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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court."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-1311-23
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
A.V.,1
Defendant-Respondent. _________________________
Submitted October 29, 2024 – Decided December 12, 2024
Before Judges Sumners and Bergman.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Monmouth County, Indictment No. 23-05- 0600.
Raymond S. Santiago, Monmouth County Prosecutor, attorney for appellant (Alecia Woodard, Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC, attorneys for respondent (Mitchell J. Ansell, of counsel and on the brief).
1 We use initials to protect the privacy of the victim. R. 1:38-3(c)(12). PER CURIAM
The State of New Jersey appeals from a trial court order reversing the
Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office's (MCPO) rejection of defendant's
application for pre-trial intervention (PTI) and admitting defendant into the PTI
program. After our review of the record, the arguments of the parties and the
applicable legal principles, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.
I.
On two separate occasions in November and December of 2020, the
MCPO's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received cyber tips
reporting an individual, later identified as defendant, possessing Child Sexual
Abuse Material (CSAM).
Based on this information, a communications data warrant was served on
Google concerning defendant's account. The data received listed a username of
"A.V." and an alternate email address containing defendant's full name in the
iCloud email address provided. The data listed twenty-four log-in events
between October 2020 through December 2020, twenty-three of which utilized
a certain internet protocol (IP) address. The report included several emails
relevant to the investigation.
A-1311-23 2 The first email in October 2020 was sent from one of defendant's email
addresses to the other and contained two images of CSAM. The second email
in November 2020 was sent to and from these same email addresses and
contained attachments of CSAM. An additional email in December 2020, from
the same email addresses contained four attachments of CSAM. An additional
data communications warrant was obtained and served upon Apple to produce
data relevant to the account holder of the icloud.com email address. The
information obtained by the warrant produced eight videos and forty-two images
of CSAM, one of which was a video located within the "Cloud Photo Library."
Further, the data showed altered social media screenshots of two females, A.G.
and M.H., who lived locally and were acquaintances of defendant.
In May 2021, based on the IP address, a search warrant was issued for
defendant's residence as well as defendant. Upon execution of the search
warrant, the investigators entered defendant's residence. The investigators
informed him of the information, images, and videos which were uploaded to
the internet. Defendant replied he knew exactly why the police were present.
Defendant advised the investigators he was the owner of one of the email
accounts identified in the warrant, and he understood the police were present
because of the photographs of M.H. During the search of the residence, police
A-1311-23 3 found a cache of girls' underwear below defendant's bed. The police also
removed numerous items from defendant's residence and delivered them to the
New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory for analysis. The analysis
uncovered over one hundred files of CSAM.
Defendant was then taken to the police department where a recorded
interview was held. During the interview, defendant admitted he began viewing
the materials late summer or fall of 2020, while he was still seventeen years old.
When questioned about the girls' underwear located under his bed, defendant
explained he had a brief sexual interest in his eleven-year-old sister G.V. He
spoke about an incident in which he walked into his sister's bedroom and saw
her naked. Based on this brief interaction, defendant decided to take a pair of
his sister's underwear. He disclosed to the police he would masturbate while
wearing the underwear. Subsequently, defendant purchased additional pairs of
underwear from various stores. Defendant denied ever touching his sister or
other juveniles in a sexual manner.
Defendant further admitted he confessed to E.H. 2 in May 2021, that he
had images and videos of CSAM on his phone and devices in his room. He
2 E.H. is the father of M.H., one of the victims whose photo was digitally altered by defendant. E.H. is a friend of defendant's family and defendant worked for E.H. A-1311-23 4 explained he obtained images of M.H. and A.G. from social media and
manipulated the images to make the girls appear naked. Defendant explained
M.H. is his friend's younger sister and A.G. was his "crush" from middle school.
During the interview, defendant admitted he utilized the "Onion Router,"
a TOR3 browser used to access the dark web to collect CSAM. He admitted to
downloading fifty files of CSAM which he stored in a hidden file on his
computer. Following the interview, defendant and his father spoke. Defendant
told his father he was contemplating suicide because he feared a long jail
sentence for a conviction of possession of CSAM. Defendant was then placed
under arrest, processed on a complaint summons, and released.
The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP)
was notified of defendant's admissions concerning his younger sister. After its
investigation, the DCPP closed the case without taking any action concerning
defendant and did not remove him from his parent's home. Additionally, shortly
after defendant's arrest, defendant began treatment with Howard D. Silverman,
Ph.D.
3 The TOR or "Onion Router" is a free, open-source web browser that allows users to anonymously access the internet. A-1311-23 5 In May 2023, a Monmouth County Grand Jury returned an indictment
charging defendant with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child
(possession of child pornography), N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)(5)(b)(iii). In June 2023,
defendant applied for admission to the Monmouth County PTI program. On
August 7, 2023, his probation officer determined defendant was not an
appropriate candidate for PTI. On August 15, 2023, the State issued a
memorandum rejecting defendant's application for PTI.
In its memorandum, the State determined the following factors under
N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e) weighed positively in defendant's favor for admission into
PTI: (3) the motivation and age of the defendant; (5) the existence of personal
problems and character traits which may be related to the crime; (6) likelihood
that defendant's crime is due to condition that would be conducive to change
through PTI participation; (9) defendant's record and extent to which defendant
may present a danger to others; (10) whether the crime is assaultive or violent
in nature; (12) defendant's history of use of physical violence towards others;
and (13) any involvement of defendant with organized crime.
The State found the following factors outweighed these positive factors
and supported defendant's rejection from admission into PTI: (1) the nature of
the offense; (2) the facts of the case; (7) the needs and interest of the victim and
A-1311-23 6 society; (8) the extent to which the applicant's crimes constitutes part of a
continuing pattern of anti-social behavior; (11) consideration of whether or not
prosecution would exacerbate the social problem that led to the applicant's
criminal acts; (14) whether or not the crime is of such a nature that the value of
supervisory treatment would be outweighed by the public need for prosecution;
and (17) whether or not the harm done to society by abandoning criminal
prosecution would outweigh the benefits to society from challenging an offender
into a supervisory treatment program.
Defendant filed an appeal of the State's denial of his application for PTI
to the Law Division. After hearing argument on defendant's appeal, the court
rendered an oral decision and order. The court found the State's rejection of
defendant into PTI was an "abuse of discretion" by considering irrelevant or
inappropriate factors. Concerning N.J.S.A. 2C:43-12(e)(2), the "facts of the
case" prong of the statute, the court highlighted DCPP's investigation which
resulted in its closure of the case with no further action. The court found DCCP
did not view defendant as a threat to his sister because it did not remove him
from the home. Furthermore, the court found that the State's argument regarding
the edited photographs of A.G. and M.H., "stretches beyond the limits of the
A-1311-23 7 present case and seeks to hold defendant accountable for future conduct that he
had not committed."
Concerning factor (e)(3), the motivation and age of defendant, the court
found the State discounted defendant's young age and his amenability to
correction and responsiveness to rehabilitation. The court stressed defendant's
age at the time of the commission of the offense being only seventeen years old
and his present age only being twenty years old. The court noted that during the
past three years since defendant was in possession of CSAM, he has sought
treatment from Dr. Silverman. Further, the court highlighted the reports from
Dr. Silverman, describing defendant as "amenable to treatment and making
progress." The court found defendant's young age and his ability to be
rehabilitated were two "major factors that should be afforded proper [weight]"
but were given "little weight" by the State. Lastly, the court found the State's
critical view of defendant's initial suicidal ideations as "being dramatic" was
inappropriate given his age and emotional state at the time of his arrest.
As to factors (e)(5) and (6), relating to defendant's behavior being
remedied or changed through proper supervisory treatment, the court found Dr.
Silverman's expert opinion to be "based upon the full breadth of the record" and
therefore should have been afforded greater weight by the State. The court
A-1311-23 8 found there was nothing in the record to establish that defendant was not
forthcoming with Dr. Silverman during his sessions, noting defendant's PTI
interview showed him to be a compliant person.
Next, under (e)(7), the needs and interests of the victim and society, the
court found the State was categorically barring defendant from PTI. The court
noted the bulk of the charged offenses occurred while defendant was still a
minor, and since he has been charged, he underwent psychological treatment,
enrolled in college, and has ultimately otherwise been a positive contributing
member of society. The court noted its disagreement with the State's decision
to proceed through the normal form of prosecution, highlighting defendant's
possibility of being subject to imprisonment, probation, parole supervision, and
Megan's Law, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-1 to - 23. The court found the State did not conduct
an "individualized assessment of this applicant's character and background" and
disagreed with the characterization by the State that allowing the defendant into
PTI would essential be a "free pass."
Concerning factor (e)(8), the pattern of antisocial behavior, the court
found the State failed to acknowledge the expert opinion of Dr. Silverman, who
"directly contradicts this finding." The court highlighted the amount of time
defendant spent with Dr. Silverman over the past two to three years and
A-1311-23 9 considered his opinion which differed from the State's analysis. Further, the
court noted the three instances relied upon by the State were the only three
instances of alleged antisocial behavior by defendant and his only contact with
the criminal justice system. The court found the heavy weight given by the State
to this factor without acknowledging Dr. Silverman's report was an abuse of
discretion.
The court found the prosecutor's decision must clearly subvert the goals
of PTI for it to be considered a "gross and patent abuse of discretion." The court
then highlighted the goals of PTI and found defendant demonstrated he can be
rehabilitated, evidenced by his record remaining arrest free and his willingness
to address his mental health issues. The court further found a criminal
conviction of defendant would be present for the rest of his life, based only on
the State's allegation that he needed to be deterred from future conduct "makes
no sense" because defendant has shown remorse, is attending college, working,
and is a productive member of society.
The court noted the seriousness of the offense but found defendant has
shown his ability to be rehabilitated and therefore should be given the
opportunity for PTI. In doing so, the court ordered defendant to serve a three-
year term with conditions including that he must continue with his treatment
A-1311-23 10 until medically discharged; that he must have no unsupervised contact with
children under 18; that he must sign and execute an agreement to restrict his
internet usage; and that he must strictly comply with PTI. The court noted that
if he fails to abide by any of the above conditions, probation will notify the court
immediately.
On appeal, the State argues the court impermissibly weighed the factors
of the statute and wrongfully substituted its judgment which the statute bestows
to the State. The State also raises for the first time on appeal that defendant was
presumptively ineligible for admission into PTI because he was charged with
possession of over one hundred items of CSAM subjecting him to a presumption
of imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b) and disqualifying him
from PTI unless the State consented to his admission pursuant to Rule 3:28-
1(d)(1).
II.
"PTI is a 'diversionary program through which certain offenders are able
to avoid criminal prosecution by receiving early rehabilitative services expected
to deter future criminal behavior.'" State v. Gomes, 253 N.J. 6, 16 (2023)
(quoting State v. Nwobu, 139 N.J. 236, 240 (1995)). "[T]he primary purpose of
PTI has been 'to assist in the rehabilitation of worthy defendants, and, in the
A-1311-23 11 process, to spare them the rigors of the criminal justice system.'" Id. at 17
(quoting State v. Watkins, 193 N.J. 507, 513 (2008)). "PTI eligibility has been
broadly defined, subject to specified exclusions, to 'include[] all defendants who
demonstrate the will to effect necessary behavioral change such that society can
have confidence that they will not engage in future criminality.'" Ibid. (quoting
Watkins, 193 N.J. at 513). The State "may consider a wide array of factors when
determining whether to recommend someone for PTI," including "'[t]he nature
of the offense,' the motivations of the defendant, the desires of the victim or
complainant with respect to prosecution, the social harm perpetrated by the
defendant, and '[t]he extent to which the applicant's crime constitutes part of a
continuing pattern of anti-social behavior.'" Ibid. (quoting N.J.S.A. 2C:43-
12(e)).
"[W]hether to admit a particular defendant into PTI has been treated as a
fundamental prosecutorial function." Id. at 18. Accordingly, courts afford
prosecutors "broad discretion" in determining whether a defendant should be
diverted into PTI, "[f]irst, because it is the fundamental responsibility of the
prosecutor to decide whom to prosecute, and second, because it is a primary
purpose of PTI to augment, not diminish, a prosecutor's options." State v. Chen,
A-1311-23 12 465 N.J. Super. 274, 284 (App. Div. 2020) (first quoting State v. K.S., 220 N.J.
190, 199 (2015); and then quoting Nwobu, 139 N.J. at 246).
Given that broad discretion, "our review of a prosecutor's denial of a PTI
application is 'severely limited.'" State v. E.R., 471 N.J. Super. 234, 244-45
(App. Div. 2022) (quoting State v. Negran, 178 N.J. 73, 82 (2003)). "Judicial
review of a prosecutor's decision about PTI admission is 'available to check only
the most egregious examples of injustice and unfairness.'" Gomes, 253 N.J. at
18 (quoting State v. Leonardis, 73 N.J. 360, 384 (1977)).
"[T]o overturn a prosecutor's decision to exclude a defendant from the
program the defendant must 'clearly and convincingly' show that the decision
was a 'patent and gross abuse of . . . discretion.'" K.S., 220 N.J. at 200 (quoting
State v. Wallace, 146 N.J. 576, 582 (1996)).
Ordinarily, an abuse of discretion will be manifest if defendant can show that a prosecutorial veto (a) was not premised upon a consideration of all relevant factors, (b) was based upon a consideration of irrelevant or inappropriate factors, or (c) amounted to a clear error in judgment. In order for such an abuse of discretion to rise to the level of “patent and gross,” it must further be shown that the prosecutorial error complained of will clearly subvert the goals underlying Pretrial Intervention.
[State v. Johnson, 238 N.J. 119, 129 (2019)]
In State v. Mickens, we succinctly described the task at hand:
A-1311-23 13 [T]he appellate court must distinguish between prosecutorial abuse consisting of the failure to consider all relevant factors specific to the individual candidate and prosecutorial abuse represented by a judgment reached after a full consideration. In the first instance, it is the obligation of the reviewing court to remand to the prosecutor for reconsideration. In the second instance, the reviewing court is free to conclude that the abuse “arises from a clear error of judgment,” and, if it does so, it “may order that a defendant be admitted into the program."
[State v. Mickens, 236 N.J. Super. 272, 277-278 (App. Div. 1989) (quoting State v. DeMarco, 107 N.J. 562, 567 (1987)).]
Because "[i]ssues concerning the propriety of the prosecutor's
consideration of a particular [PTI] factor are akin to 'questions of law,'" we
review those legal determinations de novo. E.R., 471 N.J. Super. at 245 (quoting
State v. Denman, 449 N.J. Super. 369, 376 (App. Div. 2017) (alterations in the
original)).
III.
We determine the State's argument raised for the first time on appeal—
that defendant was not eligible for PTI pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b) and
Rule 3:28-1— holds merit. We conclude a remand to the trial court for the State
to resubmit its argument on this point as well as to reconsider and resubmit its
other reasons for its rejection of defendant into PTI is appropriate.
A-1311-23 14 Appellate courts will generally refrain from considering issues raised for
the first time on appeal "unless they are jurisdictional in nature or substantially
implicate public interest." See State v. Walker, 385 N.J. Super. 388, 410 (App.
Div. 2006) (citing Nieder v. Royal Indem. Ins. Co., 62 N.J. 229, 234 (1973)).
N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b) provides for a presumptive term of imprisonment
based on the number of items of CSAM possessed by a defendant. The statute
states in relevant part:
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e. of N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1, in any instance where a person was convicted of an offense under this subparagraph that involved 100 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, the court shall impose a sentence of imprisonment unless, having regard to the character and condition of the defendant, it is of the opinion that imprisonment would be a serious injustice which overrides the need to deter such conduct by others.
Rule 3:28-1: Eligibility for Pretrial Intervention, at section (d)(1) states in
pertinent part:
(d) Persons Ineligible for Pretrial Intervention Without Prosecutor Consent to Consideration of the Application.
The following persons who are not ineligible for pretrial intervention under paragraph (c) shall be ineligible for pretrial intervention without prosecutor consent to consideration of the application:
A-1311-23 15 (1) Certain Crimes. — A person who is charged with a crime, or crimes, for which there is a presumption of incarceration or a mandatory minimum period of parole ineligibility.
We conclude the presumptive term of incarceration under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-
4b(5)(b) in conjunction with the requirements of Rule 3:28-1 may bar an
applicant's admission into PTI for convictions for possession of a certain number
of CSAM items. We determine the goals and purposes of the PTI statute and its
standards for admission of an applicant is an issue of important public concern.
A principal purpose of PTI involves the protection of the public because
acceptance into a PTI program considers an applicant's ability to engage in
behavioral change to provide society with confidence that an applicant "will not
engage in future criminality." See Gomes, 253 N.J. at 17. We determine the
protection of the public is certainly an important public concern. Although we
note the State did not consent to defendant's admission into PTI as required by
the rule since this point was not raised or argued before the trial court, we further
observe, the court did not reference the statute or rule and its potential
applicability to the facts in this matter despite recognizing in its decision that
the defendant had the "possibility of being subject to imprisonment."
We further note, in support of its order, the court considered the report of
Dr. Silverman over the State's objection and found the State's argument under
A-1311-23 16 factor eight of the statute was overcome by the findings in his report. The State
argued defendant failed to reference or supply the documents or other
information which Dr. Silverman relied upon in rendering his opinion which
limited the State in its argument for the court to reject Dr. Silverman's opinions.
We agree.
On remand, defendant shall supply a copy of the documents or other
materials Dr. Silverman considered or relied upon in rendering his opinion
concerning defendant. We leave to the court's sound discretion whether the
State is entitled to further relief including but not limited to the production of
defendant for a mental health evaluation so it may submit its own expert opinion
for the court's consideration.
The court shall consider anew defendant's application as well as the State's
amended reasons supporting its rejection of defendant into PTI after receipt of
the above information from Dr. Silverman. We decline to decide the remainder
of the parties' arguments at this time based on our determination to remand the
matter for the reasons expressed herein.
The court should take into consideration established legal principles
which require the State's reasons for rejection of the defendant into PTI must be
afforded "broad discretion" which can only be overcome through defendant
A-1311-23 17 meeting his enhanced burden to clearly and convincingly demonstrate the State's
decision was a patent and gross abuse of discretion. See K.S., 220 N.J. at 200.
We further posit our Court has held a clear error of judgment is one that "could
not have reasonably been made upon a weighing of the relevant factors . . . [and
reviewing courts should] avoid the substitution of [its] judgment for the
judgment of the [prosecutor, who is] responsible for the function involved." See
Nwobu, 139 N.J. at 254.
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion. Remand should be completed within ninety-days of this decision. We
do not retain jurisdiction.
A-1311-23 18