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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ."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.
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SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-0841-22
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
C.S.,1
Defendant-Appellant. _______________________
Submitted December 17, 2024 – Decided January 21, 2025
Before Judges Smith and Chase.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Hudson County, Indictment No. 19-08-0887.
Jennifer Nicole Silletti, Public Defender, attorney for appellant (John P. Flynn, Assistant Deputy Public Defender, of counsel and on the briefs).
Esther Suarez, Hudson County Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Stephanie Davis Elson, Assistant Prosecutor, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
1 We use initials to protect the confidentiality of the victim. R.1:38-3(d)(10). Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of first-degree aggravated
sexual assault of a victim under thirteen years old, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1), and
related offenses. The trial court imposed an aggregate sentence of thirty-years
imprisonment subject to the No Early Release Act ("NERA"), N.J.S.A. 2C:43-
7.2, Megan's Law, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-1 to -23 and parole supervision for life,
N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4.
Defendant appeals and raises the following contentions:
POINT I: [DEFENDANT] WAS DENIED A FAIR TRIAL WHEN THE JURY HEARD THE INTERROGATING DETECTIVE REPEATEDLY STATE THAT [DEFENDANT] WAS LYING AND THAT HIS DENIALS WERE INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S STATEMENTS.
POINT II: REVERSAL IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ERRONEOUSLY REPLAYED ONLY THE PORTION OF THE INTERROGATION VIDEO IN WHICH [DEFENDANT] CONFESSED AND FAILED TO INSTRUCT THE JURY NOT TO GIVE UNDUE WEIGHT TO THE REPLAYED PORTION OF THE INTERROGATION.
POINT III: THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE ERRORS REQUIRES REVERSAL.
POINT IV: RESENTENCING IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT IMPROPERLY RELIED ON [DEFENDANT'S] DENIAL OF GUILT IN FINDING AGGRAVATING FACTOR THREE.
We are unpersuaded and affirm the convictions and sentence.
A-0841-22 2 I.
In June 2019, N.N.'s mother noticed a hickey on N.N.'s neck. N.N. was
twelve years old at that time. N.N. told her mother that a boyfriend had given
her the hickey. When her mother asked, N.N. denied that she was sexually
active. The mother told N.N. that she was "going to take her to the hospital to -
- for them to examine her to see if she was a virgin."
While in the hospital waiting room, the mother told N.N. to speak to her
older sister on the phone; during that phone call N.N. told her sister that she had
not had sex with her boyfriend, but defendant, her cousin, made her have sex
with him. N.N. had not previously told anyone about the sexual assault because
she did not want her family to think that she was lying, or that she was doing
this out of spite. Additionally, N.N. stated that she did not want to ruin her
family.
The mother and N.N. then went to the Union City police station to file a
report. The next day, the Department of Youth and Family Services interviewed
the mother, N.N., her stepfather, her brother, and her sister. The interviews were
conducted separately. On that same day, Detective Kevin O'Reilly ("O'Reilly"),
from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, Special Victims Unit ("SVU"),
interviewed N.N. and her mother separately.
A-0841-22 3 A few days later, several detectives from the SVU, including O'Reilly,
went to defendant's residence and asked to speak with him, to which defendant
agreed. Defendant drove with the officers to the police station. Upon their
arrival at the station defendant was brought to an interview room, where O'Reilly
read him his Miranda2 rights, to which defendant stated he understood his rights,
then signed and initialed the Miranda rights form.
Defendant was questioned for approximately ninety minutes, which was
recorded on video. Defendant initially denied that he had been alone in bed with
N.N. or that he had sexually assaulted her, despite O'Reilly's repeated statements
that he knew defendant was lying because his story was inconsistent with what
other people had said. At one point O'Reilly told defendant "[y]ou're
bull*****ing me right now because I know that something happened . . . ," to
which defendant replied, "I never touched that girl." After an hour of
interrogation, defendant stated that he touched N.N.'s breasts and penetrated her
vagina from behind on one occasion. Defendant was then arrested.
A grand jury charged defendant with first-degree aggravated sexual
assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1) (count one); second-degree sexual assault,
N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b) (count two); and third-degree endangering the welfare of a
2 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). A-0841-22 4 child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1) (count three). The State alleged N.N. was
approximately ten years old, and defendant was twenty years old when these
acts occurred.
Defendant's three-day jury trial began in November 2021. On the first day
of trial, N.N.'s mother testified. On day two, Detective Steve Molina, the
detective who took the initial report with N.N., and her mother testified. N.N.,
O'Reilly, defendant's brother, J.S., and defendant also testified.
N.N. testified that defendant sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions
when she visited her father at a residence in Union City where defendant, her
father, and other family members were living. N.N. stated she did not remember
how old she was the first time she was assaulted and estimated that it was a
couple of years before she told her sister during the phone call at the hospital.
N.N. testified her first memory of being assaulted was during a family party,
which took place in defendant's shared bedroom, after defendant told his brother
J.S. and N.N.'s brother to leave the brothers' bedroom. N.N. testified that all the
assaults occurred when they were alone in defendant's shared bedroom.
O'Reilly gave testimony regarding his duties as a member of the SVU,
how he encountered defendant, and how defendant agreed to go back to the unit
so they could speak to him regarding allegations made by N.N. O'Reilly testified
A-0841-22 5 that he did not promise defendant anything or make any threats to get defendant
to speak with him, nor was he aware of anyone else threatening or promising
defendant anything to get him to speak to them. Soon after, the State asked the
court permission to play the video of defendant's interrogation, to which defense
counsel did not object.
Next, defendant's younger brother, J.S., testified for the defense. J.S
testified that he was around thirteen at the time of the allegations. J.S. recalled
that he would play video games with defendant, N.N., and N.N.'s brother when
N.N. would visit her father on the weekends. J.S. stated that there were no
occasions when defendant and N.N. were left alone in the bedroom, and that his
brother never asked him to leave the bedroom when they were playing video
games with their cousins. J.S. testified that he did not notice any change in the
relationship between defendant and N.N. from 2016 to 2018.
Defendant then testified that he falsely confessed to O'Reilly because he
had a friend who was in the hospital and wanted to get out of the interrogation
as quickly as possible. Defendant stated it was his belief that his aunt, N.N.'s
mother, fabricated the allegations because she was mad at his side of the family.
Defendant testified he thought that the police would investigate, discover he had
A-0841-22 6 not done anything, and let him go home. Defendant was cross-examined by the
prosecutor. The defense then rested its case.
After closing arguments were made, the judge read the jury charges. The
judge began by providing the jurors with the standard instructions. Particularly
important to this case, the judge gave the following instruction regarding the
video statement given by defendant:
It is your function to determine whether or not that statement was actually made by the defendant, and if made, whether the statement or any portion of it is credible. You should, therefore, receive, weigh, and consider such evidence with caution.
If, after consideration of all these factors, you determine that the statement was not actually made or that the statement is not credible, then you must disregard the statement completely.
If you find the statement was made and that part or all of the statement is credible, you may give what weight you think appropriate to the portion of the statement you find to be truthful and credible.
The judge gave the "false in one, false in all" instruction and concluded the
remaining instructions.
During deliberations, the jury posed three questions to the court. The first
two questions asked for "clarification on what constitutes the level of reasonable
doubt" and "is not believing a victim reasonable doubt?" In response, the trial
A-0841-22 7 court re-read the jury charges on reasonable doubt and the "false in one, false in
all" charge. For the third question, the jury asked that "the last clip of the video
leading up to the confession" be replayed. The jurors clarified that they wanted
to see "the second clip from beginning to end." Without objection from either
party, or a limiting instruction, the trial court replayed only the requested portion
of the interrogation video. The jury reached a verdict thirty minutes after the
replay, the jury rendered a verdict, convicting defendant of first-degree
aggravated assault and second-degree assault.
In May 2022, the trial court sentenced defendant to a thirty-year prison
term subject to NERA on count one and a concurrent six-year prison term
subject to NERA on count two. Defendant was also sentenced to Megan's Law
and parole supervision for life.
During sentencing, the judge found aggravating factors: three, risk of
reoffending, based on the Avenel report, and the fact that defendant had not
taken responsibility; and nine, the need for deterrence, stating "there is certainly
a strong need to deter you," adding "you need to be deterred from committing
these types of crimes." As to mitigating factors, the judge found factor seven,
because defendant had no prior criminal history, however, the judge refused to
find factor eight—circumstances unlikely to recur—stating, "I don't find facts
A-0841-22 8 for that. If you're in the presence of children or anybody else again, you could
do this and that would be completely in opposite to aggravating factor number
three because there is a risk." The trial court later clarified that only the sentence
on count one was subject to NERA and issued an amended judgment of
conviction.
II.
Defendant first contends that he was denied a fair trial because the jury
heard the interrogating detective repeatedly question defendant's veracity.
Although defendant concedes he failed to object to the video at trial, he posits
that the statements would have been inadmissible if made by the detectives while
testifying.
In support of his argument defendant cites to State v. C.W.H., 465 N.J.
Super. 574 (App. Div. 2021), where the court found the jury's ability to
determine credibility was "impermissibly tainted," because the "numerous
accusations" the interrogating detective made that defendant was not being
honest, "clearly conveyed the impression to the jury that defendant was being
deceptive." Id. at 595. Additionally, defendant cites to State v. Sui Kam Tung,
460 N.J. Super. 75 (App. Div. 2019), where the court held an officer's opinion
evidence was inadmissible, because during the interrogation the officer stated
A-0841-22 9 they knew defendant was lying, and then that officer testified in live court to the
same, the court found this undermined the jury's ability to determine credibility
on its own. Id. at 102-03.
An evidential error that defendant did not object to at trial is reviewed for
plain error. State v. Trinidad, 241 N.J. 425, 445 (2020). That standard requires
reversal only if the testimony was "clearly capable of producing an unjust
result." R. 2:10-2. The "possibility of an injustice" must be "'real' and 'sufficient
to raise a reasonable doubt as to whether the error led the jury to a result it
otherwise might not have reached.'" Trinidad, 241 N.J. at 445 (quoting State v.
Macon, 57 N.J. 325, 336 (1971)). Plain error "is a 'high bar,' requiring reversal
only where the possibility of an injustice is 'real' and 'sufficient to raise a
reasonable doubt as to whether the error led the jury to a result it otherwise might
not have reached.'" State v. Alessi, 240 N.J. 501, 527 (2020) (citations omitted)
(first quoting State v. Santamaria, 236 N.J. 390, 404 (2019); and then quoting
Macon, 57 N.J. at 336). "The mere possibility of an unjust result is not enough."
State v. Funderburg, 225 N.J. 66, 79 (2016). "In the context of a jury trial, the
possibility must be 'sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt as to whether the error
led the jury to a result it otherwise might not have reached.'" State v. G.E.P.,
243 N.J. 362, 389-90 (2020) (quoting State v. Jordan, 147 N.J. 409, 422 (1997)).
A-0841-22 10 "The 'high standard' used in plain error analysis 'provides a strong
incentive for counsel to interpose a timely objection, enabling the trial court to
forestall or correct a potential error.'" Santamaria, 236 N.J. at 404 (quoting State
v. Bueso, 225 N.J. 193, 203 (2016)). In deciding whether an error amounts to
plain error, it "must be evaluated 'in light of the overall strength of the State's
case.'" State v. Sanchez-Medina, 231 N.J. 452, 468, (2018) (quoting State v.
Galicia, 210 N.J. 364, 388 (2012)). When there is no objection, we must assume
"defense counsel did not believe the remarks were prejudicial." State v.
Pressley, 232 N.J. 587, 594 (2018) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
Interrogation techniques used by an officer "to dissipate [a suspect's]
reluctance and persuade the person to talk are proper as long as the will of the
suspect is not overborne." State v. Miller, 76 N.J. 392, 403 (1978); State v.
Galloway, 133 N.J. 631, 655 (1993) (holding an officer lying to a suspect is not
on its own "render a confession involuntary"); and State v. Patton, 362 N.J.
Super. 16, 31 (App. Div. 2003) (noting our courts "have permitted the use of
trickery in interrogations."). However, the issue is not whether the detective's
interrogation techniques were proper, but whether those portions of the
interrogation during which they accuse defendant of lying should have been
redacted.
A-0841-22 11 Here, the detective's statements were not made for the purpose of
expressing an opinion as to defendant's credibility or veracity at trial. Rather,
they were questions in a pre-trial interview, part of an interrogation technique
and designed to elicit a response from a suspect. As such, the comments were
offered for their effect on defendant and not for their truthfulness. The detective
did not testify as to defendant's truthfulness. The detective's comments were
admissible since they provided context for the interrogation enabling the jury to
assess the reasonableness of the defendant's responses. We would note that if
defendant had requested a limiting instruction, one would have been appropriate.
Additionally, defendant was not denied a fair trial, as the trial court gave
extensive instructions to the jury regarding their role. The judge went over what
constitutes reasonable doubt, and that the State had the burden to prove each
element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt, to which the burden never
shifts to the defendant. Second, the judge instructed the jurors on how they may
consider the evidence that was presented. Specifically, as to defendant's video
recorded statement, the judge stated the following:
It is your function to determine whether or not that statement was actually made by the defendant, and if made, whether the statement or any portion of it is credible. You should, therefore, receive, weigh, and consider such evidence with caution.
A-0841-22 12 If, after consideration of all these factors, you determine that the statement was not actually made or that the statement is not credible, then you must disregard the statement completely.
If you find the statement was made and that part or all of the statement is credible, you may give what weight you think appropriate to the portion of the statement you find to be truthful and credible.
This instruction was repeated soon after it was originally stated. Further, in
response to the jury's three inquiries during deliberation, defense counsel
requested the "false in one false in all" instruction be reread, which the judge
did soon after the request was made.
Moreover, defendant's reliance on C.W.H., and Tung, is misguided. In
each of those cases, live testimony supplemented the audio introduced at trial.
For example, in C.W.H., after the video interrogation was played for the jury,
the detective who had conducted the interrogation provided live testimony
evaluating and assessing the recorded statement. C.W.H., 465 N.J. Super. at
588. The detective testified that he and the other interrogating officer did most
of the talking on the recording because the defendant's denials were "some of
the weakest denials I've seen in an interview," further elaborating "[h]is denials
were extremely weak, things like I can't remember, I don't know. To me, when
I hear I don't know it means that he does know, he just isn't ready to admit it.
A-0841-22 13 It's one step closer to providing the truth." Id. at 592. Soon after, and prior to
the detective completing his response, the judge gave a curative instruction to
the jury, sua sponte. C.W.H., 465 N.J. Super. at 592. However, after the limiting
instruction the detective again repeated his opinion that the defendant was lying,
which this Court found tainted the jury's evaluation of credibility and was
"clearly capable of producing an unjust result." Id. at 596 (quoting R. 2:10-2).
Here, although O'Reilly did testify, he did not testify to the veracity of the
defendant. O'Reilly provided some background information about himself, and
his position in the SVU. O'Reilly further testified how he got in contact with
defendant, that defendant agreed to go with the officer to the station for an
interview, and that he Mirandized defendant at the onset of the interview.
Additionally, O'Reilly stated that he made no promises or threats in order to get
defendant to speak with him. Soon after, the State asked the court permission
to play the video, which defense counsel did not object to.
Although the judge did not give the limiting instruction to the jurors
regarding the officer's statements, the jury charge was extensive. Particularly
important to this case, the court gave specific instruction regarding the statement
made in the interrogation video, which was read to the jury on two occasions.
Furthermore, there is nothing in the record that suggests the jury relied on the
A-0841-22 14 detectives' comments or that the redaction of same would have changed the
outcome of the trial. Therefore, allowing the video to be played with the
officer's statements was not "clearly capable of producing an unjust result." R.
2:10-2.
III.
Defendant next argues that his rights to due process and a fair trial were
violated because the jury was permitted to hear a portion of the video during the
playback which "allowed the jury to inordinately rely on the confession" while
they made their decision as to credibility. Defendant asserts replaying only a
portion of the interrogation video "was clearly capable of producing an unjust
result." R. 2:10-2. Additionally, defendant argues the failure of the trial court
to give the jury a limiting instruction worsened the risk that jurors would
"prejudicially overemphasize" the confession.
A court's decision to replay a recording of trial testimony for deliberating
jurors is vested in the discretion of the trial judge. State v. A.R., 213 N.J. 542,
559 (2013). "Absent 'some unusual circumstance,' those requests should be
granted." State v. Miller, 205 N.J. 109, 119-20 (2011) (referring to the playback
of trial testimony) (quoting State v. Wolf, 44 N.J. 176, 185 (1965)).
A-0841-22 15 In Miller, 205 N.J. at 122, the Court provided guidelines for ruling on a
jury's request to replay testimony. In doing so, the Court emphasized that
"judges should ordinarily grant a jury's request to play back testimony." Ibid.
(citing State v. Wilkerson, 60 N.J. 452, 460 (1972)). The Court's guidelines
emphasized replaying recorded evidence in a manner that accurately responds
to the jury's request, although it also noted that trial courts "retain discretionary
authority to try to narrow a jury's request" if too "extensive." Id. at 122-23.
Here, the court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the jurors to watch
the playback of the last thirty minutes of the interrogation video. No objection
or request for the entire video to be played was made by defense counsel.
Additionally, not long before the playback was shown, the court again provided
the "false in one, false in all" instruction. Moreover, in accordance with the
recommendation in Miller, the playback took place in open court with all of the
parties present. See Miller, 205 N.J. at 123.
Further, unlike in Miller where the court found it sufficient that the jury
charge was given the day before, here, the jury charge was given the same day
the playback was requested and watched. See Miller, 205 N.J. at 126.
Additionally, the "false in one, false in all" instruction was stated multiple times,
which made clear to the jury it was in their discretion to determine credibility
A-0841-22 16 and give weight to the testimony. As the Miller court stated "[w]e presume that
the jury faithfully followed that instruction." Ibid. As such, the court did not
abuse its discretion in granting the jury's request to playback the last thirty
minutes of the interrogation video.
IV.
The cumulative error doctrine recognizes "that even when an individual
error or series of errors does not rise to reversible error, when considered in
combination, their cumulative effect can cast sufficient doubt on a verdict to
require reversal." State v. Jenewicz, 193 N.J. 440, 473 (2008) (citing State v.
Kosovich, 168 N.J. 448, 540 (2001)). Nevertheless, "the theory of cumulative
error will still not apply where no error was prejudicial and the trial was fair."
State v. Weaver, 219 N.J. 131, 155 (2014). Here, defendant's argument that the
cumulative effect of the interrogation video being shown without a limiting
instruction, and the fact that his confession was shown twice, falls short. The
court instructed the jurors that it was their duty to determine the credibility of
the witnesses. Additionally, the playback request was made by the jury, not
objected to by defense counsel, and shown in open court with all parties present.
A-0841-22 17 V.
Defendant also asserts the court's finding of aggravating factor three, the
"risk that defendant will commit another offense[.]", N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1(a)(3),
was improper. Defendant further asserts the court violated his right against self-
incrimination by concluding that his lack of remorse, and denial of guilt during
his Avenel evaluation meant he had not taken responsibility.
In reviewing a sentencing determination, we employ an abuse of
discretion standard. State v. Fuentes, 217 N.J. 57, 70 (2014). We may not
substitute our judgment regarding an appropriate sentence for that of the trial
court. State v. Case, 220 N.J. 49, 65 (2014); State v. Lawless, 214 N.J. 594, 606
(2013). The test to be applied is "whether, on the basis of the evidence, no
reasonable sentencing court could have imposed the sentence under review."
State v. Ghertler, 114 N.J. 383, 388 (1989). Thus, a sentence should be affirmed
unless a reviewing court determines that (1) the sentence violated legislative
policies, (2) the aggravating or mitigating factors were not supported by credible
evidence, or (3) the sentence, although imposed in accordance with the
sentencing guidelines, is "clearly unreasonable so as to shock the judicial
conscience." State v. Roth, 95 N.J. 334, 364-65 (1984); see also State v.
A-0841-22 18 O'Donnell, 117 N.J. 210, 215-16 (1989) (outlining principles of appellate review
of sentencing decisions).
Defendant's lack of remorse was not the sole justification for the judge's
application of aggravating factor three, and we find no violation of his Fifth
Amendment rights. See State v. Marks, 201 N.J. Super. 514, 540 ("[T]he trial
judge's brief allusion to defendant's failure to candidly admit his guilt does not
require a reversal."). The judge explained that he incorporated the findings in
the Avenel evaluation—that defendant presented a mild risk of reoffending—
and the fact that defendant did not take responsibility to lead to his conclusion
that there was a risk defendant would commit another crime. As our Supreme
Court has stated "[a] finding of aggravating factor three may be supported by
evidence in the record showing defendant has a lack of remorse." State v.
Rivera, 249 N.J. 285, 302 (2021). Additionally, in his explanation for not
finding mitigating factor eight-circumstances unlikely to reoccur, the judge
stated "I don't find facts for that. If you're in the presence of children or anybody
else again, you could do this and that would be completely in opposite to
aggravating factor number three because there is a risk. So I can't find number
eight." Thus, there was credible evidence on the record to support a finding of
aggravating factor three and the court did not abuse its discretion.
A-0841-22 19 To the extent we have not specifically addressed any remaining
arguments, it is because we find them to be without sufficient merit to warrant
discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
Affirmed.
A-0841-22 20