State v. Ferrara, 484 A.2d 13

PER CURIAM.

The State purports to appeal from a final judgment imposing a ‍‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍probationary sentence upon defendant’s conviction for possession of heroin with intent to distribute {N.J.S.A. 24:21-19(a)(l)).

We need not determine whether N.J.S.A. 2C:44-l(f)(2) permits the State to appeal ‍‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍from a probationary sentence imposed for a Title 24 offense. Here, as part of the plea agreement, the State agreed to remain ‍‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍silent at the time of sentence, and it did so. The present appeal not only would project issues not raised in the ‍‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍trial court but would contravene the State’s commitment to remain silent as to sentence. The State may not invoke N.J.S.A. 2C:44-l(f)(2) to challenge a ‍‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍sentence in violation of such a commitment.

The appeal is therefore dismissed.

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Ferrara

Court Name: New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division

Date Published: Jun 14, 1984

Citations: 484 A.2d 13; 197 N.J. Super. 1; 1984 N.J. Super. LEXIS 1207

Court Abbreviation: N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div.