NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ."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-0242-22
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
COLBY DESSOURCES,
Defendant-Appellant. _______________________
Submitted December 12, 2023 – Decided December 22, 2023
Before Judges Mayer and Enright.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, Indictment No. 17-12-3564.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for appellant (John Joseph Bannan, Designated Counsel, on the brief).
Theodore N. Stephens II, Acting Essex County Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Braden Bendon Couch, Special Deputy Attorney/Acting Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM Defendant Colby Dessources appeals from a July 19, 2022 order denying
his petition for post-conviction relief (PCR) without an evidentiary hearing. We
affirm.
The facts leading to defendant's conviction for aggravated manslaughter,
N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(a), are set forth in State v. Dessources, No. A-3811-18 (App.
Div. Jan. 6, 2021) (slip op. at 2). We need not repeat them here.
On July 12, 2018, defendant agreed to plead guilty to first-degree
aggravated manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2 2C:11-4(a)(1). In November 2018,
defendant filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea based on alleged unforeseen
immigration consequences. Defendant's motion was denied.
On January 18, 2019, defendant appeared for sentencing. Defense counsel
asked the judge to apply two mitigating factors under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b).
Specifically, defendant requested mitigating factor seven, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-
1(b)(7), no criminal history, and mitigating factor eleven, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-
1(b)(11), excessive hardship to his dependents. The judge found no mitigating
factors were applicable and sentenced defendant to a ten-year term of
imprisonment with an eighty-five percent period of parole ineligibility under the
No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.
A-0242-22 2 In April 2021, defendant filed a pro se PCR petition. On February 18,
2022, assigned counsel filed an amended PCR petition, supplementing
defendant's prior PCR submission, asserting an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim against defendant's sentencing attorney. Defendant claimed sentencing
counsel failed to advocate for application of mitigating factors two, four, eight,
and nine. N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(2), (4), (8), and (9). Thus, defendant asserted he
was not afforded an opportunity to seek a sentencing downgrade in the second-
degree range.
In a July 19, 2022 order and accompanying written decision, the PCR
judge denied defendant's petition. The PCR judge addressed mitigating factors
two, four, eight, and nine, and explained why each factor was inapplicable.
Because the additional mitigating factors were inapplicable, the judge concluded
sentencing counsel was not ineffective in raising arguments that lacked merit.
In addition, the judge determined, "even if this [c]ourt had pre-supposed the
mitigating factors now sought, it would not be possible . . . to find that the
mitigating factors substantially outweigh[ed] the aggravating ones." Thus, the
A-0242-22 3 judge denied defendant's PCR petition, finding defendant failed to meet his
burden of demonstrating ineffective assistance of counsel.1
On appeal, defendant raises the following arguments:
POINT I
THE PCR COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE MITIGATING FACTORS ARGUMENT WAS PROCEDURALLY BARRED.
(A) Legal Standards Governing Applications For Post- Conviction Relief.
(B) The Mitigating Factors Argument is not Procedurally Barred.
POINT II
BECAUSE MR. DESSOURCES RECEIVED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, THE PCR COURT ERRED IN DENYING MR. DESSOURCES' PETITION FOR PCR.
(A) Legal Standards Governing Applications for Post- Conviction Relief.
(B) Defense Counsel was Ineffective for Failing to Raise All Applicable Mitigating Factors at Sentencing.
1 In addition to denying defendant's PCR petition on the merits, the PCR judge found defendant's ineffective assistance of counsel claim was procedurally barred. However, we review orders on appeal rather than opinions or reasons proffered for the ultimate conclusion. See Do-Wop Corp. v. City of Rahway, 168 N.J. 191, 199 (2001).
A-0242-22 4 (C) Appellate Counsel was Ineffective for Failing to Raise the Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel in Failing to Raise All Applicable Mitigating Factors at Sentencing and Failing to Argue That the Trial Court Failed to Consider All Applicable Mitigating Factors at Sentencing.
POINT III
IN THE ALTERNATIVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE GENUINE ISSUES OF MATERIAL FACT IN DISPUTE, THE PCR COURT ERRED IN DENYING AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING.
(A) Legal Standards Governing Post-Conviction Relief Evidentiary Hearings.
(B) In the Alternative, Mr. Dessources is Entitled to an Evidentiary Hearing.
We need not address defendant's arguments related to the PCR judge's
determination that the petition was procedurally barred because the judge also
reviewed, and denied, defendant's petition on the merits. For the reasons that
follow, we reject defendant's ineffective assistance of counsel arguments related
to the failure of his sentencing counsel and appellate counsel to argue for
additional mitigating factors.
To establish an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must
satisfy the two-part test under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687
(1984), adopted by New Jersey in State v. Fritz, 105 N.J. 42, 58 (1987). First,
A-0242-22 5 the defendant must show counsel's performance "fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness" and was therefore deficient. Strickland, 466 U.S.
at 687-88. Second, the defendant must show "a reasonable probability that, but
for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result . . . would have been different."
State v. Hess, 207 N.J. 123, 146 (2011) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694).
The failure to raise non-meritorious arguments does not constitute ineffective
assistance of counsel. State v. Worlock, 117 N.J. 596, 625 (1990).
Defendant contends his sentencing counsel and appellate counsel were
ineffective in failing to advocate for mitigating factors two, four, eight, and
nine.2 We disagree.
As our Supreme Court stated in Hess, "the failure to present mitigating
evidence or argue for mitigating factors" may establish ineffective assistance of
counsel. 207 N.J. at 154. However, in this matter, the PCR judge thoroughly
analyzed and explained why the additional mitigating factors were inapplicable.
2 For the first time on appeal, defendant raised an ineffective assistance of counsel claim as to his appellate attorney. Defendant never presented this claim to the PCR judge. We may decline to consider any claim not advanced to the PCR court if the matter does not involve jurisdictional issues or matters of great public interest. See State v. Robinson, 200 N.J. 1, 20 (2009) (citing Nieder v. Royal Indem. Ins. Co., 62 N.J. 229, 234 (1973)).
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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-0242-22
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
COLBY DESSOURCES,
Defendant-Appellant. _______________________
Submitted December 12, 2023 – Decided December 22, 2023
Before Judges Mayer and Enright.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, Indictment No. 17-12-3564.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for appellant (John Joseph Bannan, Designated Counsel, on the brief).
Theodore N. Stephens II, Acting Essex County Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Braden Bendon Couch, Special Deputy Attorney/Acting Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM Defendant Colby Dessources appeals from a July 19, 2022 order denying
his petition for post-conviction relief (PCR) without an evidentiary hearing. We
affirm.
The facts leading to defendant's conviction for aggravated manslaughter,
N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(a), are set forth in State v. Dessources, No. A-3811-18 (App.
Div. Jan. 6, 2021) (slip op. at 2). We need not repeat them here.
On July 12, 2018, defendant agreed to plead guilty to first-degree
aggravated manslaughter, N.J.S.A. 2 2C:11-4(a)(1). In November 2018,
defendant filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea based on alleged unforeseen
immigration consequences. Defendant's motion was denied.
On January 18, 2019, defendant appeared for sentencing. Defense counsel
asked the judge to apply two mitigating factors under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b).
Specifically, defendant requested mitigating factor seven, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-
1(b)(7), no criminal history, and mitigating factor eleven, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-
1(b)(11), excessive hardship to his dependents. The judge found no mitigating
factors were applicable and sentenced defendant to a ten-year term of
imprisonment with an eighty-five percent period of parole ineligibility under the
No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.
A-0242-22 2 In April 2021, defendant filed a pro se PCR petition. On February 18,
2022, assigned counsel filed an amended PCR petition, supplementing
defendant's prior PCR submission, asserting an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim against defendant's sentencing attorney. Defendant claimed sentencing
counsel failed to advocate for application of mitigating factors two, four, eight,
and nine. N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(2), (4), (8), and (9). Thus, defendant asserted he
was not afforded an opportunity to seek a sentencing downgrade in the second-
degree range.
In a July 19, 2022 order and accompanying written decision, the PCR
judge denied defendant's petition. The PCR judge addressed mitigating factors
two, four, eight, and nine, and explained why each factor was inapplicable.
Because the additional mitigating factors were inapplicable, the judge concluded
sentencing counsel was not ineffective in raising arguments that lacked merit.
In addition, the judge determined, "even if this [c]ourt had pre-supposed the
mitigating factors now sought, it would not be possible . . . to find that the
mitigating factors substantially outweigh[ed] the aggravating ones." Thus, the
A-0242-22 3 judge denied defendant's PCR petition, finding defendant failed to meet his
burden of demonstrating ineffective assistance of counsel.1
On appeal, defendant raises the following arguments:
POINT I
THE PCR COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE MITIGATING FACTORS ARGUMENT WAS PROCEDURALLY BARRED.
(A) Legal Standards Governing Applications For Post- Conviction Relief.
(B) The Mitigating Factors Argument is not Procedurally Barred.
POINT II
BECAUSE MR. DESSOURCES RECEIVED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, THE PCR COURT ERRED IN DENYING MR. DESSOURCES' PETITION FOR PCR.
(A) Legal Standards Governing Applications for Post- Conviction Relief.
(B) Defense Counsel was Ineffective for Failing to Raise All Applicable Mitigating Factors at Sentencing.
1 In addition to denying defendant's PCR petition on the merits, the PCR judge found defendant's ineffective assistance of counsel claim was procedurally barred. However, we review orders on appeal rather than opinions or reasons proffered for the ultimate conclusion. See Do-Wop Corp. v. City of Rahway, 168 N.J. 191, 199 (2001).
A-0242-22 4 (C) Appellate Counsel was Ineffective for Failing to Raise the Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel in Failing to Raise All Applicable Mitigating Factors at Sentencing and Failing to Argue That the Trial Court Failed to Consider All Applicable Mitigating Factors at Sentencing.
POINT III
IN THE ALTERNATIVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE GENUINE ISSUES OF MATERIAL FACT IN DISPUTE, THE PCR COURT ERRED IN DENYING AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING.
(A) Legal Standards Governing Post-Conviction Relief Evidentiary Hearings.
(B) In the Alternative, Mr. Dessources is Entitled to an Evidentiary Hearing.
We need not address defendant's arguments related to the PCR judge's
determination that the petition was procedurally barred because the judge also
reviewed, and denied, defendant's petition on the merits. For the reasons that
follow, we reject defendant's ineffective assistance of counsel arguments related
to the failure of his sentencing counsel and appellate counsel to argue for
additional mitigating factors.
To establish an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must
satisfy the two-part test under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687
(1984), adopted by New Jersey in State v. Fritz, 105 N.J. 42, 58 (1987). First,
A-0242-22 5 the defendant must show counsel's performance "fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness" and was therefore deficient. Strickland, 466 U.S.
at 687-88. Second, the defendant must show "a reasonable probability that, but
for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result . . . would have been different."
State v. Hess, 207 N.J. 123, 146 (2011) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694).
The failure to raise non-meritorious arguments does not constitute ineffective
assistance of counsel. State v. Worlock, 117 N.J. 596, 625 (1990).
Defendant contends his sentencing counsel and appellate counsel were
ineffective in failing to advocate for mitigating factors two, four, eight, and
nine.2 We disagree.
As our Supreme Court stated in Hess, "the failure to present mitigating
evidence or argue for mitigating factors" may establish ineffective assistance of
counsel. 207 N.J. at 154. However, in this matter, the PCR judge thoroughly
analyzed and explained why the additional mitigating factors were inapplicable.
2 For the first time on appeal, defendant raised an ineffective assistance of counsel claim as to his appellate attorney. Defendant never presented this claim to the PCR judge. We may decline to consider any claim not advanced to the PCR court if the matter does not involve jurisdictional issues or matters of great public interest. See State v. Robinson, 200 N.J. 1, 20 (2009) (citing Nieder v. Royal Indem. Ins. Co., 62 N.J. 229, 234 (1973)). However, because we are satisfied defendant's sentencing counsel was not ineffective in failing to advance certain mitigating factors, we reject defendant's claimed ineffective assistance of counsel on that same basis as to his appellate attorney. A-0242-22 6 Having reviewed the record, we agree with the PCR judge that mitigating
factor two, defendant did not contemplate that his conduct would cause or
threaten serious harm, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(2), was inapplicable. Defendant
admitted to driving his vehicle while intoxicated, resulting in the death of
another person. "Every driver is aware . . . of the responsibility to never drive
while intoxicated." State v. Locane, 454 N.J. Super. 98, 128 (App. Div. 2018).
Therefore, a sentencing court accords no weight to this factor in cases, such as
the present matter, where a defendant "voluntarily became intoxicated[] [while]
knowing [he] would drive." Ibid.
We also agree with the PCR judge that mitigating factor four, substantial
grounds excusing or justifying defendant's conduct, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(4), was
inapplicable. Defendant argues this factor was applicable because the
establishment continued to serve him alcohol after he became intoxicated.
However, because "[c]rimes committed under the influence of alcohol . . . do
not detract from the seriousness of the offense," a sentencing court should not
consider intoxication a mitigating circumstance under this factor. State v.
Setzer, 268 N.J. Super. 553, 567-68 (App. Div. 1993).
Nor did mitigating factor eight, defendant's conduct was the result of
circumstances unlikely to recur, N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(8), and mitigating factor
A-0242-22 7 nine, defendant's character and attitude indicate he is unlikely to reoffend,
N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(b)(9), apply in this case. Mitigating factors eight and nine
"are not intended to trigger predictions that lack anchors in the record." Locane,
454 N.J. Super. at 129. "Driving and consuming alcohol are not uncommon
experiences," and defendant presented no evidence indicating the circumstances
were unlikely to recur. Ibid.
Additionally, this was not defendant's first brush with the law. In 2004,
and again in 2005, defendant received two juvenile deferred dispositions.
Between 2007 and 2014, defendant had five disorderly persons convictions. In
2008, defendant was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to probation.
Defendant violated the conditions of probation twice. Because defendant
demonstrated no improvement, his probation was terminated in 2013. Based on
his record, defendant failed to present evidence that he is unlikely to reoffend .
We also recognize, as did the PCR judge, that defendant received an
extremely favorable sentence as a result of sentencing counsel's efforts,
including the State's dismissal of the most serious charges. If defendant had
gone to trial on all counts and been convicted by a jury, defendant faced a
potential sentence of thirty years. Instead, defendant received the minimum
sentence for a first-degree offense—ten years.
A-0242-22 8 Defendant also claims that had his counsel advocated for mitigating
factors two, four, eight and nine, the sentencing judge may have downgraded his
offense to a second-degree offense and sentenced him to less than ten years in
prison. We reject this argument.
"A sentencing court may downgrade a first- or second-degree offense to
one degree less for sentencing purposes." Locane, 454 N.J. Super. at 121 (citing
N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(f)(2)). To warrant a downgrade, the court must find: (1) it is
"clearly convinced that the mitigating factors substantially outweigh the
aggravating factors," N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(f)(2); and (2) "there are compelling
reasons in addition to, and separate from, the mitigating factors, which require
the downgrade in the interest of justice," Locane, 454 N.J. Super. at 121 (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Jones, 197 N.J. Super. 604, 607 (App.
Div. 1984)).
For the reasons previously stated, none of the mitigating factors defendant
claimed should have been presented to the sentencing judge applied. Thus,
defendant could not demonstrate the mitigating factors outweighed the
aggravating factors to warrant a sentencing downgrade.
On this record, defendant failed to establish that the performance of his
sentencing counsel was deficient or, but for any alleged errors, the outcome of
A-0242-22 9 the matter would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88. Because
defendant failed to establish a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of
counsel, defendant was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing. See State v.
Preciose, 129 N.J. 451, 462 (1992).
Affirmed.
A-0242-22 10