SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
A-717-95T1
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
WALLACE BAYNES,
Defendant-Respondent.
Submitted January 24, 1996 - Decided
February 14, 1996
Before Judges King and Kleiner.
On appeal from the Superior Court of
New Jersey, Law Division, Monmouth County.
John Kay, Monmouth County Prosecutor,
attorney for appellant; (Mark P. Stalford,
Assistant Prosecutor, and Kevin M. Clark,
Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the
brief).
James N. Butler, Jr., attorney for
respondent.
PER CURIAM
We granted the State's motion for leave to appeal from a
decision of the trial court admitting defendant Wallace Baynes
into the Monmouth County Pre-trial Intervention Program over the
objection of the prosecutor. Defendant had been indicted by the
grand jury and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous
substance, heroin, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1) (count one),
and possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000
feet of a school, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1). Although
the Pre-trial coordinator recommended defendant's admission, the
prosecutor filed an objection. Judge Locascio articulated his
reasons in a written opinion, which we approve for publication on
this date. N.J. Super. (Law Div. 1996).
We conclude that the State's objection to defendant's
admission into pre-trial intervention was in this case an
arbitrary exercise of prosecutorial authority. Judge Locascio's
decision is consistent with our recent decision in State v.
Fitzsimmons, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 1996).
We affirm.