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191 N.J. Super. 537

State v. Alford

New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division · decided 1983-10-20

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently May 1986

3 state decisions

Relies on State v. Kovack · State v. Taylor

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1983-10-20

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BRODY, J.A.D.,

¶1dissenting.

¶2In my view State v. Kovack, 91 N.J. 476 (1982), does not compel vacating this sentence unless, after an evidentiary hearing, the trial judge finds that defendant was unfairly prejudiced by the imposition of the fine. Unlike the record in Kovack, the record here does not demonstrate “that the imposition of a *541period of parole ineligibility was manifestly beyond defendant’s contemplation.” Id. at 483. Whatever defendant may have contemplated is not manifest from this record. Nor are the consequences of failing to warn of a fine as grave to a defendant as a loss of liberty imposed without warning.

¶3Because defendant never moved for resentencing or to withdraw his plea, no evidence was presented that the fine exceeded what defendant contemplated. Although the exchange quoted by the majority between the judge and defendant’s attorney would corroborate a claim by defendant that he was misled, the fact is that neither defendant nor his attorney is making that claim. The only objection they raised after the judge imposed the fine and the only objection to the fine raised on appeal is to the unlawful condition that defendant pay half the fine before being released on parole. Defendant’s attorney did complain to the trial judge that the custodial sentence as first imposed “exceeded the bargain” but made no similar objection regarding the fine. The judge immediately reduced the custodial sentence to satisfy the objection.

¶4Defendant’s reference to Kovackin his brief is only to support his argument that by conditioning defendant’s release upon payment of the fine, the judge in effect attached a form of parole disqualification which defendant had no reason to anticipate in light of the plea agreement. In this regard defendant is correct. The remedy, however, is not to vacate the sentence, but to strike the unlawful condition as this court has done.

¶5Even if I were satisfied that defendant was misled regarding the imposition of a fine, I do not believe that Kovackrequires that the sentence automatically be vacated. A fine is not the same as a loss of liberty. An unbargained-for $30 fine would undoubtedly be more acceptable to a defendant than an unbar-gained-for 30-day jail term. I would treat a defendant not informed or misinformed of the possibility of a fine like a defendant not informed or misinformed regarding the merger of charges being plea-negotiated. The sentence in such a case *542should be vacated only “where, from an objective standpoint, it appears there is a significant possibility that the misinformation imparted to the defendant could have directly induced him to enter the plea.... ” State v. Taylor, 80 N.J. 353, 365 (1979).

¶6I would therefore remand so that the trial judge can determine if the fine was beyond defendant’s reasonable expectations when he entered his plea. Should the judge determine that it was, the judge should then determine if the assurance of no fine directly induced defendant to enter the plea. In arriving at that determination the judge should consider all the circumstances including the amount of the fine, defendant’s ability to pay and the relative significance of the fine compared with the benefits defendant received under the plea agreement. See State v. Taylor, supra, 80 N.J. at 366-67. Should the judge determine that defendant was thereby misled into entering these pleas, the plea agreement will be deemed a bar to the imposition of a fine. The judge should then decide whether to accept or reject the agreement in that form. Should the judge reject the agreement, defendant must elect whether to accept the sentence previously imposed or proceed to trial of the indictments, including the previously dismissed counts, subject to acceptance of any renegotiated plea. See State v. Kovack, supra, 91 N.J. at 485.

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