STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. KEITH HARRIS (14-10-1213, MERCER COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2018 )


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  •                         NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-0933-16T3
    STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
    Plaintiff-Respondent,
    v.
    KEITH HARRIS,
    Defendant-Appellant.
    _____________________________
    Submitted February 12, 2018 – Decided August 15, 2018
    Before Judges Sabatino, Ostrer and Rose.
    On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
    Law Division, Mercer County, Indictment No.
    14-10-1213.
    Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney
    for appellant (Stefan Van Jura, Deputy Public
    Defender II, of counsel and on the brief).
    Angelo J. Onofri, Mercer County Prosecutor,
    attorney for respondent (Olivia M. Mills,
    Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the
    briefs).
    Appellant filed a pro se supplemental brief.
    PER CURIAM
    Tried by a jury, defendant Keith Harris was convicted of
    second-degree bribery in official and political matters, N.J.S.A.
    2C:27-2(c), and third-degree financial facilitation of criminal
    activity, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25(b)(1).      His convictions arose out of
    a scheme to smuggle contraband tobacco into the New Jersey State
    Prison (NJSP) in Trenton.   Defendant was acquitted by the jury of
    second-degree official misconduct, N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2.         The court
    sentenced defendant to a five-year term of imprisonment with a
    five-year period of parole ineligibility on the bribery offense,
    concurrent   with   a   three-year    sentence   for   the   financial
    facilitation offense.
    Defendant principally argues on appeal that the court denied
    him his right of confrontation when a prosecution witness testified
    about information he received regarding defendant's guilt.            As
    defense counsel invited the testimony, we reject the argument, as
    well as defendant's other points on appeal, and affirm.
    I.
    In the fall of 2013, defendant began work as a civilian
    institutional trade instructor at NJSP.     He trained and monitored
    inmates in food preparation.         Roughly eight months before he
    started, the Department of Corrections banned tobacco from the
    State's prison system.    A black market emerged, as inmates were
    willing to pay a premium to obtain tobacco products.
    2                             A-0933-16T3
    To exploit the demand, then corrections officer Eric Dawson
    and inmate Mitchell West developed a scheme to smuggle tobacco
    into NJSP.      According to their plan, one of West's non-inmate
    compatriots supplied Dawson with the tobacco outside the prison,
    and paid him for his efforts.                 Dawson secreted the tobacco in
    Ziploc bags to avoid detection as he entered the prison for his
    shift.   Dawson then delivered the tobacco to West, who sold it to
    inmates.
    Dawson was arrested on March 14, 2014, and agreed to cooperate
    with law enforcement.        He admitted he received a Western Union
    money order to purchase tobacco and pay himself.                 The money order
    listed Lorenzo Blakeney as the sender.              Department of Corrections
    Senior Investigator Raphael Dolce learned that Blakeney was an
    approved visitor for inmate Roosevelt Withers.                Blakeney was also
    on Withers' authorized phone list.
    Armed    with   a   warrant,       Dolce   scrutinized    Blakeney's      call
    records.   He also monitored Withers' calls from prison.                  That led
    Dolce to discover a woman outside prison, Tatiana Upshaw.                    Dolce
    later observed Upshaw and defendant leave her residence.                     After
    identifying    defendant     as     a    civilian    prison   employee,      Dolce
    considered him a person of interest in his investigation.
    Blakeney    was     arrested       roughly   two   months    after   Dawson.
    Blakeney also cooperated with law enforcement.                   He testified he
    3                                A-0933-16T3
    assisted defendant and Withers in the tobacco smuggling scheme.
    Blakeney testified that after Dawson was arrested, defendant was
    recruited to take his place to smuggle tobacco into the prison.
    Dolce's testimony at trial lies at the heart of defendant's
    appeal.    On cross-examination, defense counsel elicited that Dolce
    and the prosecutor had reviewed materials in advance of trial.
    Yet, Dolce insisted that he independently recalled the case.
    Counsel specifically asked, "Can you recall which you would have
    had your own recollection of, based on all of the search warrants,
    all of the vehicles, all of the houses that you went through, all
    of the surveillance, all of the tapes, all of the statements?"
    Dolce responded, "Can I give a line-by-line?     No, I can't,
    but in general, certain Defendants that we arrested provided
    statements, which implicated other people.         Certain Defendants
    identified photographs of other Defendants, so those types of
    events are more in-depth[.]"
    Still not satisfied, defense counsel asked which encounters
    stood out.1    Dolce answered, "Not so much that they stood out.
    It's just in general, if we have a Defendant who chose not to talk
    to us, we didn't spend as much time with that person, whereas if
    somebody that we arrested provided a statement and that statement
    1
    The transcript states, "Are what stand out?"
    4                           A-0933-16T3
    implicated other co-Defendants.          And that information was used to
    corroborate the overall conspiracy, which was to corrupt staff to
    smuggle items in, those types . . . ."
    Defense counsel then interjected, apparently to ask another
    question: "Were, -- excuse me, Officer.         I don't mean to interrupt
    you."   The trial judge then cautioned both attorneys that they
    could not interrupt witnesses, except to interpose an objection:
    [Defense counsel], I'm going to tell everybody
    now on both sides; a witness cannot be
    interrupted while they're providing their
    testimony . . . I don't tolerate that in any
    of my trials . . . . Okay so I'm going to ask
    the witness to continue with his answer. . . .
    If there's an objection that you have or [the
    prosecutor] has to the answer, I'll deal with
    that objection. . . . I have to be able to
    get it out to be able to make my decisions as
    to what I need to do; okay?
    Defense   counsel   did   not   offer     an   objection,   and     Dolce
    continued:
    Okay.   So what ended up happening is, in
    talking with all of the people that we either
    arrested or [against whom we] executed search
    warrants,   those   persons    who   provided
    information, which corroborated the scheme as
    we understood it, which was to smuggle
    contraband in through corrupt staff, we would
    spend more time with them.
    They were able to provide us additional
    information. They were able to authenticate
    phone conversations.
    They were able to sit there and to tell us,
    yes, this is the person I actually paid the
    5                                 A-0933-16T3
    money to or this is the person that I gave the
    contraband items, such as tobacco, to.
    And they were able to authenticate that the
    items were then subsequently [smuggled] into
    the prison because the co-defendant inmates,
    those that were the conspirators on the
    inside, had advised them that they had in fact
    received the items, whatever they happened to
    be.
    Dolce then referred to an unnamed officer who smuggled in
    items, presumably Dawson, and to defendant.   Defense counsel would
    later assert that Dolce meant that defendant was a smuggler, too.
    Dolce stated:
    Because in this particular matter, there was
    an officer [who] smuggled in items, as well
    as the defendant, so what ended up happening
    is, we had a whole lot of information coming
    in.
    And when we spent time with various people,
    if one person was able to sit there and to
    provide information that corroborated the
    statements of others, that information was
    then correlated against, perhaps, phone
    conversations, which we knew occurred.
    Or if we had received receipts from Western
    Union, they told us that, I received money
    from people I didn't know and then I went and,
    at the request of an inmate, I then took that
    money and I transmitted it to somebody else
    at the request of the inmate.
    So we would spend more time with that person
    and as a result of that, I would remember those
    types of conversations, whereas somebody who
    didn't have a great role in it but nonetheless
    was involved because perhaps they laundered
    monies, I might not remember all of that.
    6                           A-0933-16T3
    Or we searched a vehicle during a search
    warrant and we didn't recover anything in that
    vehicle,   which   was    relevant   to   that
    investigation; maybe I don't remember that
    specific thing.
    [(Emphasis added).]
    Defense counsel then requested a sidebar, at which he objected
    that Dolce had asserted defendant carried tobacco into the prison,
    and the record did not support the claim:
    Your Honor, I would move to strike the
    witness, his answer, and to have him barred
    from the trial at this time because he just
    made a statement to the jury that there is
    absolutely no evidence in the record, in the
    discovery that my client brought material into
    the jail.2
    And that is an entirely misleading and
    prejudicial comment when there's absolutely,
    one; no foundation but, two: no evidence
    provided by the State at all in any capacity.
    Notably,   defense   counsel   did   not   object   to   Dolce's   repeated
    references to hearsay statements from co-defendants and other
    witnesses, nor did he object that Dolce's answer was a narrative.
    The prosecutor responded that Dolce did not express his own
    opinion of defendant's guilt:
    I think there's certainly the inferences to
    be made that [defendant] moved tobacco into
    2
    We surmise that defense counsel meant to say that "he just made
    a statement to the jury, but there is absolutely no evidence in
    the record, or in the discovery that my client brought material
    into the jail . . . ."
    7                              A-0933-16T3
    the jail.   I didn't hear Investigator Dolce
    say anything to the extent that this
    particular Defendant smuggled in anything
    other than tobacco.
    He said there were other individuals who did
    and Eric Dawson testified yesterday that he
    smuggled in other items.
    So to the extent the Court wants to issue a
    cautionary   instruction,    that   may    be
    appropriate but I don't see any reason to bar
    Investigator Dolce from the trial or strike
    all of his testimony.
    The     judge   was   not   inclined    to   provide    a   cautionary
    instruction:
    Well, what's the cautionary instruction you
    suggest I would issue? Because the testimony
    came, the testimony he presented and what's
    been presented to me is that it wasn't
    [defendant] involved in this.   There was a
    number of different people involved.    That
    clearly came out.
    I didn't hear him implying that it was
    [defendant] specifically doing this or that.
    He's providing an explanation, based on the
    question that you asked, as to why he recalls
    certain things versus others.
    Defense counsel reiterated his interpretation of Dolce's
    testimony, and, after an exchange with the court, interposed the
    objection that Dolce's answer was non-responsive.           The judge was
    unpersuaded,   because    the   answer   responded   to   counsel's   broad
    question.   The judge also noted that counsel did not object on the
    grounds the answer was a narrative.
    8                              A-0933-16T3
    [Defense Counsel]: But, Judge, he specifically
    said that others and this Defendant brought
    contraband, tobacco, into the jail and there
    is no evidence of that.
    And I don't even believe        his   answer   is
    responsive to my question.
    The Court: Is there an objection then that the
    answer is non-responsive?
    [Defense Counsel]: Yes, Your Honor, but more
    than that, this; I attempted to interrupt him
    and Your Honor instructed me to allow him to
    go on . . .
    The Court: Because that's the problem.     You
    can, if you want a specific answer, than you
    have to frame the question, as you know. . . .
    You have to frame the question in the way to
    elicit the answer.    If the witness doesn't,
    then it's either non-responsive or the answer
    is a narrative . . . [Y]ou went on to ask him
    . . . how . . . do you . . . remember certain
    things more than others . . . that's what was
    behind your question.     So he gave you the
    answer that he gave you and he included a lot
    more. It just opened the door . . . for him
    to be able to respond the way he did.
    The State also relied on the testimony of other participants
    in the smuggling scheme. Dawson testified about his participation.
    Blakeney and Withers directly incriminated defendant.         Blakeney
    testified he came into contact with defendant though Withers, who
    gave Blakeney defendant's phone number.    Blakeney explained that
    defendant did not want to deal with Western Union, to avoid the
    paper trail.   In their first transaction, Blakeney gave defendant
    cash at a face-to-face meeting.      Defendant then purchased the
    9                             A-0933-16T3
    tobacco, while retaining a share of the money as his remuneration.
    Withers, the inmate, confirmed that defendant succeeded in buying
    the tobacco and smuggling it in.
    The    next   transaction      and    meeting   between     defendant   and
    Blakeney did not proceed as smoothly, because defendant had car
    problems.    Defendant agreed to accept a Western Union payment.
    Defendant     testified   on    his    own   behalf   and    claimed    that
    Blakeney's payments were gambling winnings.            He explained that his
    mother and sister lived in Newark, where his sister tended bar at
    the local American Legion post.           He testified that he met Blakeney
    there.   Blakeney ran a sports betting pool, in which a participant
    could win $1000 or $2000 on a $1 or $2 bet.
    Defendant testified that on December 22, 2013, he won $2,000
    in the pool. To claim his winnings, Blakeney agreed to send $1,000
    via Western Union and to give him $1,000 cash when they next saw
    each other in person.    But, Blakeney sent defendant $1,100 through
    Western Union.      Defendant claimed he went to the Western Union
    station in Newark that Blakeney used, to avoid paying a fee that
    would be charged if he obtained payment elsewhere.                 He insisted
    that his only contacts with Blakeney involved gambling.              Defendant
    denied participating in smuggling tobacco into the prison.
    Defendant also called character witnesses who corroborated
    defendant's claim that he bet on sports.
    10                                A-0933-16T3
    II.
    Defendant raises the following issues for our consideration:
    POINT I
    THE CONVICTIONS MUST BE REVERSED BECAUSE
    DEFENDANT WAS DENIED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
    TO CONFRONT HIS ACCUSERS WHEN THE STATE'S
    PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR WAS PERMITTED TO TESTIFY
    ABOUT INCULPATORY EXTRA-RECORD INFORMATION
    FROM A HOST OF UNKNOWN WITNESSES. U.S. Const.
    Amend VI; N.J. Const. Art. 1, Par. 10.
    POINT II
    THE BRIBERY CONVICTION MUST BE REVERSED
    BECAUSE THE JURY WAS ERRONEOUSLY PERMITTED TO
    RETURN A GUILTY VERDICT BASED ON A VIOLATION
    OF AN OFFICIAL DUTY WHEN NO SUCH DUTY EXISTED.
    (Not Raised Below).
    In a separate pro se brief, defendant presents the following
    additional points:
    POINT 1
    INDICTMENT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE INDICTMENT
    WAS NOT A CONCISE NOR DEFINITE WRITTEN
    STATEMENT, AND CHARGED DEFENDANT WITH AN ACT
    THAT WAS NOT A CRIME WITHIN TIME-FRAME ON FACE
    OF INDICTMENT. THUS, BY LEAVING TO INFERENCE
    ALLEGED   PARTICULARS,   INDICTMENT    VIOLATED
    DEFENDANT'S RIGHTS UNDER 6TH & 14TH AMENDMENTS
    OF   U.S.   CONSTITUTION,   AND    ARTICLE   1,
    PARAGRAPHS 8, 9, 10 OF N.J. CONSTITUTION,
    ALONG WITH BOTH FEDERAL & STATE EX POST FACTO
    LAWS.      THEREFORE    CONVICTION    MUST   BE
    OVERTURNED.
    POINT 2
    CONVICTION ON COUNT 4, SHOULD BE MERGED WITH
    CONVICTION ON COUNT 3.
    11                           A-0933-16T3
    POINT 3
    TRIAL COURT ERR[]ED WHEN IT ALLOWED USE OF
    LIMITED NUMBER OF RECORDED PHONE CONVERSATIONS
    WHICH PREJUDICED JURY AGAINST DEFENDANT IN
    VIOLATION OF DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL
    GUARANTEED   UNDER   BOTH   FEDERAL  &   STATE
    CONSTITUTIONS. THEREFORE CONVICTIONS MUST BE
    REVERSED AND NEW TRIAL ORDERED.      (Emphasis
    supplied).
    POINT 4
    INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.     OVERALL
    PERFORMANCE OF COUNSEL REVEALS COUNSEL WAS NOT
    ACTING AS COUNSEL BUT HELPED PROSECUTION TO
    CONVICT    DEFENDANT.       THUS,    COUNSEL'S
    REPRESENTATION     WORKED    TO    DEFENDANT'S
    DISADVANTAGE, VIOLATING DEFENDANT'S RIGHTS
    UNDER 5TH, 6TH & 14TH AMENDMENT OF U.S.
    CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 1, PARAGRAPHS 8, 9,
    10 OF N.J. CONSTITUTION. THEREFORE CONVICTION
    MUST BE OVERTURNED AND NEW TRIAL ORDERED.
    III.
    Only one point on appeal deserves extended discussion: the
    contention that Dolce's narrative on cross-examination violated
    defendant's constitutional right of confrontation.              Relying on
    State v. Branch, 
    182 N.J. 338
    (2005), and State v. Bankston, 
    63 N.J. 263
    (1973), defendant contends that "where the testimony of
    a   police   officer   suggests   that    a   non-testifying   witness   has
    provided evidence of the defendant's guilt, that testimony is
    hearsay and violates a defendant's right to confrontation."
    12                              A-0933-16T3
    We review the trial court's evidentiary decisions for an
    abuse of discretion.   State v. Scharf, 
    225 N.J. 547
    , 572 (2016).
    Thus, we shall not set aside the trial court's ruling absent a
    "clear error of judgment," or a "ruling so wide of the mark that
    a manifest denial of justice resulted."    State v. Prall, 
    231 N.J. 567
    , 580 (2018) (citations omitted).   However, even if we find an
    abuse of discretion "we must then determine whether any error
    found is harmless or requires reversal."   Ibid.; see also R. 2:10-
    2 ("Any error or omission shall be disregarded by the appellate
    court unless it is of such a nature as to have been clearly capable
    of producing an unjust result . . . .").
    The "'common thread'" of Bankston and Branch "is that a police
    officer may not imply to the jury that he possesses superior
    knowledge, outside the record, that incriminates the defendant."
    
    Branch, 182 N.J. at 351
    .     Additionally, "the hearsay rule is
    violated if the officer states or suggests that some other person
    provided information that linked the defendant to the crime."
    
    Ibid. Dolce's testimony certainly
    suggested that non-testifying
    witnesses implicated defendant in the smuggling scheme.   However,
    defendant invited this testimony by asking an open-ended question
    on cross-examination, and then failed to interpose a timely, well-
    13                           A-0933-16T3
    founded objection.    Further, any error was harmless given the
    other evidence of defendant's guilt.
    In response to defense counsel's open-ended question about
    what Dolce recalled of his investigation, Dolce explained that
    cooperating co-defendants stood out; they corroborated the overall
    conspiracy "to corrupt staff to smuggle items" into the prison;
    and they confirmed that the contraband entered the prison because
    "the coconspirators on the inside, had advised them that they had
    in fact received the items." Dolce testified "there was an officer
    that smuggled in items, as well as the defendant."       (Emphasis
    added).   Although the statement was arguably ambiguous, a listener
    could reasonably have understood Dolce to convey, based on what
    others told him, that defendant, as well as an officer, smuggled
    items into the prison.
    However, in one significant respect, this case differs from
    Bankston or Branch. Here, defense counsel elicited Dolce's hearsay
    testimony.   "Strategic decisions made by defense counsel will not
    present grounds for reversal on appeal."   State v. Buonadonna, 
    122 N.J. 22
    , 44 (1991).      The "invited error" doctrine "bar[s] a
    disappointed litigant from arguing on appeal that an adverse
    decision below was the product of error, when that party urged the
    lower court to adopt the proposition now alleged to be error."
    14                          A-0933-16T3
    N.J. Div of Youth and Family Servs. v. M.C. III, 
    201 N.J. 328
    , 340
    (2010).3
    The doctrine has been applied where, as here, a defendant
    claims that an investigating officer's testimony violated his
    confrontation rights.    In State v. Kemp, 
    195 N.J. 136
    , 154 (2008),
    the defendant argued that "'[t]he admission of specific hearsay
    evidence regarding other information inculpating [defendant] as a
    suspect denied him his right to . . . confrontation under both the
    United States and New Jersey Constitutions.'" The Court disagreed,
    explaining that "defense counsel specifically stated that the
    State could inquire as to the bases for Det. Gregory's knowledge,
    explaining that he saw 'no problem with that because I'm going to
    go into it because I think it's clearly coming in.'"       
    Id. at 155.
    The Court relied on the invited error doctrine to hold that there
    was no violation of the Confrontation Clause.      
    Ibid. Further, the Court
    explained that "all of the sources who led Det. Gregory to
    focus   on   defendant   testified    and   were   cross-examined      at
    defendant's trial, thereby obviating defendant's Confrontation
    Clause claim."   
    Ibid. Finally, the Court
    held that even if Det.
    Gregory's testimony implicated Bankston, "the totality of the
    3
    Although the State did not expressly invoke the doctrine, it
    adverted to its principles by arguing that defendant elicited
    Dolce's answer and "opened the door" to a response about which he
    now complains.
    15                             A-0933-16T3
    circumstances . . . leads to the conclusion that the admission of
    Det. Gregory's testimony . . . was harmless."                 
    Id. at 156.
    Federal    courts    agree        there     is   no   violation     of    the
    confrontation      clause   if    the     defendant     elicits    the   offending
    testimony.       In United States v. Parikh, 
    858 F.2d 688
    , 695 (11th
    Cir.    1988),     "defense      counsel         elicited    hearsay     from    the
    government's      witness,"      which    defendant      claimed   violated      his
    confrontation rights.       The court held, "[T]he admission of out of
    court statements by a government witness, when responding to an
    inquiry by defense counsel, creates 'invited error.'"                    
    Ibid. As another federal
    court held, "If . . . defense counsel elicits
    testimony at trial, the defendant can't argue on appeal that the
    evidence was hearsay and should have been excluded." United States
    v. Driver, 
    242 F.3d 767
    , 770 (7th Cir. 2001); see also United
    States v. Cabrera, 
    201 F.3d 1243
    , 1248-49 (9th Cir. 2000).
    Consistent with Kemp and persuasive federal authority, we
    conclude that, because counsel invited the hearsay testimony,
    defendant did not suffer a violation of his confrontation rights.
    Furthermore, defense counsel did not interpose a timely,
    well-founded objection.           "The right to confrontation may, of
    course, be waived, including by failure to object to the offending
    evidence."   Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 
    557 U.S. 305
    , 313 n.3
    (2009).    We find no basis in the record for defendant's argument
    16                                 A-0933-16T3
    that the court precluded an objection.            The record reflects that
    when defense counsel interrupted Dolce, he attempted to redirect
    the witness with another question, beginning with the word "Were."
    Counsel   did   not   address   the   court,     let    alone   articulate     an
    objection that Dolce's answer included hearsay.
    At   sidebar,    defense   counsel    first    objected     on   discovery
    grounds, a point defendant does not pursue before us.                 Upon the
    court's   suggestion,    counsel      endorsed     an   objection     for   non-
    responsiveness, but we discern no abuse of discretion in the
    court's negative response, given the breadth of the question.
    Notably, defendant never objected on the ground Dolce's answer was
    a narrative, although his open-ended question invited a narrative
    response.   See Biunno, Weissbard & Zegas, Current N.J. Rules of
    Evidence, cmt. 1 on N.J.R.E. 611 (2018) (stating that a trial
    judge "may properly seek to narrow questions which might evoke
    long narrative responses from the witness"); but see United States
    v. Pless, 
    982 F.2d 1118
    , 1123 (7th Cir. 1992) (noting that Fed.
    R. Evid. 611(a) authorizes judges to allow narrative testimony so
    long as it is pertinent and material).4
    4
    Narrative answers may be problematic because a witness may utter
    something objectionable without giving counsel an opportunity to
    enter a prior objection. However, a well-founded objection may
    be raised after the narrative statement. See State v. Farrior,
    
    14 N.J. Super. 555
    , 557-58 (App. Div. 1951).
    17                                A-0933-16T3
    In any event, any violation of defendant's confrontation
    right was harmless.     "When evidence is admitted that contravenes
    not only the hearsay rule but also a constitutional right, an
    appellate court must determine whether the error impacted the
    verdict."   State v. Weaver, 
    219 N.J. 131
    , 154 (2014).       The State's
    case did not depend on Dolce's passing statement, in the midst of
    a lengthy narrative.
    In   particular,   Dawson   testified   that    in   2013   he     began
    smuggling tobacco into the New Jersey State Prison.         This alerted
    the jury of the overall scheme before it heard from Dolce.             Dawson
    gave much more detailed testimony than the portion of Dolce's
    testimony about which defendant claims error. He explained exactly
    how he got the tobacco into the prison and he discussed the players
    involved, such as Blakeney.
    Blakeney   testified   that   defendant   was    involved    in       the
    conspiracy, specifically identifying him.      He gave details of his
    dealings with defendant, the amount of money he gave, the number
    of times they met, and the purpose of the meetings.              Although
    Blakeney had several prior felony convictions and was a cooperating
    co-defendant, which defense counsel elicited, the jury obviously
    found Blakeney more credible than defendant.
    Circumstantial evidence also implicated defendant.          The jury
    learned that Dolce traced numerous phone calls from Blakeney and
    18                                 A-0933-16T3
    Withers to defendant's girlfriend, Upshaw.           The Western Union
    receipt was also signed by defendant and Blakeney.           In sum, we
    reject defendant's argument that he is entitled to a new trial on
    the ground that his Confrontation Clause rights were violated.
    IV.
    The remaining issues warrant little or no discussion.             The
    State and defendant agree that defendant's conviction for third-
    degree   financial   facilitation    of   criminal   activity,   N.J.S.A.
    2C:21-25(b)(1), should merge with his conviction for second-degree
    bribery, N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2(c).   However, the merger does not affect
    the sentence.     On the second-degree bribery count, the court
    imposed a five-year term, with a five-year period of parole
    ineligibility as mandated by statute, see N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.5.
    Merger of the third-degree financial facilitation count, for which
    defendant received a lesser three-year concurrent term, does not
    affect defendant's aggregate sentence.
    Defendant also argues that he was denied effective assistance
    of counsel as a result of defense counsel's cross-examination of
    Dolce.   "Our Supreme Court has 'expressed a general policy against
    entertaining ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims on direct
    appeal because such claims involve allegations and evidence that
    lie outside the trial record.'"      State v. Quixal, 
    431 N.J. Super. 502
    , 512 (App. Div. 2013) (quoting State v. Preciose, 
    129 N.J. 19
                               A-0933-16T3
    451, 460 (1992)).      Therefore, we shall not pass on the potential
    success of such claim, but leave it for a petition for post-
    conviction relief if defendant chooses to file a future one.
    Furthermore,    we    reject      defendant's      contention       that      the
    second-degree     bribery     conviction       must    be      reversed     because
    defendant, as a civilian instructor, did not breach an official
    duty.     One of the elements of second-degree bribery in official
    or   political    matters    is   the    acceptance      of      "any   benefit       as
    consideration for violation of an official duty of a public servant
    or party official."        N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2(c).          Defendant admitted at
    trial that smuggling tobacco would violate one of his official
    duties.     The jury was free to conclude, based on the evidence
    presented,     that   defendant      was     dutibound      to    observe       prison
    regulations,     although    he   was    not   directly       involved    in     their
    enforcement.
    Defendant's remaining arguments lack sufficient merit to
    warrant discussion in a written opinion.              R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
    Affirmed as to the conviction.            Remanded for correction of
    the judgment of conviction.
    20                                     A-0933-16T3