James Ofeldt v. New Jersey Department of Corrections

• Court: New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division
• Decided: March 6, 2025
• Docket: A-0220-22
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ."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-0220-22

JAMES OFELDT,

Appellant,

v.

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,

Respondent. __________________________

Submitted May 1, 2024 – Decided March 6, 2025

Before Judges Gummer and Walcott-Henderson.

On appeal from the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

James Ofeldt, appellant pro se.

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

The opinion of the court was delivered by

GUMMER, J.A.D. James Ofeldt, an inmate at the New Jersey State Prison, appeals from a

final agency decision issued by respondent New Jersey Department of

Corrections (DOC) upholding findings of guilt and sanctions imposed for,

among other violations, attempting to escape detention and tampering with or

blocking locking devices. Ofeldt contends the record lacked substantial

evidence he had committed those prohibited acts. We disagree and affirm.

I.

As set forth in a DOC "Unusual Incident Report," a DOC officer reported

that while "returning from the shower" to his cell on March 7, 2022, Ofeldt

"pulled away from escort officers," "began kicking the tier gate in an attempt to

exit the area[,] and was manipulating his handcuffs." The officer also reported

Ofeldt possessed a razor and had used it "to damage the handcuffs and belt and

removed one of his hands." According to the officer, after Ofeldt continued to

"attempt [to] free himself from the remaining handcuff" and failed to follow

"several orders to stop manipulating his handcuffs and to report to the tier gate

to be secured," the officer "deployed O.C. spray in an attempt to maintain safety,

security and control of the tier but [Ofeldt] continued to attempt to manipulate

his handcuffs." The officer stated that after an extraction team reported to the

scene, Ofeldt "complied with orders to report to the gate where he was

A-0220-22 2 handcuffed by the extraction team." He was taken to a unit for "decontamination

but refused." He was subsequently placed in a cell without further incident.

Officers also described the incident in separate disciplinary reports. In

one report, an officer stated Ofeldt was "manipulating his handcuffs setting

himself free of them and kicking the tier gate i[n] an aggressive manner several

times in an attempt to exit the tier." Another officer stated Ofeldt "refused to be

secured and returned to his cell" and had been "observed trashing the tier; while

holding a blade and cutting the belt to which he was secured . . . and becoming

uncuffed." That officer also reported Ofeldt had been given and refused "several

orders to comply" and that Ofeldt "was out on tier, cut security belt, became un-

cuffed, and refused to lock in."

Another officer stated when Ofeldt "was on the tier with cuffs and a belt,"

he "started tampering with the cuffs and he cut the belt with [a] razor" and was

then "able to free one hand from the cuffs." That officer reported in a Special

Custody Report that Ofeldt was "cuffed," "walked out of the shower and was

upset about [the] tier being flooded," threw "trash down the steps[,] walked to

the other side of the tier," and "had a razor." Another officer completed a

separate Special Custody Report and confirmed "an inmate flooded out on the

A-0220-22 3 tier" and stated Ofeldt "kick[ed] open the shower door before we could belt him"

and "grabbed trash and threw it down the stairs."

On the same day the incident occurred, Ofeldt was charged with the

following prohibited acts: *.102 (attempting or planning escape), in violation

of N.J.A.C. 10A:4-4.1(a)(1)(xiii); *.154 (tampering with or blocking any

locking device), in violation of N.J.A.C. 10A:4-4.1(a)(2)(xii); two counts of

*.256 (refusing to obey an order of any staff member), in violation of N.J.A.C.

10A:4-4.1(a)(2)(xvii); *.306 (conduct which disrupts or interferes with the

security or orderly running of the correctional facility), in violation of N.J.A.C.

10A:4-4.1(a)(2)(xix); and *.651 (being unsanitary or untidy), in violation of

N.J.A.C. 10A:4-4.1(a)(5)(xiii). "Prohibited acts preceded by an asterisk (*) are

considered the most serious and result in the most severe sanctions." N.J.A.C.

10A:4-4.1(a) (citation omitted).

Ofeldt was served with copies of the disciplinary reports containing the

charges on March 8, 2022. Ofeldt requested and was afforded the assistance of

a counsel substitute. He pleaded not guilty to the charges for *.102 (attempting

or planning escape), *.256 (refusing to obey an order of any staff member), and

*.306 (conduct which disrupts or interferes with the security or orderly running

of the correctional facility). He pleaded guilty to the charges for *.154

A-0220-22 4 (tampering with or blocking any locking device) and *.651 (being unsanitary or

untidy).

A hearing was scheduled to take place on March 11, 2022, but was

adjourned to March 18, 2022, to allow more time for preparation of closing

statements. In support of the charges, the DOC submitted staff reports and video

footage. At the hearing, Ofeldt made several statements. He explained he "was

freaking out" because his "property got ruined," apparently referencing another

inmate's flooding of the tier. He admitted he "took the belt off, yes" and threw

the trash down the stairs but denied he "cut anything" or was "given any orders."

During the hearing, Ofeldt's counsel substitute argued "[k]icking the door

is not an attempt to escape" and asserted the video of the incident did not support

the charges and Ofeldt "never refused a direct order." In a written closing

statement, the counsel substitute argued the *.102 (attempting or planning

escape) charge should be dismissed because the video of the incident did not

support it. The counsel substitute asserted Ofeldt did not "break open, or intend

to open, the gate to leave the unit." The counsel substitute acknowledged the

video showed Ofeldt "kicking the gate one time" but argued kicking the gate

was not "proof he was intending to escape or move himself from the top tier to

the lower tier."

A-0220-22 5 As memorialized in the Adjudication of Disciplinary Charge (ADC)

documents for each charge, Ofeldt was offered but declined the opportunity to

call other witnesses on his behalf or cross-examine any adverse witnesses at the

hearing. His counsel substitute acknowledged the information provided on the

ADC documents accurately reflected what had taken place at the disciplinary

hearing.

The disciplinary hearing officer (DHO) found Ofeldt guilty of each

charge. The DHO determined "[t]he evidence support[ed] that [Ofeldt]

attempted to escape by kicking door/gate to open it; however[,] the lock couldn't

be broke[n]. [Ofeldt] then proceeded to take off cuffs and belt to further

facilitate attempting to leave the area." The DHO also found the evidence

"support[ed] that [Ofeldt had] refused several direct orders to comply" and had

engaged in disruptive behavior. Regarding the *.154 (tampering with or

blocking any locking device) charge, the DHO noted Ofeldt had pleaded guilty

to the charge, "admitted to taking belt/cuffs off," and "gave excuses for his

actions." Finding Ofeldt had taken "no resp[onsibility] for his behavior" and

"need[ed] to consider the safety [and] security of others," the DHO issued the

following sanctions: two hundred days in a "restorative housing" unit and a loss

A-0220-22 6 of two hundred days of commutation time and thirty days of recreational,

canteen, phone, and other privileges.

Ofeldt's counsel substitute administratively appealed the decision. He

argued, among other things, the evidence did not support the charges, the record

was devoid of proof Ofeldt intended to escape; Ofeldt had been deprived of his

right to cross-examine witnesses; the DHO had denied Ofeldt's request to rewind

the video and prevented him from watching the entire video, denied his request

to take a polygraph test, and "refused to hear any explanation why he was

behaving the way he did"; and the sanctions were illegal.

On April 6, 2022, an assistant superintendent upheld the March 18, 2022

decision, finding "[t]he officer observed you removing one of your hands from

handcuffs and attempting to remove the other. Your actions present a risk to the

safe and secure operation of the institution. The sanction provided was

proportionate to the offense. No leniency will be afforded to you."

This appeal followed. In his merits brief, Ofeldt expressly limits his

appeal to "two claims." First, he argues the record did not contain substantial,

credible evidence of an attempt to escape. Second, contending "removing his

hand from a locked handcuff does not constitute tampering with a locking

A-0220-22 7 device," he asserts the record contained no physical evidence he had tampered

with a locking device.

II.

"The scope of our review of an agency decision is limited." Mejia v. N.J.

Dep't of Corr., 446 N.J. Super. 369, 376 (App. Div. 2016). In reviewing an

agency decision, we determine "(1) whether [it] conforms with relevant law; (2)

whether [it] is supported by substantial credible evidence in the record; and (3)

whether, in applying the law to the facts, the administrative agency clearly erred

in reaching its conclusion." Conley v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 452 N.J. Super. 605,

613 (App. Div. 2018). "We will disturb an agency's adjudicatory decision only

upon a finding that the decision is 'arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable,' or is

unsupported 'by substantial credible evidence in the record as a whole.'"

Blanchard v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 461 N.J. Super. 231, 237-38 (App. Div. 2019)

(quoting Henry v. Rahway State Prison, 81 N.J. 571, 579-80 (1980)). The

challenger of the agency decision bears the burden of proving the decision was

"arbitrary, unreasonable or capricious." In re M.M., 463 N.J. Super. 128, 136

(App. Div. 2020) (quoting McGowan v. N.J. State Parole Bd., 347 N.J. Super.

544, 563 (App. Div. 2002)). We are not bound by an agency's statutory

A-0220-22 8 interpretation or other legal determinations and review those de novo. Conley,

452 N.J. Super. at 613.

In an appeal from a final DOC decision in a prisoner disciplinary matter,

we consider whether the record contains substantial evidence to support the

decision the inmate committed the prohibited act. Blanchard, 461 N.J. Super. at

237-38; see also N.J.A.C. 10A:4-9.15(a) ("finding of guilt at a disciplinary

hearing shall be based upon substantial evidence"). "Substantial evidence has

been defined alternatively as 'such evidence as a reasonable mind might accept

as adequate to support a conclusion,' and 'evidence furnishing a reasonable basis

for the agency's action.'" Blanchard, 461 N.J. Super. at 238 (quoting Figueroa

v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 414 N.J. Super. 186, 192 (App. Div. 2010)).

When reviewing a prison disciplinary matter, we also consider whether

the Department followed the regulations adopted to afford inmates procedural

due process. See McDonald v. Pinchak, 139 N.J. 188, 194-95 (1995); Jacobs v.

Stephens, 139 N.J. 212, 220-22 (1995). "Prison disciplinary proceedings are not

part of a criminal prosecution, and the full panoply of rights due [to] a defendant

in such proceedings does not apply." Jenkins v. Fauver, 108 N.J. 239, 248-49

(1987). The inmate's more limited procedural rights, initially set forth in Avant

v. Clifford, 67 N.J. 496, 525-46 (1975), are codified in a comprehensive set of

A-0220-22 9 regulations. N.J.A.C. 10A:4-9.1 to -9.28. Those regulations "strike the proper

balance between the security concerns of the prison, the need for swift and fair

discipline, and the due-process rights of the inmates." Williams v. Dep't of

Corr., 330 N.J. Super. 197, 203 (App. Div. 2000).

Applying these principles, we are satisfied the record contains sufficient

evidence to support the finding of guilt on the *.102 (attempting or planning

escape) charge. Under our Criminal Code, a person commits the offense of

"escape" when "without lawful authority [he] removes himself from official

detention or fails to return to official detention following temporary leave

granted for a specific purpose or limited period." N.J.S.A. 2C:29-5(a); see also

State v. Lawrence, 463 N.J. Super. 518, 524 (App. Div. 2020) (finding N.J.S.A.

2C:29-5(a)'s definition of escape applies in criminal not civil contexts).

"'Official detention' means arrest, detention in any facility for custody of persons

under charge or conviction of a crime or offense, . . . or any other detention for

law enforcement purposes." N.J.S.A. 2C:29-5(a).

Ofeldt argues he was charged with attempted escape "for kicking a locked

gate [that] . . . did not lead to the outside; it simply confined [him] to a certain

section of the housing unit." He "admits he removed the handcuffs and belt"

and contends those acts "do[] not constitute an attempt to escape." But they do.

A-0220-22 10 "[E]ven if further major steps are required before a crime can be

completed, or the accused had ample opportunity to desist prior to completing

the crime, a [factfinder] can still conclude that an attempt has been committed."

State v. Fornino, 223 N.J Super. 531, 540 (App. Div. 1988). Moreover, although

Ofeldt may not have been attempting to escape from the prison grounds, the

evidence – his admissions, the video footage, and the reports of DOC officers

that he had "pulled away from escort officers," kicked the gate "in an attempt to

exit the area," failed to follow "several orders to stop manipulating his

handcuffs," and "refused to be secured and returned to his cell" – supports the

conclusion he was at a minimum attempting to escape his "detention for law

enforcement purposes" from the shower area to his cell.

That substantial evidence also supported the finding of guilt on the *.154

(tampering with or blocking any locking device) charge. Ofeldt denies he used

a razor to cut the belt that restrained him but admits he freed himself from both

locking devices, slipping his hand out of the cuffs and removing the belt. That

admission, plus the video footage and officer reports, constitute sufficient

evidence to support the conclusion he tampered with both locking devices.

We are equally satisfied Ofeldt received all the procedural due process to

which he was entitled. Although in his merits brief he expressly limits his appeal

A-0220-22 11 to the two arguments we have addressed and rejected, Ofeldt references some

purported due-process violations. For example, he asserts the DOC deprived

him of his due process-rights by preventing him and his counsel substitute from

conducting "meaningful review" of the video footage of the incident and from

"confronting" one of the DOC officers who had issued a report. Ofeldt,

however, does not dispute the video footage was presented as evidence at the

hearing and does not articulate how a "meaningful review" would have altered

the outcome. He also does not dispute his counsel substitute acknowledged in

writing that the information provided on the ADC documents – including that

Ofeldt had been offered but declined the opportunity to cross-examine any

adverse witness – accurately reflected what had taken place at the disciplinary

hearing. We do not perceive any due-process deprivation under those

circumstances or in connection with any of the other purported violations Ofeldt

references.

We do not specifically address the findings of guilt on the remaining

charges because Ofeldt did not expressly challenge those findings on appeal.

See In re Gloria T. Mann Revocable Tr., 468 N.J. Super. 160, 180 (App. Div.

2021) (deeming issue waived when party failed "to adequately brief" it); see also

A-0220-22 12 Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 5 on R. 2:6-2 (2025) ("[A]n

issue not briefed is deemed waived.").

Affirmed.

A-0220-22 13