Court Opinion

ID: 9914818
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-03 15:06:02.597553+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:14:45.595873
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-2779-21

DANIEL DEFILIPO,

          Appellant,

v.

NEW JERSEY STATE
PAROLE BOARD,

     Respondent.
____________________

                   Submitted November 28, 2023 – Decided January 3, 2024

                   Before Judges Whipple and Paganelli.

                   On appeal from the New Jersey State Parole Board.

                   Cohen & Riechelson, attorneys for appellant (Mark D.
                   Laderman, on the brief).

                   Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, attorney for
                   respondent (Sara M. Gregory, Assistant Attorney
                   General, of counsel; Dorothy M. Rodriguez, Deputy
                   Attorney General, on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      Daniel DeFilipo appeals from the March 30, 2021 final decision of the

New Jersey State Parole Board (the Board) revoking his mandatory supervision

parole status and imposing a thirteen-month future eligibility term (FET). On

appeal, DeFilipo argues the decision was arbitrary, capricious, and

unreasonable, in addition to unsupported by the evidence in the record. We

affirm.

      The events that led to revocation are in the record. In 2012, DeFilipo was

sentenced to an aggregate custodial term of ten years, with a mandatory

minimum of eight years and six months for first-degree kidnapping; second-

degree aggravated assault; and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon

and a five-year term of mandatory parole supervision (MSV).

      DeFilipo was released on parole supervision on September 21, 2020.

According to the testimony of Senior Parole Officer Willie Brown, DeFilipo's

parole officer, DeFilipo reported to District Office for the first visit as required

and acknowledged he understood all the conditions of his parole.           He was

referred to Greater Essex Counseling Service (Greater Essex) for outpatient drug

counseling and placed under supervision.        On January 28, 2021, DeFilipo

informed Brown he and his girlfriend were mugged the previous night while

waiting for the bus in Belleville. They were approached by a male who tried to

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grab DeFilipo's bag, punched his girlfriend in the face and then began to assault

DeFilipo. DeFilipo was cut with a knife on the back of his neck and taken to a

hospital where he received stitches and was discharged.

      On February 17 2021, Brown went to see DeFilipo. DeFilipo tested

negative for alcohol that day, but he had not been back to work since he was

assaulted. DeFilipo told Brown he wanted to live in Belleville with his girlfriend

because he was no longer comfortable living in Newark after the incident.

Brown investigated the Belleville residence and approved it.

      A week later, DeFilipo reported to the District Office and tested positive

for cocaine. He admitted using it, saying it was due to post-traumatic stress

from his assault. DeFilipo's substance abuse treatment was increased to provide

him an opportunity to remain in the community.

      By March 17, 2021, Keith Williams, DeFilipo's counselor from Greater

Essex advised Brown that DeFilipo was not attending treatment as scheduled,

and his phone might not be in service. Ten days later, Greater Essex discharged

DeFilipo from the program due to noncompliance.

      A few days later, Brown and another officer went to DeFilipo's residence.

He claimed his phone service was off. Brown questioned this, telling DeFilipo

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his phone was ringing, and Brown could leave voicemails, so service was still

on.

        Brown told DeFilipo to report to the District Office March 29, 2021, at

2:00 p.m. DeFilipo failed to report. Brown gave DeFilipo explicit instructions

and another opportunity to report to the District Office, this time on March 31,

2021. DeFilipo reported as scheduled and admitted he was using cocaine.

DeFilipo's urine yielded negative results for marijuana and cocaine at that time,

so Brown admonished DeFilipo for his cocaine use and being discharged from

outpatient drug counseling. DeFilipo filled out and signed the admission of use

form.

        DeFilipo told Brown his counselor at Greater Essex was willing to

reinstate him back to the intensive outpatient program, providing DeFilipo

another opportunity to remain in the community while addressing his substance

abuse issues. However, throughout April 2021, Brown was unable to reach

DeFilipo. He was unable to leave a voicemail and later learned the number was

not in service.    Efforts to reach DeFilipo through his girlfriend were also

unsuccessful and Brown learned as of March 31, 2021, DeFilipo was again

discharged from Greater Essex for non-compliance.

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      It became apparent by May 2021, DeFilipo was actively avoiding

supervision. Due to persistent failures to report and to make himself available

to parole authorities, it was determined he had absconded from parole

supervision and a missing warrant was issued.

      On May the 15, 2021, DeFilipo was arrested by Newark Police and

charged with various narcotics offenses. He was taken into custody and served

with a copy of the Notice of Probable Cause Hearing. The notice advised

DeFilipo of his rights and charged him with violating: (1) MSV Condition #2,

failing to report to parole officer as instructed on May 5, 2021 or any date

thereafter, and thus absconding from parole supervision; (2) MSV Condition

#12, failing to refrain from distribution, possession, or administration of any

controlled dangerous substance, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-2, imitation controlled

dangerous substance or imitation substance, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-11, or any

paraphernalia, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-1, as evidenced by his admissions to cocaine use

on February 24 and March 31, 2021; and (3) MSV Special Condition, failing to

comply with successfully completing an outpatient counseling program, as

evidenced by being discharged twice from Greater Essex.

      DeFilipo elected to have a probable cause hearing, waiving his right to

counsel. The hearing was conducted on July 30, 2021, via video teleconference.

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Brown testified to DeFilipo's acknowledgement of the terms of the MSV

Agreement and chronicled his continued MSV violations.

      DeFilipo testified the January 2021 assault caused him to sustain severe

injuries and emotional distress, which resulted in a relapse. He acknowledged

his parole officer had provided him numerous chances and said he was afraid to

go back to prison. After considering all evidence, the hearing officer sustained

the violations based on DeFilipo's admission of guilt and the evidence in the

record.

      The hearing officer noted DeFilipo's possession of what was believed to

be cocaine and his two discharges from Greater Essex for noncompliance. The

hearing officer found DeFilipo's numerous violations to be serious, and that he

presented a danger to himself and the community. The hearing officer also

found probable cause that DeFilipo violated the conditions of supervisio n and

recommended revocation.

      A final revocation hearing was conducted on October 28, 2021. DeFilipo

was represented by counsel at the hearing.      Defilipo and Brown provided

testimony consistent with the earlier hearing. Additionally, DeFilipo testified

he was compliant with the terms of his mandatory supervision until his assault

on January 28, 2021. He acknowledged that incarceration had helped him get

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sober and allowed him to realize his mistakes.        He further noted all his

achievements while incarcerated and intentions for employment and schooling

if released.

        The hearing officer found by clear and convincing evidence DeFilipo

seriously and persistently violated the conditions of his supervision by engaging

in cocaine use on February 24 and March 27, 2021; demonstrating noncompliant

and evasive behavior as evidenced by his unsuccessful discharge from Greater

Essex; and not reporting to his parole officer on May 5, 2021. DeFilipo kept his

whereabouts unknown until he was apprehended and arrested on May 13, 2021,

when he was found in possession of cocaine. Accordingly, the hearing officer

recommended DeFilipo's parole be revoked with a thirteen-month incarceration

term.

        On November 17, 2021, a two-member Board panel reviewed the record

and the hearing officer's decision. The panel accepted the hearing officer's

findings and found DeFilipo had violated the conditions of his parole. The panel

revoked DeFilipo's parole and established a thirteen-month FET.

        DeFilipo submitted an administrative appeal of his revocation and the

corresponding thirteen-month FET. On March 30, 2022, the full Board affirmed

the two-member panel's decision, finding DeFilipo's parole was revoked based

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on his failure to report as instructed; his failure to refrain from the use or

possession of any drug or drug paraphernalia; and his failure to comply with and

successfully complete an outpatient drug treatment program. The Board further

found the two-member panel had reviewed and considered all relevant factors

in reaching its conclusion, including DeFilipo's admissions of cocaine use as

well as his "statements and evidence in mitigation" of the violations. The Board

concurred with the panel's determination that DeFilipo had "seriously violated

his mandatory supervision" and was "not a suitable candidate for release and, as

such, placement in a program is not appropriate." This appeal followed.

      Having reviewed the record and utilizing the correct standard of review

we conclude the Board correctly found, by clear and convincing evidence,

DeFilipo violated the conditions of his supervision warranting revocation of

parole and imposition of a thirteen-month FET.           Our review of parole

determinations is limited to whether the Board acted arbitrarily or abused its

discretion in rendering its decisions. Trantino v. N.J. State Parole Bd., 166 N.J.

113, 173 (2001). In conducting this limited review, we accord agency actions

presumptions of validity and reasonableness, In re Vey, 272 N.J. Super. 199,

205 (App. Div.), aff'd, 135 N.J. 306 (1993). Moreover, the burden is on the

challenging party to show that the Board's actions were unreasonable, Bowden

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v. Bayside State Prison, 268 N.J. Super. 301, 304 (App. Div. 1993). Revocations

of parole must be supported by clear and convincing evidence.             N.J.A.C.

10A:71-7.12(c)(1); N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.15(c). "Clear and convincing evidence"

is that upon "which the trier of fact can rest a firm belief or conviction as to the

truth of the allegations sought to be established." In re Registrant J.G., 169 N.J.

304, 330 (2001) (citations omitted). The Board met that standard here. There

is no dispute DeFilipo continued to violate his MSV conditions: he admitted to

using cocaine on two occasions; failed to report to Greater Essex, resulting in

him being discharged from the program twice; failed to report to his parole

officer; and was found to be in direct possession of cocaine.

      Any remaining arguments we have not addressed are without sufficient

merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).

      Affirmed.

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