-4142-17T4
                                        19
conduct a hearing or make the findings required by N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) before

admitting the tender years testimony. 292 N.J. Super. at 117-18. There, as in

D.G., the court found that "the vital issue of guilt was exceedingly close and any

error that could have appreciably tipped the credibility scale would have to be

regarded as plain error" requiring the reversal of the defendant's conviction.

W.L., 292 N.J. Super. at 117 (internal citation and quotation omitted). As in

D.G., the defendant in W.L. did not confess to committing the offenses prior to

trial, and both of the child victims gave conflicting accounts of the alleged abuse

to DYFS workers during their investigation. Id. at 104-05. In addition, we

identified other critical errors, including the improper admission of expert

testimony and inappropriate remarks made by the prosecutor in his opening and

closing statements that also warranted the reversal of the verdict. Id. at 118.

      On the other hand, in State in the Interest of S.M., 284 N.J. Super. 611,

621 (App. Div. 1995), we found that the judge's failure to hold the N.J.R.E. 104

hearing was harmless in a non-jury setting where the defendant failed to object,

and the trial court made findings at the conclusion of the trial that made it clear

that the court determined the statements were trustworthy.

      Applying these principles, we conclude that the judge's error in admitting

Audrey's testimony was harmless under the totality of the idiosyncratic

                                                                           A-4142-17T4
                                       20
circumstances presented in this case. Here, the State's proofs can fairly be

described as overwhelming.         Amy testified at the trial and her account of

defendant's actions remained consistent both on direct and cross-examination.

Unlike in D.G., the child never recanted any of her accusations, the prosecutor

had no need to attempt to impeach her testimony, and Amy remained steadfast

in her claim that defendant was the only individual who harmed her.

      The State also presented the statements Amy made during Detective

Serio's forensic video. These statements mirrored Amy's testimony at trial,

including her explanation of how she came to first disclose defendant's assaults

to her mother.

      Defendant confessed to the assaults and described what occurred in detail.

Although he claimed at trial that he lied to the police because he was under the

influence of Xanax and just wanted to go home, the police observed no signs of

intoxication. In addition, defendant admitted on cross-examination that he told

the detectives he did not feel threatened or coerced, and understood he could

stop the interviews at any time.

      Both defendant and Amy tested positive for chlamydia. Defendant argued

to the jury that the State should have attempted to perform additio nal tests to

determine whether he and the child had the same strain of the disease. However,

                                                                         A-4142-17T4
                                         21
the nurse practitioner who testified at trial stated he was unaware of any

screening test that could accomplish this, and defendant presented no testimony,

expert or otherwise, on this subject.

      Under these circumstances, we are unable to conclude that the judge's

failure to conduct a hearing prior to the admission of Audrey's testimony

changed the result of defendant's trial. The jury heard Amy's explanation for

her disclosure through Detective Serio's testimony and the child's own

statements on the witness stand. The jurors also heard defendant's confession

and his attempt to recant it at trial. As in S.M., the judge was aware that she

needed to ensure that Amy's statements to Audrey were trustworthy as evidenced

by the findings included in her belated October 10, 2017 order.

      In short, when the evidence is viewed in its entirety, it is clear that the

judge's error concerning the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing was not clearly capable of

producing an unjust result. Therefore, we reject defendant's contention to the

contrary.

      While this record does not warrant the reversal of defendant's conviction,

we would be remiss if we did not comment on some of the problems inherent in

the approach adopted by the trial court in addressing the pretrial issues involved

in this case. Rule 3:9-1(e) clearly requires the court to conduct pretrial hearings

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                                        22
"to resolve issues relating to the admissibility of statements by defendant, . . .

sound recordings, and motions to suppress shall be held prior to the [p]retrial

[c]onference" required by Rule 3:9-1(f). (emphasis added). The purposes

underlying the rule are clear.

            First, it provides a technique for substantially
            expediting the conduct of the trial itself. The evidence
            questions covered by the rule ordinarily involve the
            taking of testimony outside the presence of the jury, and
            these voir dire hearings, if conducted during the trial,
            impair the continuity of trial as well as substantially
            imposing upon the time of the jurors.               More
            significantly, these determinations, if made prior to jury
            selection, constitute interlocutory determinations
            which may be appealable by the State. This procedure
            also provides a more meaningful opportunity for a
            defendant to seek leave to appeal from the adverse
            determination.

            [Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 6
            on R. 3:9-1 (2020).]

      In addition to these considerations,

            adverse determinations of such questions, when they
            constitute, in effect, the sole defense, may result in a
            defendant's decision to plead guilty, and, if he or she
            wishes to appeal the ruling, entering a conditional plea
            pursuant to and in accordance with [Rule] 3:9-3(f).
            Finally, both parties are able to more effectively
            prepare their cases for trial if they know, by pretrial
            determination, which evidence will be inadmissible.

            [Ibid.]

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      As we observed over ten years ago,

            [w]ithout [these] pre-trial determination[s], a defendant
            is left in the dark about a critical part of the State's
            proofs against him. A defendant is entitled to know, in
            advance of trial, the full arsenal of evidence the State
            has amassed against him, including whether the State
            can legally present to the jury statements he may have
            made to the police. Such knowledge is not only
            indispensable to formulate a sound defense strategy at
            trial, but it is also essential in assisting a defendant in
            making the decision to accept or reject a prosecutor's
            plea-agreement offer. R. 3:9-1(b), (e).

            [State v. Elkwisni, 384 N.J. Super. 351, 360 n.3 (App.
            Div. 2006), aff’d, 190 N.J. 169 (2007).]

      Moreover,

            [t]he State is also prejudiced if a determination as to the
            admissibility of a defendant's statements is not made
            before trial. Without advance notice of what evidence
            will be admitted at trial, the prosecutor: (1) is unable
            to assess rationally the strengths and weaknesses of the
            State's case; and (2) risks creating grounds for a
            mistrial, by unknowingly advising the jury, in the
            course of his/her opening statement, of information the
            court may subsequently determine to be inadmissible.

            [Ibid.]

      Here, the judge began the proceedings on September 20, 2017 by

immediately starting the Miranda hearing without providing any explanation

other than that another judge had transferred the case to her for trial. After

discovering a problem in the videotape replay system, the judge conducted the

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                                       24
pretrial conference. That conference should not have been held until after the

pretrial hearings had been fully scheduled or completed.         See R. 3:9-1(f)

(requiring that the pretrial conference should not be held until "all motions have

been decided or scheduled"). One week later, the judge prematurely conducted

the plea cut-off, before resuming the Miranda hearing on September 28, 2017.

The Miranda hearing and the N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) hearing for Detective Serio

were not completed until October 3, 3017.

      As the apparent result of these uncoordinated managing efforts, the judge

failed to schedule or conduct a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing to determine the

admissibility of Audrey's tender years testimony. While the State had identified

the need for a hearing on September 20, 2017, it did not submit its memorandum

in support of the motion until after the jury had already been selected and the

trial was about to begin on October 10, 2017. After the parties completed their

opening statements, it appeared that the prosecutor may have believed the judge

would next conduct the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing, but the judge instead instructed

the prosecutor to call Audrey as a witness before the jury. Neither the prosecutor

nor defense counsel objected and the judge never conducted the hearing required

by N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27).

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                                       25
      While we understand that the judge was asked to step in for another judge

to conduct a trial in this case, the matter should thereafter have been managed

in accordance with the clear requirements of Rule 3:9-1. As we have concluded,

the judge's error in failing to conduct the N.J.R.E. 104 was harmless beyond a

reasonable doubt under all of the circumstances of this case. However, this

mistake could have been entirely avoided had the judge simply followed the

legal roadmap provided by the Rules of Court.

      Accordingly, we strongly caution trial judges that the unintended,

negative consequences that may flow from a lack of adherence to the pretrial

procedures and calendaring requirements of Rule 3:9-1 certainly outweigh any

minor inconveniences a brief delay in the start of a trial to ensure full compliance

may engender.

                                        III.

      In Point I.B. of his brief, defendant also argues for the first time that the

judge's instruction to the jury on the tender years testimony was "inadequate and

erroneous." We disagree.

      Jury instructions "must provide a 'comprehensible explanation of the

questions that the jury must determine, including the law of the case applicable

to the facts that the jury may find.'" State v. Montalvo, 229 N.J. 300, 320 (2017)

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                                        26
(quoting State v. Singleton, 211 N.J. 157, 181-82 (2012)).         If there is no

objection when the jury instruction is given, "there is a presumption that the

charge was not in error and was unlikely to prejudice the defendant's case." Ibid.

(quoting Singleton, 211 N.J. at 182). Because defendant did not object to the

judge's tender years testimony instruction, we review the judge's determination

under a plain error standard. Ibid.

      There is no Model Jury Instruction for the tender years hearsay exception.

When there is no available model instruction, "the better practice is to mold the

instruction in a manner that explains the law to the jury in the context of the

material facts of the case." State v. Tierney, 356 N.J. Super. 468, 482 (App.

Div. 2003) (quoting State v. Concepcion, 111 N.J. 373, 379 (1988)).

      As noted in Section II of this opinion, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) provides that

statements by children relating to sexual misconduct committed against them

when they were under the age of twelve may be admitted at trial if there is a

probability that the statement are trustworthy. To explain this concept to the

jury in this case, the judge gave the jurors the following instruction:

                  But first we will discuss what is referred to as
            tender years. A statement by a child under the age of
            [twelve] relating to sexual misconduct with or against
            the child is admissible in a criminal proceeding [i]f,
            among other considerations, it is determined that [on]
            the basis of the time, content and circumstances of the

                                                                          A-4142-17T4
                                       27
             statement[,] there's a probability that the statement is
             trustworthy. Here[,] [Audrey] testified on statements
             allegedly made to her by the victim, [Amy], on
             allegations of criminal conduct by the defendant.

                   Det[ective] Serio testified regarding the forensic
             video interview conducted by Det[ective] Serio with
             the seven[-]year[-]old victim, [Amy], where [Amy]
             made allegations of criminal conduct by the defendant.
             As jurors[,] you may give such weight to the testimony
             as you deem it entitled.

      Contrary to defendant's contentions on appeal, the instruction did not

improperly imply that the judge had found that either Audrey's or Detective

Serio's testimony had been credible or trustworthy.           Instead, the judge

specifically referred to their testimony as mere "allegations" and she told the

jurors they should "give such weight to the testimony as [they] deem it entitled."

      We also note that the judge gave additional instructions to the jurors on

the issue of witness credibility. For example, the judge instructed the jurors that

they were "the sole and exclusive judges of the evidence, of the credibility of

the witnesses and the weight to be attached to the testimony of each witness."

The judge gave similar instructions during her final charge to the jury at the

conclusion of the trial.

      "[I]n reviewing any claim of error relating to a jury charge, the 'charge

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

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                                       28
State v. Gonzalez, 444 N.J. Super. 62, 70-71 (App. Div. 2016) (quoting State v.

Torres, 183 N.J. 554, 564 (2005)).        Applying this standard, we detect no

reversible error in the judge's instructions on the tender years instruction to the

jury. The instruction adequately explained the law to the jurors as stated in

N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) and advised them, consistent with the overall charge as a

whole, that they were the sole judges of the credibility of Audrey's and Detective

Serio's testimony concerning the statements Amy made to them.

                                       IV.

      In Point II of his brief, defendant asserts that the judge erred by denying

his motion for a judgment of acquittal on the third-degree aggravated assault

charge (count six) at the conclusion of the trial. Defendant argues that the State

failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove he caused significant injury to the

child victim when he choked her for refusing to accede to his assaults and to

force her to do so. Again, we disagree.

      A motion for acquittal must be granted "if the evidence is insufficient to

warrant a conviction." R. 3:18-1.

            On a motion for judgment of acquittal, the governing
            test is: whether the evidence viewed in its entirety, and
            giving the State the benefit of all of its favorable
            testimony and all of the favorable inferences which can
            reasonably be drawn therefrom, is such that a jury could

                                                                           A-4142-17T4
                                       29
            properly find beyond a reasonable doubt that the
            defendant was guilty of the crime charged.

            [State v. D.A., 191 N.J. 158, 163 (2007) (citing State v.
            Reyes, 50 N.J. 454, 458-59 (1967)).]

      We have stated that "the trial judge is not concerned with the worth,

nature[,] or extent (beyond a scintilla) of the evidence, but only with its

existence, viewed most favorably to the State." State v. DeRoxtro, 327 N.J.

Super. 212, 224 (App. Div. 2000) (quoting State v. Kluber, 130 N.J. Super. 336,

341 (App. Div. 1974)). Our review of a trial court's denial of a motion for

acquittal is "limited and deferential," and is governed by the same standard as

the trial court. State v. Reddish, 181 N.J. 553, 620 (2004).

      Applying these standards, we conclude that the State presented sufficient

proofs at trial concerning the aggravated assault charge to survive defendant's

motion for a judgment of acquittal. A person is guilty of aggravated assault

under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(7) "if the person . . . causes significant bodily injury

purposely or knowingly." "'Significant bodily injury' means bodily injury which

creates a temporary loss of the function of any bodily member or organ or

temporary loss of any of the five senses." N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1(d).

      Here, the child victim testified that defendant choked her on numerous

occasions by putting his hand around her neck when she refused to obey his

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                                       30
sexual demands. Amy told Detective Serio that defendant choked her if she

refused to come when he called her into his room. She also stated that on one

of these occasions, Sally saw defendant choking her. At trial, Amy testified that

defendant would put his hand on her neck and pull it forward to force her to put

his penis into her mouth. Amy also reported these assaults to her mother.

      Defendant's use of these chokeholds on the child obviously caused a

temporary loss of a bodily function, namely, Amy's ability to breathe, and

therefore fell within the intendment of the statutory language of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-

1(b)(7) and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1(d). Therefore, we discern no basis for disturbing

the judge's decision denying defendant's motion for a judgment of acquittal on

the aggravated assault charge.

                                       V.

      In Point III, defendant argues for the first time on appeal that because he

and a detective mentioned that DYFS had initiated an investigation into his

involvement with Amy during his first interview with the police on April 29,

2015, and this statement was admitted into evidence, his convictions must be

reversed. This argument lacks merit.

      In his April 29 statement, defendant told the detective that a DYFS worker

advised him he could not continue to live in the house and babysit Sally while

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                                       31
the investigation was pending. Defendant also said that the worker asked him

if he had touched the child or if she "gave [him] oral sex[.]" Defendant told the

worker "no," and further stated that he never even let Amy come in his room.

       Prior to the trial, the judge held a Miranda hearing concerning both of

defendant's statements to the police. After the hearing was completed, defendant

withdrew his objection to the admission of the April 29 statement.9 In addition,

defendant did not object to the statement when it was played to the jury at the

trial. Further, when defendant testified during the trial, his attorney referred to

the statement on direct examination in order to allow defendant to tell the jury

that he had denied the allegations from the outset. However, defendant now

asserts that the judge erred by failing to sua sponte redact the references to

DYFS from the statement.

       As noted above, when a party argues for the first time on appeal that an

error occurred during trial, we analyze the argument under the plain error

standard. R. 2:10-2. Applying that standard, we perceive no error, much less

reversible error, in the admission of defendant's unredacted, April 29 statement.

The references to DYFS were fleeting. The prosecutor never referred to DYFS

during her questioning of the witnesses or during her summation. Moreover,

9
    The judge found that defendant's May 6, 2015 statement was admissible.
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                                       32
defendant was able to use the statement to support the overall defense strategy

that defendant had consistently denied all of the allegations of abuse as soon as

they were raised. Under these circumstances, we reject defendant's contention

on this point.

                                       VI.

      Finally, defendant argues in Point IV that his sentence was excessive. We

disagree.

      Trial judges have broad sentencing discretion as long as the sentence is

based on competent credible evidence and fits within the statutory framework.

State v. Dalziel, 182 N.J. 494, 500 (2005). Judges must identify and consider

"any relevant aggravating and mitigating factors" that "are called to the court's

attention" and "explain how they arrived at a particular sentence." State v. Case,

220 N.J. 49, 64-65 (2014) (quoting State v. Blackmon, 202 N.J. 283, 297

(2010)). "Appellate review of sentencing is deferential," and we therefore avoid

substituting our judgment for the judgment of the trial court. Id. at 65; accord

State v. O'Donnell, 117 N.J. 210, 215 (1989); State v. Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 365

(1984).

      We are satisfied the judge made findings of fact concerning aggravating

and mitigating factors and the imposition of consecutive sentences that were

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                                       33
based on competent and reasonably credible evidence in the record, and applied

the correct sentencing guidelines enunciated in the Code. Accordingly, we

discern no basis to second-guess the sentence.

      Affirmed.

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                                     34