SYLLABUS
(This syllabus is not part of the opinion of the Court. It has
been prepared by the Office of the Clerk for the convenience of the
reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Supreme Court. Please
note that, in the interests of brevity, portions of any opinion may not
have been summarized).
[NOTE: This is a companion case to State v. Johnson , A-7-04, also filed today.]
Argued November 8, 2004 -- Decided January 26, 2005
PER CURIAM
The issue in this appeal is whether Carlos M. Rosado’s plea agreement must be set aside because he was not informed about a five-year period of extended parole supervision under the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C: 43-7.2 (NERA).
While driving under the influence of alcohol, Rosado ran a red light, hit
another vehicle and killed its driver, nineteen-year old Michael Albano. Rosado pled guilty
to first-degree death by auto within 1,000 feet of school property and driving
with a revoked license. The prosecutor recommended a twelve-year term of imprisonment on
the death-by-auto charge, a concurrent term of imprisonment of 180-days on the driving
with a revoked license charge, and a one-year suspension of defendant’s driver’s license.
The trial court sentenced defendant accordingly. Rosado was not informed about the mandatory
period of parole supervision required by NERA.
HELD: Consistent with our holding in State v. Johnson, ___ N.J. ___ (2005),
decided today, Rosado is entitled to seek the vacation of his plea.
1. The terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C: 43-7.2 (NERA),
apply to the death-by-auto charge. N.J.S.A. 2C: 43-7.2d(3). Accordingly, defendant was subject to
a minimum period of parole ineligibility of eighty-five percent of the sentence imposed
and to a mandatory five-year period of parole supervision. N.J.S.A. 2C: 43-7.2c. (p.
2)
The judgment of the Appellate Division is REVERSED and the matter is REMANDED
to the Law Division for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
CHIEF JUSTICE PORITZ and JUSTICES LONG, LaVECCHIA, ZAZZALI, ALBIN, WALLACE and RIVERA-SOTO join
in this opinion.
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
CARLOS M. ROSADO,
Defendant-Appellant.
Argued November 8, 2004 – Decided January 26, 2005
On certification to the Superior Court, Appellate Division.
Nancy C. Ferro argued the cause for appellant (Ferro & Ferro, attorneys; Alan
I. Smith, Designated counsel, Public Defender, on the brief).
Carol M. Henderson, Assistant Attorney General, argued the cause for respondent (Peter C.
Harvey, Attorney General of New Jersey, attorney).
Carlos M. Rosado submitted a letter in lieu of brief, pro se.
PER CURIAM
While driving under the influence of alcohol, defendant Carlos Rosado ran a red
light, hit another vehicle and killed its driver, nineteen-year old Michael Albano. Defendant
was charged with first-degree death by auto within 1,000 feet of school property
and driving with a revoked license. Defendant pled guilty to both charges, and
in exchange the prosecutor recommended a twelve-year term of imprisonment on the death-by-auto
charge, a concurrent term of imprisonment of 180-days on the driving with a
revoked license charge, and a one-year suspension of defendant’s driver’s license. The trial
court accepted the State’s recommendations, and sentenced defendant accordingly.
The terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2 (NERA), apply to
the death-by-auto charge. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2d(3). Accordingly, defendant was subject to a minimum period
of parole ineligibility of eighty-five percent of the sentence imposed and to a
mandatory five-year period of parole supervision. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2c. As in State v. Johnson,
__ N.J. __ (2005), decided today, defendant was not informed about the mandatory
period of parole supervision required by NERA. Consistent with our holding in Johnson,
we reverse and remand for a determination as to whether defendant’s mistaken belief
regarding the penal consequences of his sentence was a material factor in his
decision to plead guilty, entitling defendant to relief under Rule 3:21-1.
CHIEF JUSTICE PORITZ and JUSTICES LONG, LaVECCHIA, ZAZZALI, ALBIN, WALLACE, and RIVERA-SOTO join
in this opinion.
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
NO. A-8 SEPTEMBER TERM 2004
ON CERTIFICATION TO Appellate Division, Superior Court
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
CARLOS M. ROSADO,
Defendant-Appellant.
DECIDED January 26, 2005
Chief Justice Poritz PRESIDING
OPINION BY Per Curiam
CONCURRING/DISSENTING OPINIONS BY
DISSENTING OPINION BY
CHECKLIST