State v. DavisState v. Davis
Ocean County Indictment 363-78 charged defendant Davis with murder (
After determining that the plea was knowing and voluntary, and that there was a factual basis for it, Judge Addison accepted defendant‘s plea of non vult. The judge stated that defendant had been represented by competent counsel, had had the indictment explained to him and understood both the nature of the charge and the maximum penalties permitted by law and had entered his plea voluntarily.
On September 21, 1979 defendant was sentenced to the New Jersey State Prison for a term of 30 years, of which 15 years must be served before becoming eligible for parole. Pursuant to
MR. KIRBY: Just to clear the record, Your Honor. You indicate that we — that the sentence that we agreed upon — we did not agree upon that sentence. We agreed —
THE COURT: You agreed on the maximum.
MR. KIRBY: A maximum, but —
THE COURT: And that‘s what I‘ve given him.
MR. KIRBY: Yes, sir, but we did not agree that that would be the Court‘s — that I would consent to that.
THE COURT: That is correct.
MR. KIRBY: All right.
THE COURT: That is correct. The plea bargain provided that the Court would not impose a sentence in excess of thirty years.
MR. KIRBY: That‘s correct.
THE COURT: But the other terms of the sentence were not bargained.
MR. KIRBY: That‘s correct.
Defendant and his victim werе both employed at the Howard Johnson‘s Motel in Toms River. The victim worked at the front desk while defendant was employed as a cook and dishwasher. The circumstances of the event are somewhat unclear. The facts appear to indicate that on February 27, 1979, at about 5:15 a.m., defendant robbed the victim, then forced her to accompany him to an unoccupied room of the motel where he raped her. The State also suggests that after being raped, the victim attempted to escape from defendant and that he prevented her from leaving the room and stabbed hеr with a knife at least ten times in the chest, abdomen, leg and back. These wounds resulted in her death. The autopsy report reveals that abrasions around the victim‘s neck indicated that she was also strangled. At the plea hearing, defendant indicated he did not recall how many times he had stabbed the victim but he did admit that his actions resulted in his victim‘s death. Defendant was unable to explain why he had committed murder but the circumstances seem to indicate a total loss of control at the time.
Later that day defendant was apprehended at the motel after the police, who had been notified of thе victim‘s disappearance,
Although he admits murdering her, defendant denies having either robbed or raped his victim. He claims that she voluntarily accompanied him to the unoccupied motel room where they engaged in sexual intercourse. He further alleged that, after having sex, she attempted to leave the room without her clothes. Defendant said he prevented for from leaving because he feared he would lose his job. He claimed that his victim then pulled a knife on him (apparently from her unclothed body) which he was able to take from her. Then, for some inexplicable reason, defendant stabbed his victim, causing her death.
Defendant‘s account of the incident was undermined by the fact that money which was found to be missing from the front cash register was later found on his person, strongly suggesting that robbery was involved. In addition, the number of bruises found on the victim‘s face and body strongly indicated that the sexual activity between the victim and defendant was not voluntary.
Defendant maintains that he cooperated fully with the authorities although he did not voluntarily surrender, and admitted hе committed the crime only after police investigation. At sentencing defendant explained that he entered a plea of non vult because he did not wish to subject the victim‘s family or himself to a trial. Defendant also stated he felt a tremendous remorse and guilt over the tragic incident.
Judge Addison concluded, after reading the presentence report and the autopsy report, that, regardless of whether the initial contact between the parties was “permissive,” the heinous nature of the crime, especially the nature of the wounds inflicted which included fractured ribs, chipped ribs, puncturе wounds and lacerations in the periocardial cavity, throat and neck, mandated the sentence imposed. He also noted that he could have imposed a longer sentence under the Code then he did but refrained from doing anything other than that which was included in the plea bargain.
I
Defendant first argues that his sentence is manifestly excessive and that Judge Addison‘s reasons for the sentence were insufficient because he failed specifically to state his findings with regard to the presence or absence of mitigating or aggravating factors enumerated in
Judge Addison stated at defendant‘s sentencing hearing that he considered the nature and circumstances of the murder, the character of the defendant, the arguments advanced by counsel and the information supplied in defendant‘s presentence report. After considering all of these factors he sentenced defendant pursuant to the provisions of
I‘ve read the presentence report and I have examined the record indicating the nature of the wounds that were inflicted upon the deceased including fractured ribs, chipped ribs, puncture wounds, lacerations in the periocardial cavity, throat, neck. I don‘t know whether the defendant has, in fact, shown or felt remorse. You can‘t get that from a plain piece of paper, but there isn‘t any question that
Mr. Davis did, in fact, whether the initial contact between the parties was permissive or not, assault the deceased, and I would say in the course of causing her death, went wild. Once he started he couldn‘t stop. There‘s no question this is a heinous crime.
The final judgment of conviction and order for commitment further provided as the statement of reasons required by
This crime, its manner of commission, the facts surrounding it, the nature of the wounds, its heinous nature, all demand that a lengthy term of imprisonment be imposed.
Defendant argues that these reasons were insufficient even prior to the enactment of the new Code. He analogizes the instant situation to the facts in State v. Sanducci, 150 N.J. Super. 400 (App.Div. 1977), certif. den. 75 N.J. 524 (1977), in which we found the trial judge‘s statement of reasons insufficient for the sentence imposed. The judge in Sanducci had imposed a severe custodial term and gave as his reasons only “Extremely serious offense. Punishment necessary.” 150 N.J. Super. at 403. We found that we were unable to appraise the sentence on the record before us. We noted particularly that we had not been furnished with a transcript of the sentencing proceedings and thus did not have the benefit of any amplification the trial judge may have made of his reasons for imposition of such a severe penalty. This is clearly distinguishable from the case at bar where this сourt has been furnished with the transcript of defendant‘s sentencing and the trial judge stated clearly several of the factors he considered in imposing sentence.
Defendant maintains that Judge Addison failed to consider the mitigating factors under 2C:44-1 b that were present when he imposed sentence. He relies on the recent decision in State v. Whitaker, 79 N.J. 503 (1979), in which the court stated that the gravity of the offense, the appropriate punishment, deterrence, protection of the public, rehabilitation and any other factors or circumstances relevant, including the offender himself, i.e., his age, background, social adjustmеnt, attitude, personality traits, physical, emotional and mental condition and his record, should all be considered in imposing sentence. 79 N.J. at 509. Defendant argues that the sentencing judge improperly ignored attributes
Defendant, however, had an adult record. He pleaded guilty to carnal abuse in 1978. His contention that the murder he admits committing is similar to the crime with which the defendant in State v. Leggeadrini, above, was charged, in that it was a result induced by “engulfing circumstances,” is not borne out by the record. Defendant has been unable to explain his actions adequately and his version of the events surrounding the murder were considered highly suspect by the probation officer. These circumstances are clearly distinguishable from those in Leggeadrini, in which the elderly defendant had killed a neighbоr he had often quarreled with during a particularly heated dispute. There, the court noted as mitigating factors the defendant‘s advanced age, lack of criminal record (especially noteworthy at such an advanced age), his involvement in the community, his voluntary plea of guilty and the fact that he summoned the police and cooperated fully with them knowing he faced possible life imprisonment.
In view of the facts developed at the plea hearing and the sentenсing proceedings, we find the statements made by Judge Addison at sentencing appear to meet the requirements of
We find that defendant‘s alternate argument that his sentence is manifestly excessive also lacks merit. The sentence of a trial court is presumed to be reasonable, and an appellate court should not modify a sentence unless it is unduly punitive or there is a clear showing of an abuse of discretion. State v. Sanducci, above, 150 N.J. Super. at 402; State v. Knight, 72 N.J. 193, 194-195 (1976). The same presumption of reasonableness adheres to a sentence imposed under a plea arrangement. In reviewing such a sentence an appellаte court should recognize that the defendant has freely agreed to the imposition of the sentence. State v. Spinks, 66 N.J. 568, 573 (1975). The essence of a negotiated plea is defendant‘s voluntary and informed waiver of his right to a trial in return for the reduction or dismissal of certain charges, recommendations as to sentence and the like. Due regard for defendant‘s constitutional rights requires that all terms of a negotiated plea be fully met. However, neither the State nor defendant can insist that a particular sentence be imposed even though it may have been negotiated. The final sentence is always a matter for the discretion of the trial judge. State v. Spinks, supra at 574.
Defendant may have expected, perhaps unreasоnably, to receive a less severe custodial term but the fact that Judge Addison considered the crime sufficiently serious to warrant a substantial term of imprisonment does not indicate an abuse of
II
Defendant argues that the mandatory minimum term of 15 years should be reduced by good time and work credits that he may earn in prison, possibly making him eligible for parole in seven years. The State contends that this argument is contrary to the plain meaning of the statute, the legislative history of this provision, prevailing casе law, and the law governing parole.
Initially, the State notes that defendant has chosen an inappropriate manner and forum in which to raise this point. The State argues that the issue of whether or not these credits should be deducted from defendant‘s sentence is one that should be addressed to parole authorities. The State is correct in pointing out that it was Judge Addison‘s function to impose sentence and not to determine whether or not credits are deducted from a mandatory minimum term.
As part of a sentence for a crime of the first or second degree and notwithstanding the provision of 2C:43-9,* the court may fix a minimum term not to exceed one-half of the term set pursuant to subsection a. during which defendant shall not be eligible for parole. ... [Emphasis supplied]
Furthermore, the extended term provisions in 2C:43-7 b also contain a specific reference to the imposition of a mandatory minimum term. The statutе provides in part that
As part of a sentence for an extended term and notwithstanding the provisions of 2C:43-9, the court may fix a minimum term not to exceed one-half of the term set pursuant to subsection a. during which the defendant shall not be eligible for parole ... [Emphasis supplied]
These provisions clearly state that a defendant must serve a minimum period of incarceration before even becoming eligible for parole.
Defendant argues that existing law at the time of sentencing on September 21, 1979 provided for reduction by work and time credits of a minimum term imposed pursuant to 2C:11-3 b. He argues that prior to the enactment of the new Code it was clear that minimum and maximum sеntences were affected by time credits awarded pursuant to Title 30.
The provisions of the code not inconsistent with those of prior laws shall be construed as a continuation of such laws. [Emphasis supplied]
It is obvious that the parole eligibility requirements of 2C:11-3 b(1) are inconsistent with defendant‘s interpretation of prior law regarding time credits and should not, therefore, be viewed as a continuation of such laws. It is a basic general principle that a criminal statute is to be strictly construed. State v. Rucker, 46 N.J. Super. 162, 167 (App.Div. 1957), certif. den. 25 N.J. 102 (1957). The words in а statute are to be given their ordinary and well understood meaning in the absence of any explicit indication of a special meaning. Lopez v. Santiago, 125 N.J. Super. 268, 270 (App.Div. 1973). Where the language of a statute is plain, there is no need for interpretation. The plain and obvious meaning of the provision in question is that a defendant sentenced pursuant to 2C:11-3 b(1) must serve 15 years before he is eligible for parole. The problem with defendant‘s analysis is that prior to the enactment of the new Code there was no comparable mandatory minimum period of incarceration, and therefore prior parole law is inconsistent and inapplicable.
As pointed out in the State‘s brief, the Senate Judiciary Committee specifically noted that the minimum-maximum sentence structure currently in use in New Jersey would be abandoned by the new Code and the sentencing judge would only be permitted to set the maximum sentence from a range of sentences. The Code does permit the judge in first and second degree convictions, however, to set a minimum term of one-half of the sentence which must be served before the offender is eligible for parole.
Defendant states that it was not until after sentencing in this case in December 1979 that contrаry language was first introduced to amend the Parole Act of 1979 to make time credits inapplicable to minimum terms. He thus argues that “it cannot
In a letter dated March 21, 1980, to which defendant attaches a copy of the Attorney General‘s opinion of March 3, 1980 regarding the inapplicability of time credits under the new Code, defendant further argues that since the Attorney General relied solely on thе Parole Act of 1979 rather than pointing to any Code provisions to support his position, time credits must have been applicable at the time defendant was sentenced. The Parole Act of 1979 did not become effective until April 22, 1980 and any attempt to make it retrospective in its denial of time credits would run “afoul of the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws.” However, as the Attorney General‘s opinion points out, the Parole Act was amended in February 1980 to comport with the provisions of the new Criminal Code to make commutation and work credits inapplicable to reduce any judicial or statutory mandatory minimum term. In addition, § 2 a of the Parole Act provides in pertinent part that
This act shall apply to all persons now serving or hereafter sentenced or committed to State correctional facilities.... [Emphasis supplied]
Defendant was obviously serving his sentence at this time and would thus be included within the provisions of the new Parole Act of 1979.
We find no constitutional problem presented by the denial of credits. Parole is not a constitutional right but an act of leniency or grace and a device for the protection of society through the rehabilitation of the offender. Zink v. Lear, 28 N.J. Super. 515, 522 (App.Div. 1953); DiMiceli v. State Parole Board, 29 N.J. Super. 80, 84 (App.Div. 1953), aff‘d 15 N.J. 446 (1954). In support of the State‘s position that this issue is not properly before the courts, we noted in Lipschitz v. State, 43 N.J. Super. 522, 525 (App.Div. 1957), that the granting of work credits is purely a legislative function and could not properly be included in the sentencing procedure. In Trantino v. Department of Corrections, 168 N.J. Super. 220 (App.Div. 1979), certif.
When sentence is imposed upon a defendant, there is no constitutional guaranty that the provisions regarding parole will remain constant; the only constitutional inhibition is that no law may be passed increasing the punishment for the crime committed ... The act [Parole Act of 1948] simply changed the procedure of administering parole and bears none of the elements requiring condemnation as abrogating the prisoner‘s constitutional rights. [28 N.J. Super. at 525; emphasis supplied]
Thus, it is clear that the mandаtory minimum term of parole ineligibility does not deprive defendant of any constitutional right. See also, White v. Parole Board of N.J., 17 N.J. Super. 580, 586 (App.Div. 1952); In re Zienowicz, 12 N.J. Super. 563, 573 (Cty.Ct. 1951).
Defendant also argues that Judge Addison did not comply with
III
Defendant‘s final argument rests in his contention that his sentence under the new Criminal Code increased the punishment
The prohibition against ex post facto laws is designed to secure substantial personal rights against arbitrary and oppressive legislation and is not intended to limit the legislative control of remedies and modes of procedure which do not affect matters of substance. Dobbert v. Florida, 432 U.S. 282, 293, 97 S.Ct. 2290, 2298, 53 L.Ed.2d 344 (1977). An ex post facto law has been characterized as
... any statute which punishes as a crime an act previously committed, which was innocent when done, which makes more burdensome the punishment for a crime, after its commission, or which deprives one charged with crime of any defense available according to law at the time when the act was committed, is prohibited as ex post facto.
[Beazell v. Ohio, 269 U.S. 167, 169-170, 46 S.Ct. 68, 70 L.Ed. 216 (1925)]
The sentencing provisions of 2C:11-3 b were not automatically applied in this case. Defendant voluntarily consented to be sentenced under the new Code pursuant to a procedural provision, 2C:1-1 c(2), which gave him a right to be sentenced under either the new or old Criminal Code. Since this was a procedural provision, even though it ultimately, in defendant‘s view, worked to his disadvantage, we do not find it void and unconstitutional as an ex post facto law. Dobbert, above 432 U.S. at 293, 97 S.Ct. at 2298; Beazell, above 269 U.S. at 170, 46 S.Ct. at 69.
Defendant claims that at the time of his offense the sentence for his crime under the old statute was a mandatory term of life imprisonment. He alleges that if he had been sentenced under Title 2A, he would have been eligible for parole after having served only 11 years, 7 months and 3 days.** Under his 2C:11-3 b(1) sentence, however, he claims his parole eligibility is postponed
Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to be sentenced under Title 2A and entered into a plea agreement. He was clearly aware of the sentencing options available under both Title 2C and Title 2A, and after сonsultation with counsel decided to elect sentencing under the new code. Judge Addison explained the meaning of defendant‘s plea to him and determined that it was a knowing and voluntary plea. It is obvious that defendant here bargained for a maximum of 30 years and was well aware of the alternative provisions of 2C:11-3 b which Judge Addison could choose. When a plea is being negotiated, knowledge of one‘s ineligibility for parole is as necessary to an understanding of a plea as is knowledge of the maximum sentence possible. Defendant here was aware of both of these factors. Having chosen a course of action, he cannot now be permitted to attack that very procedure because he is displeased with the results. State v. Pontery, 19 N.J. 457, 471 (1955); State v. Harper, 128 N.J. Super. 270, 277 (App.Div. 1974), certif. den. 65 N.J. 574 (1974), 68 N.J. 284 (1975).
Defendant relies heavily on Greenfield v. Scafati, 277 F. Supp. 644, 646 (D.Mass. 1967), aff‘d mem. 390 U.S. 713, 88 S.Ct. 1409, 20 L.Ed.2d 250 (1968), in which the court declared that a change in good time deductions for violation of parole made applicable to persons already under sentence had the potential to substantially increase the length of time an individual served in prison and could not be constitutionally supported. The case is clearly distinguishable because the amendment, by depriving defendant of monthly allowances achievable in the first six months of reconfinement, was found to increase his sentence. The court there stated that the Constitution forbids imposition of a sentence by virtue of a change in the law greater than the maximum sentence permitted at the date of the offense. 277 F. Supp., at 645.
Affirmed.