STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. GERY F. DESTRA (15-09-1971, ESSEX COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) ( 2020 )


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  •                                       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    NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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.
    SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
    APPELLATE DIVISION
    DOCKET NO. A-4142-17T4
    STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
    Plaintiff-Respondent,
    v.
    GERY F. DESTRA,
    Defendant-Appellant.
    ____________________________
    Submitted May 28, 2020 – Decided June 16, 2020
    Before Judges Fuentes, Haas and Enright.
    On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
    Division, Essex County, Indictment No. 15-09-1971.
    Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
    appellant (Stefan Van Jura, Assistant Deputy Public
    Defender, of counsel and on the brief).
    Theodore N. Stephens II, Acting Essex County
    Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (Lucille M.
    Rosano, Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting
    Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
    PER CURIAM
    On September 3, 2015, an Essex County grand jury returned an eight-
    count indictment charging defendant with two counts of first-degree aggravated
    sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1) (counts one and two); three counts of
    second-degree sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b) (counts three, four, and five);
    third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(7) (count six); and two
    counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)
    (counts seven and eight).
    Following a multi-day trial, the jury found defendant guilty of counts one,
    four, six, seven, and eight. 1 The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict
    on counts two and five.
    At sentencing, the trial judge granted the State's motion to dismiss counts
    two and five. The judge then sentenced defendant to twenty-five years in prison
    on count one, with a twenty-five-year period of parole ineligibility pursuant to
    the Jessica Lunsford Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2. The judge also sentenced defendant
    to a consecutive four-year term on count four, and concurrent terms on the
    remaining counts. 2 Finally, the judge placed defendant on parole supervision
    1
    Prior to deliberations, the trial court granted the State's motion to dismiss
    count three of the indictment.
    2
    Thus, defendant's aggregate sentence was twenty-nine years, subject to the
    parole ineligibility term discussed above.
    A-4142-17T4
    2
    for life and ordered him to comply with the registration requirements of Megan's
    Law, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2.
    On appeal, defendant raises the following contentions:
    POINT I
    IMPROPER ADMISSION OF -- AND INSTRUCTION
    ON -- "TENDER YEARS" EVIDENCE DEPRIVED
    DEFENDANT OF DUE PROCESS AND A FAIR
    TRIAL, AND REQUIRES REVERSAL OF THE
    CONVICTIONS. (Not Raised Below).
    A.    The Failure of the Trial Court to Hold a Hearing
    on the Admissibility of Tender Years Evidence
    Through [The Victim's Mother] Requires
    Reversal of the Convictions.
    B.    The Inadequate and Erroneous Instruction on the
    Use of Tender Years Evidence Requires Reversal
    of the Convictions.
    POINT II
    THE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CONVICTION
    SHOULD BE REVERSED BECAUSE THE STATE
    PRESENTED NO EVIDENCE FROM WHICH A
    REASONABLE JURY COULD FIND SIGNIFICANT
    BODILY INJURY.
    POINT III
    DEFENDANT'S FIRST STATEMENT SHOULD
    HAVE BEEN SANITIZED BECAUSE REFERENCES
    TO [THE DIVISION OF YOUTH AND FAMILY
    A-4142-17T4
    3
    SERVICES[3]] REMOVING HIM FROM HIS HOME
    AND PROHIBITING HIM TO BABYSIT HIS
    YOUNG NIECE IMPLIED A FINDING OF GUILT.
    (Not Raised Below).
    POINT IV
    IF THE CONVICTIONS ARE NOT REVERSED, THE
    MATTER MUST BE REMANDED FOR A
    RESENTENCING PROCEEDING IN WHICH THE
    TERM OF IMPRISONMENT ON COUNT SIX IS
    ORDERED TO RUN CONCURRENT WITH THE
    TERM OF IMPRISONMENT ON COUNT ONE.
    After reviewing the record in light of the contentions advanced on appeal
    and the applicable law, we affirm defendant's conviction and sentence.
    I.
    When A.R. (Amy) 4 was six and seven years old, she lived with her mother
    and stepfather, but would regularly visit her biological father, who resi ded on
    the second floor of a two-family home. Defendant, who was a nineteen-year-
    old high school student, lived on the first floor of that residence with his family,
    3
    This agency is now known as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency
    (DCPP).
    4
    Pursuant to Rule 1:38-3(c)(12), we use pseudonyms to refer to the victim, the
    victim's mother, A.C. (Audrey), and the victim's friend, S. (Sally), to protect the
    victim's privacy.
    A-4142-17T4
    4
    including his niece, Sally. Amy visited her father's house approximately four
    times per week, and she and Sally would often play together during these visits.5
    On April 22, 2015, Amy's mother, Audrey dropped Amy off at her father's
    home so she could run some errands. When Audrey returned to pick Amy up,
    she saw Amy say goodbye to Sally, but not to defendant. Audrey had never seen
    defendant at the house before.
    Audrey testified that she thought it was "weird" that Amy did not say
    goodbye to defendant because she is a "very chipper . . . happy kid," so she asked
    Amy who defendant was. Audrey explained that Amy's body language changed
    when she questioned the child about the defendant. She testified that Amy
    "started feeling cold, like started feeling funny," and Audrey became concerned
    that something happened between defendant and her child.
    On the car ride home, Audrey asked Amy if anyone had touched her
    private parts. Amy responded that she knew she could tell Audrey if anything
    happened. Audrey then told Amy, "if you're lying you're going to get beaten"
    and "it's very important that you tell me these things." Audrey explained that
    she made this statement because she knew "something wasn't right."
    5
    Sally was approximately three years older than Amy.
    A-4142-17T4
    5
    Amy told Audrey that defendant choked her, and he also threatened to
    choke her if she did not let him touch her "butt." Amy also revealed that
    defendant makes her "suck on his private parts" and that "white stuff come[s]
    out."
    Audrey became angry and drove back to the home to confront defendant.
    Defendant denied any inappropriate behavior and told Audrey that he had a
    girlfriend and did not "need to mess with no little girl." Audrey then called the
    police, who took her and Amy to the station to make a report.
    The Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) then came to
    Audrey's house, and when the workers left, Audrey took Amy to the hospital. A
    few days later, hospital personnel informed Audrey that Amy had chlamydia.
    Detective Eric Serio of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Special
    Victims Unit testified that he conducted a forensic interview of Amy on April
    23, 2015. The interview was video-recorded and played for the jury.
    During the interview, Amy stated that defendant touches her "bottom" and
    her "boom boom"—meaning her vagina—with his "private" and takes out his
    "private" and "put[s] it in my mouth." Amy said that defendant would pull her
    pants down and touch his private on her bottom with her underwear on, and also
    put his private in her bottom. She stated that it "didn't feel good," and that he
    A-4142-17T4
    6
    had done this more than ten times. Amy also said that defendant put his private
    in her "boom boom" more than three times, and that defendant put his private in
    her mouth more than ten times. Amy added that when defendant put his private
    in her mouth, "white stuff would come out" and go in her mouth, and that it
    "taste[d] like pee." Amy told Detective Serio that defendant would call her into
    his room when no one was home, and if she did not obey him, he would choke
    her. Amy also reported that Sally saw defendant choking her on one occasion.
    Amy said defendant told her not to tell anyone what he was doing to her.
    Audrey was the first person Amy told about the assaults. She told her mother
    because her mother said she would beat her if she did not tell the truth, "so I told
    the truth." Amy could not recall when the first or last time the inappropriate
    touching happened, but she believed she was six years old when it started. Amy
    told Detective Serio that defendant was the only person who did this to her.
    Amy was nine years old when she testified at trial and her testimony was
    consistent with what she reported to her mother and the police on April 22, and
    23, 2015. Amy testified she told her mother that defendant told her "to put his
    thing in my mouth." Amy stated that this occurred more than five times and that
    "white stuff" would come out of defendant's "private" and go "in [her] mouth."
    A-4142-17T4
    7
    Amy stated that when she would visit the home to see her father, defendant
    would call her into his bedroom, and she would kneel on the bed. Amy explained
    that defendant would "put his hand on my neck and, then pull[] it forward" so
    "he could put my mouth [on] his private." Amy also testified that on one
    occasion, defendant was watching "something nasty" on television, which
    depicted "people that put their private in their butt and in their mouth."
    An emergency room physician who examined Amy on April 22, 2015,
    testified that his examination revealed no signs of trauma to Amy's vagina or
    rectum. However, he explained that children generally heal quickly, and the
    absence of tears or other injury to the tissue did not mean abuse had not occurred.
    On April 29, 2015, defendant voluntarily accompanied police to the police
    station and, after waiving his Miranda6 rights, he provided a statement, which
    was video-recorded and played for the jury. Defendant stated he knew Amy
    because she played with his niece, Sally. However, he denied ever touching or
    choking Amy and stated she was not allowed in his room.
    Defendant agreed to provide the police with a urine sample before leaving
    the station.    Defendant later submitted to additional testing for sexually
    6
    Miranda v. Arizona, 
    384 U.S. 436
    (1966).
    A-4142-17T4
    8
    transmitted diseases at the emergency room. A nurse practitioner testified that
    defendant tested positive for chlamydia.     The nurse practitioner stated that
    although there are different strains of chlamydia, he was not aware of any
    screening test that could be used to determine whether one person's case of
    chlamydia matched another person's strain of the disease.
    Armed with this information, the police arrested defendant on May 6,
    2015. According to the detectives who arrested and later interviewed defendant,
    he did not appear to be under the influence of any illicit substances. At the
    police station, defendant waived his Miranda rights and gave a video-recorded
    statement to the detectives, which was played at the trial.
    At first, defendant denied that he touched, had sex with, or was ever alone
    in the house with Amy. However, as the interrogation continued, defendant
    admitted to numerous sex acts with Amy, but claimed that Amy initiated all the
    encounters.
    According to defendant, the first incident occurred when Amy entered
    defendant's bedroom after he had gotten out of the shower. Amy saw his penis,
    asked what it was, and touched it.      Defendant told her to leave the room.
    Defendant claimed that Amy soon returned, put his penis in her mouth and
    A-4142-17T4
    9
    sucked on it for five seconds. Defendant said he did not ejaculate and again told
    the child to leave the room.
    After that incident, defendant explained that Amy would come into his
    room and try to lie on top of him and pull his pants down. One time, Amy pulled
    defendant's pants down when he was on the couch in the living room watching
    television, and started to suck his penis.
    Defendant told the detectives that on a third occasion, Amy entered his
    bedroom while he was watching pornography and masturbating. He stated that
    the child saw the pornography on the television. Defendant left the room to
    clean himself after he climaxed and returned to find Amy on his bed. Defendant
    stated that the young child pulled his pants down and started sucking his penis.
    Defendant told the detectives he ejaculated on the child's face. Defendant later
    admitted he had called the child to come into his room as he watched
    pornography, pulled his own pants down, and encouraged the child to suck his
    penis.
    Defendant said that on yet another occasion, Amy entered his room, took
    her clothes off, and got into bed with him. He stated that Amy put her butt
    against him and rubbed it against his penis and he pulled her closer to him.
    A-4142-17T4
    10
    Defendant initially denied having vaginal intercourse with Amy.
    However, he stated that she rubbed her vagina close to his penis and that his
    penis bent rather than entering her vagina. Defendant later admitted it was
    possible that his penis "accidentally" slipped into Amy's vagina. He then told
    the detectives that he had penetrated the child with the tip of his penis.
    Defendant claimed that the vaginal penetration occurred just that one time, after
    which he refused Amy's advances.
    Defendant denied that he ever choked Amy. Instead, defendant alleged
    that Amy grabbed him around the neck and choked him when he tried to remove
    her from his lap. He said he had to pinch her hand to get her to release her grip
    and forcibly remove her.
    Defendant testified on his own behalf and denied he had any physical
    interactions with Amy. Defendant stated that he had not been truthful in his
    second interview with the police, because he was threatened by the detectives
    and believed they would not let him go unless he told them what they wanted to
    hear. He also claimed he was under the influence of Xanax when he gave the
    statement. On cross-examination, however, defendant admitted he told the
    detectives during both of his statements that he did not feel threatened or
    coerced, and understood he could stop the interviews at any time.
    A-4142-17T4
    11
    II.
    In Point I.A. of his brief, defendant argues that his convictions must be
    reversed because the trial judge failed to hold a hearing on the admissibility of
    the tender years evidence that the State introduced through Audrey's testimony.
    While the judge erred by not conducting a N.J.R.E. 104 7 hearing concerning
    Audrey's testimony, we are satisfied that the error was harmless in light of other
    strong evidence of defendant's guilt.
    We begin our analysis with the language of the tender years exception to
    the hearsay rule. N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) states:
    A statement by a child under the age of 12 relating to
    sexual misconduct committed . . . against that child is
    admissible in a criminal . . . proceeding if (a) the
    proponent of the statement makes known to the adverse
    party an intention to offer the statement and the
    particulars of the statement at such time as to provide
    the adverse party with a fair opportunity to prepare to
    meet it; (b) the court finds, in a hearing conducted
    pursuant to Rule 104(a), that on the basis of the time,
    content and circumstances of the statement there is a
    probability that the statement is trustworthy; and (c)
    . . . the child testifies at the proceeding . . . .
    In interpreting this evidence rule, our Supreme Court has made clear that
    7
    "N.J.R.E. 104(a) provides the vehicle for the court to conduct a hearing to
    determine the admissibility of evidence that is subject to a condition before the
    evidence may be introduced at trial." State in Interest of A.R., 
    234 N.J. 82
    , 87
    n.2 (2018).
    A-4142-17T4
    12
    [b]efore admitting a child's out-of-court statement
    pursuant to N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27), the trial court must
    make certain findings at a [N.J.R.E.] 104 hearing. The
    court must determine whether "on the basis of the time,
    content and circumstances of the statement there is a
    probability that the statement is trustworthy." N.J.R.E.
    803(c)(27). The statement's admissibility is also
    conditioned on either the child testifying or, if the child
    is unavailable as a witness, on the presentation of
    "admissible evidence corroborating the act of sexual
    abuse."
    Ibid. . . .
    The admissibility of a child's
    testimonial statement, therefore, will be conditioned on
    the child taking the stand. State v. P.S., 
    202 N.J. 232
    ,
    249 (2010) (noting the admissibility of child victim's
    statement is conditioned on not only "judicial finding
    of trustworthiness," but also "opportunity to cross-
    examine the child at trial" (quoting State v. R.B., 
    183 N.J. 308
    , 318 (2005)); see also State v. D.G., 
    157 N.J. 112
    , 124 (1999).
    
    [A.R., 234 N.J. at 102-03
    .]
    Thus, the trial court must conduct a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing to evaluate the
    proposed tender years testimony and if it determines to admit the testimony in
    evidence, the court must make the required finding that "on the basis of the time,
    content and circumstances of the statement there is a probability that the
    statement is trustworthy." N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27).
    The trial proceedings in this matter began on September 20, 2017, when a
    recall judge transferred this matter to the trial judge for trial. On that day, the
    prosecutor gave the trial judge a copy of her pretrial memorandum. In the
    A-4142-17T4
    13
    memorandum, the State advised the defense that it intended to rely upon
    N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) to introduce the testimony of Detective Serio concerning
    the forensic interview he conducted with Amy, and the testimony of Audrey in
    connection with her discovery that defendant sexually assaulted the child. The
    prosecutor asked for a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing for both witnesses.
    At that point in the proceedings, the judge had begun conducting a
    Miranda hearing to address defendant's motion to suppress the two statements
    he made to the police. Therefore, no further action was taken on September 20,
    2017 on the tender years evidentiary issues.
    The parties convened before the judge again on September 27, 2017. At
    that time, the witness needed for the Miranda hearing was not available and,
    instead, defense counsel had defendant take the stand to confirm his decision to
    proceed with the trial in lieu of entering a plea.
    The next day, September 28, 2017, the Miranda hearing continued.
    During a late afternoon break in the proceedings, the parties and the judge began
    the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing concerning Amy's forensic interview with Detective
    Serio. They also agreed that jury selection could start on October 3, 2017 after
    the two hearings were finished. Neither the parties nor the judge mentioned the
    A-4142-17T4
    14
    State's still-pending oral application to determine the admissibility of Audrey's
    tender years testimony.
    The parties returned to court on October 3, 2017 and completed the
    Miranda hearing and the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing on the admissibility of the
    forensic interview. At that point, defendant withdrew his objection to the
    admissibility of Detective Serio's tender years testimony.8 On October 3, 2017,
    the judge entered a written order finding "that on the basis of time, content and
    circumstances of [the forensic video interview (FVI)] statement[,] there is a
    probability that the statement is trustworthy and the FVI of [Amy] will be
    admissible contingent upon the testimony of [Amy] at trial[.]"
    The parties and the judge then proceeded with jury selection and, after the
    jury was chosen, the judge scheduled the trial to begin one week later, on
    October 10, 2017. If there was any further discussion between the parties and
    the court concerning Audrey's tender years testimony during this one-week
    hiatus, there is no record of it in the materials supplied to us on appeal.
    On October 10, 2017, the parties returned to court. As the proceedings
    began, the prosecutor submitted a letter memorandum in support of the State's
    8
    Defendant also withdrew his objection to the admissibility of his first
    statement to the police, and the judge rejected his objections to the introduction
    of his second statement.
    A-4142-17T4
    15
    motion to admit Amy's disclosure of sexual abuse to Audrey under N.J.R.E.
    803(c)(27). Defense counsel acknowledged his receipt of the memorandum, but
    raised no objection to the motion. The prosecutor told the judge t hat Audrey
    had not yet arrived at the courthouse and was still "[seven] minutes away."
    While that statement may be an indication that the prosecutor anticipated that
    the required N.J.R.E. 104 hearing would be held as soon as Audrey arrived, the
    judge instead brought the jury into the courtroom to begin the trial.
    Once the jury was sworn, the judge gave the jurors her preliminary
    instructions, and then directed the parties to make their opening statements.
    When the attorneys concluded their remarks, the prosecutor requested a sidebar
    conference. The prosecutor told the judge that Audrey had arrived, and asked
    the judge, "so how do you want to do this?" Again, the record gives us no clear
    indication whether the prosecutor was referring to excusing the jur y and
    beginning the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing, or whether she meant the commencement
    of the trial testimony. The judge instructed the prosecutor to "bring [Audrey]
    in." The prosecutor stated, "And in front of the jury we'll do the - - in front of
    the jury we'll do the - -[,]" and the judge replied, "The jury can sit." Neither the
    prosecutor nor defense counsel raised an objection to permitting Audrey to
    testify before the jury.
    A-4142-17T4
    16
    The prosecutor then called Audrey as her first witness, and Audrey
    testified in front of the jury concerning Amy's disclosures to her. The matter
    was then adjourned until the next day, and the trial continued from that point
    forward. Sometime on October 10, 2017, however, the judge issued a written
    order finding "that on the basis of time, content and circumstances of [Amy's
    statement to Audrey,] there is a probability that the statement is trustworthy and
    will be admissible as a tender years exception to the hearsay rule[,] N.J.R.E.
    803(c)(27)."
    While the record contains no explanation for the judge's decision to
    proceed in this fashion, it is clear that the judge erred by admitting Audrey's
    testimony concerning Amy's disclosures without first conducting a N.J.R.E. 104
    hearing as required by N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27). We are also convinced that we must
    consider this issue even though the error was not brought to the attention of the
    trial judge.   See R. 2:10-2 (stating that "[a]ny 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.").
    At the outset, we note that the judge's mistake here was not a "structural
    error" that would automatically require a reversal. "A structural error . . . is a
    'structural defect[] in the constitution of the trial mechanism, which def[ies]
    A-4142-17T4
    17
    analysis by harmless-error standards.'" State v. Camacho, 
    218 N.J. 533
    , 549
    (2014) (second and third alterations in the original) (quoting Arizona v.
    Fulminante, 
    499 U.S. 279
    , 309-10 (1991)). Structural errors "are so intrinsically
    harmful as to require automatic reversal . . . without regard to their effect on the
    outcome."
    Ibid. (quoting Neder v.
    United States, 
    527 U.S. 1
    , 7 (1999))
    (alteration in original).
    Here, the judge's mistake was a "trial error" that has been "defined as an
    'error which occurred during the presentation of the case to the jury,' and
    therefore may 'be quantitatively assessed in the context of other evidence
    presented in order to determine whether it was harmless beyond a reasonable
    doubt.'"
    Id. at 547
    (quoting 
    Fulminate, 499 U.S. at 307-08
    ). As the Supreme
    Court recently stated:
    An evidentiary error will not be found "harmless"
    if there is a reasonable doubt as to whether the error
    contributed to the verdict. State v. McLaughlin, 
    205 N.J. 185
    , 211-12 (2011) (citing [State v.] Macon, 57
    N.J. [325,] 338 ](1971))]. The prospect that the error
    gave rise to an unjust result "must be real [and]
    sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt as to whether [it]
    led the jury to a verdict it otherwise might not have
    reached." State v. Lazo, 
    209 N.J. 9
    , 26 (2012) (second
    alteration in original) (quoting [State v.] R.B., 183 N.J.
    [308,] 330 [2005]). As the Court noted in [State v.]
    W.B., "[c]onvictions after a fair trial, based on strong
    evidence proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,
    should not be reversed because of a technical or
    A-4142-17T4
    18
    evidentiary error that cannot have truly prejudiced the
    defendant or affected the end result." 205 N.J. [588,]
    614 [(2011)].
    [State v. J.R., 
    227 N.J. 393
    , 417 (2017).]
    The Supreme Court applied the harmless error standard in D.G. to reverse
    the defendant's conviction in a case where the trial court failed to conduct an
    N.J.R.E. 104 hearing and failed to make any of the findings required by N.J.R.E.
    803(c)(27) prior to the admission of the tender years testimony of the child
    victim's 
    aunt. 157 N.J. at 127-28
    . In that case, the defendant did not make a
    confession to the police, and he "denied that any sexual contact occurred" during
    his trial testimony.
    Id. at 122.
    On the other hand, the victim repeatedly recanted
    her accusations against the defendant, which forced the prosecutor to impeach
    the victim on the witness stand.
    Id. at 128.
    In addition, the victim "made
    identical allegations against her natural father."
    Ibid. Under these circumstances,
    the Court held that the judge's error could not be considered
    harmless in light of the victim's overall lack of credibility and, instead, required
    the reversal of the defendant's convictions.
    Id. at 127-28.
    We reached a similar conclusion in State v. W.L., Sr., 
    292 N.J. Super. 100
    (App. Div. 1996), a case which the Supreme Court cited with approval in its
    D.G. opinion. 
    D.G., 157 N.J. at 127-28
    . In W.L., the trial judge also failed to
    A-4142-17T4
    19
    conduct a hearing or make the findings required by N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) before
    admitting the tender years 
    testimony. 292 N.J. Super. at 117-18
    . There, as in
    D.G., the court found that "the vital issue of guilt was exceedingly close and any
    error that could have appreciably tipped the credibility scale would have to be
    regarded as plain error" requiring the reversal of the defendant's conviction.
    
    W.L., 292 N.J. Super. at 117
    (internal citation and quotation omitted). As in
    D.G., the defendant in W.L. did not confess to committing the offenses prior to
    trial, and both of the child victims gave conflicting accounts of the alleged abuse
    to DYFS workers during their investigation.
    Id. at 104-05.
    In addition, we
    identified other critical errors, including the improper admission of expert
    testimony and inappropriate remarks made by the prosecutor in his opening and
    closing statements that also warranted the reversal of the verdict.
    Id. at 118.
    On the other hand, in State in the Interest of S.M., 
    284 N.J. Super. 611
    ,
    621 (App. Div. 1995), we found that the judge's failure to hold the N.J.R.E. 104
    hearing was harmless in a non-jury setting where the defendant failed to object,
    and the trial court made findings at the conclusion of the trial that made it clear
    that the court determined the statements were trustworthy.
    Applying these principles, we conclude that the judge's error in admitting
    Audrey's testimony was harmless under the totality of the idiosyncratic
    A-4142-17T4
    20
    circumstances presented in this case. Here, the State's proofs can fairly be
    described as overwhelming.         Amy testified at the trial and her account of
    defendant's actions remained consistent both on direct and cross-examination.
    Unlike in D.G., the child never recanted any of her accusations, the prosecutor
    had no need to attempt to impeach her testimony, and Amy remained steadfast
    in her claim that defendant was the only individual who harmed her.
    The State also presented the statements Amy made during Detective
    Serio's forensic video. These statements mirrored Amy's testimony at trial,
    including her explanation of how she came to first disclose defendant's assaults
    to her mother.
    Defendant confessed to the assaults and described what occurred in detail.
    Although he claimed at trial that he lied to the police because he was under the
    influence of Xanax and just wanted to go home, the police observed no signs of
    intoxication. In addition, defendant admitted on cross-examination that he told
    the detectives he did not feel threatened or coerced, and understood he could
    stop the interviews at any time.
    Both defendant and Amy tested positive for chlamydia. Defendant argued
    to the jury that the State should have attempted to perform additio nal tests to
    determine whether he and the child had the same strain of the disease. However,
    A-4142-17T4
    21
    the nurse practitioner who testified at trial stated he was unaware of any
    screening test that could accomplish this, and defendant presented no testimony,
    expert or otherwise, on this subject.
    Under these circumstances, we are unable to conclude that the judge's
    failure to conduct a hearing prior to the admission of Audrey's testimony
    changed the result of defendant's trial. The jury heard Amy's explanation for
    her disclosure through Detective Serio's testimony and the child's own
    statements on the witness stand. The jurors also heard defendant's confession
    and his attempt to recant it at trial. As in S.M., the judge was aware that she
    needed to ensure that Amy's statements to Audrey were trustworthy as evidenced
    by the findings included in her belated October 10, 2017 order.
    In short, when the evidence is viewed in its entirety, it is clear that the
    judge's error concerning the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing was not clearly capable of
    producing an unjust result. Therefore, we reject defendant's contention to the
    contrary.
    While this record does not warrant the reversal of defendant's conviction,
    we would be remiss if we did not comment on some of the problems inherent in
    the approach adopted by the trial court in addressing the pretrial issues involved
    in this case. Rule 3:9-1(e) clearly requires the court to conduct pretrial hearings
    A-4142-17T4
    22
    "to resolve issues relating to the admissibility of statements by defendant, . . .
    sound recordings, and motions to suppress shall be held prior to the [p]retrial
    [c]onference" required by Rule 3:9-1(f). (emphasis added). The purposes
    underlying the rule are clear.
    First, it provides a technique for substantially
    expediting the conduct of the trial itself. The evidence
    questions covered by the rule ordinarily involve the
    taking of testimony outside the presence of the jury, and
    these voir dire hearings, if conducted during the trial,
    impair the continuity of trial as well as substantially
    imposing upon the time of the jurors.               More
    significantly, these determinations, if made prior to jury
    selection, constitute interlocutory determinations
    which may be appealable by the State. This procedure
    also provides a more meaningful opportunity for a
    defendant to seek leave to appeal from the adverse
    determination.
    [Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 6
    on R. 3:9-1 (2020).]
    In addition to these considerations,
    adverse determinations of such questions, when they
    constitute, in effect, the sole defense, may result in a
    defendant's decision to plead guilty, and, if he or she
    wishes to appeal the ruling, entering a conditional plea
    pursuant to and in accordance with [Rule] 3:9-3(f).
    Finally, both parties are able to more effectively
    prepare their cases for trial if they know, by pretrial
    determination, which evidence will be inadmissible.
    [Ibid.]
    A-4142-17T4
    23
    As we observed over ten years ago,
    [w]ithout [these] pre-trial determination[s], a defendant
    is left in the dark about a critical part of the State's
    proofs against him. A defendant is entitled to know, in
    advance of trial, the full arsenal of evidence the State
    has amassed against him, including whether the State
    can legally present to the jury statements he may have
    made to the police. Such knowledge is not only
    indispensable to formulate a sound defense strategy at
    trial, but it is also essential in assisting a defendant in
    making the decision to accept or reject a prosecutor's
    plea-agreement offer. R. 3:9-1(b), (e).
    [State v. Elkwisni, 
    384 N.J. Super. 351
    , 360 n.3 (App.
    Div. 2006), aff’d, 
    190 N.J. 169
    (2007).]
    Moreover,
    [t]he State is also prejudiced if a determination as to the
    admissibility of a defendant's statements is not made
    before trial. Without advance notice of what evidence
    will be admitted at trial, the prosecutor: (1) is unable
    to assess rationally the strengths and weaknesses of the
    State's case; and (2) risks creating grounds for a
    mistrial, by unknowingly advising the jury, in the
    course of his/her opening statement, of information the
    court may subsequently determine to be inadmissible.
    [Ibid.]
    Here, the judge began the proceedings on September 20, 2017 by
    immediately starting the Miranda hearing without providing any explanation
    other than that another judge had transferred the case to her for trial. After
    discovering a problem in the videotape replay system, the judge conducted the
    A-4142-17T4
    24
    pretrial conference. That conference should not have been held until after the
    pretrial hearings had been fully scheduled or completed.         See R. 3:9-1(f)
    (requiring that the pretrial conference should not be held until "all motions have
    been decided or scheduled"). One week later, the judge prematurely conducted
    the plea cut-off, before resuming the Miranda hearing on September 28, 2017.
    The Miranda hearing and the N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) hearing for Detective Serio
    were not completed until October 3, 3017.
    As the apparent result of these uncoordinated managing efforts, the judge
    failed to schedule or conduct a N.J.R.E. 104 hearing to determine the
    admissibility of Audrey's tender years testimony. While the State had identified
    the need for a hearing on September 20, 2017, it did not submit its memorandum
    in support of the motion until after the jury had already been selected and the
    trial was about to begin on October 10, 2017. After the parties completed their
    opening statements, it appeared that the prosecutor may have believed the judge
    would next conduct the N.J.R.E. 104 hearing, but the judge instead instructed
    the prosecutor to call Audrey as a witness before the jury. Neither the prosecutor
    nor defense counsel objected and the judge never conducted the hearing required
    by N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27).
    A-4142-17T4
    25
    While we understand that the judge was asked to step in for another judge
    to conduct a trial in this case, the matter should thereafter have been managed
    in accordance with the clear requirements of Rule 3:9-1. As we have concluded,
    the judge's error in failing to conduct the N.J.R.E. 104 was harmless beyond a
    reasonable doubt under all of the circumstances of this case. However, this
    mistake could have been entirely avoided had the judge simply followed the
    legal roadmap provided by the Rules of Court.
    Accordingly, we strongly caution trial judges that the unintended,
    negative consequences that may flow from a lack of adherence to the pretrial
    procedures and calendaring requirements of Rule 3:9-1 certainly outweigh any
    minor inconveniences a brief delay in the start of a trial to ensure full compliance
    may engender.
    III.
    In Point I.B. of his brief, defendant also argues for the first time that the
    judge's instruction to the jury on the tender years testimony was "inadequate and
    erroneous." We disagree.
    Jury instructions "must provide a 'comprehensible explanation of the
    questions that the jury must determine, including the law of the case applicable
    to the facts that the jury may find.'" State v. Montalvo, 
    229 N.J. 300
    , 320 (2017)
    A-4142-17T4
    26
    (quoting State v. Singleton, 
    211 N.J. 157
    , 181-82 (2012)).         If there is no
    objection when the jury instruction is given, "there is a presumption that the
    charge was not in error and was unlikely to prejudice the defendant's case."
    Ibid. (quoting Singleton, 211
    N.J. at 182). Because defendant did not object to the
    judge's tender years testimony instruction, we review the judge's determination
    under a plain error standard.
    Ibid. There is no
    Model Jury Instruction for the tender years hearsay exception.
    When there is no available model instruction, "the better practice is to mold the
    instruction in a manner that explains the law to the jury in the context of the
    material facts of the case." State v. Tierney, 
    356 N.J. Super. 468
    , 482 (App.
    Div. 2003) (quoting State v. Concepcion, 
    111 N.J. 373
    , 379 (1988)).
    As noted in Section II of this opinion, N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) provides that
    statements by children relating to sexual misconduct committed against them
    when they were under the age of twelve may be admitted at trial if there is a
    probability that the statement are trustworthy. To explain this concept to the
    jury in this case, the judge gave the jurors the following instruction:
    But first we will discuss what is referred to as
    tender years. A statement by a child under the age of
    [twelve] relating to sexual misconduct with or against
    the child is admissible in a criminal proceeding [i]f,
    among other considerations, it is determined that [on]
    the basis of the time, content and circumstances of the
    A-4142-17T4
    27
    statement[,] there's a probability that the statement is
    trustworthy. Here[,] [Audrey] testified on statements
    allegedly made to her by the victim, [Amy], on
    allegations of criminal conduct by the defendant.
    Det[ective] Serio testified regarding the forensic
    video interview conducted by Det[ective] Serio with
    the seven[-]year[-]old victim, [Amy], where [Amy]
    made allegations of criminal conduct by the defendant.
    As jurors[,] you may give such weight to the testimony
    as you deem it entitled.
    Contrary to defendant's contentions on appeal, the instruction did not
    improperly imply that the judge had found that either Audrey's or Detective
    Serio's testimony had been credible or trustworthy.           Instead, the judge
    specifically referred to their testimony as mere "allegations" and she told the
    jurors they should "give such weight to the testimony as [they] deem it entitled."
    We also note that the judge gave additional instructions to the jurors on
    the issue of witness credibility. For example, the judge instructed the jurors that
    they were "the sole and exclusive judges of the evidence, of the credibility of
    the witnesses and the weight to be attached to the testimony of each witness."
    The judge gave similar instructions during her final charge to the jury at the
    conclusion of the trial.
    "[I]n reviewing any claim of error relating to a jury charge, the 'charge
    must be read as a whole in determining whether there was any error’ . . . ."
    A-4142-17T4
    28
    State v. Gonzalez, 
    444 N.J. Super. 62
    , 70-71 (App. Div. 2016) (quoting State v.
    Torres, 
    183 N.J. 554
    , 564 (2005)).        Applying this standard, we detect no
    reversible error in the judge's instructions on the tender years instruction to the
    jury. The instruction adequately explained the law to the jurors as stated in
    N.J.R.E. 803(c)(27) and advised them, consistent with the overall charge as a
    whole, that they were the sole judges of the credibility of Audrey's and Detective
    Serio's testimony concerning the statements Amy made to them.
    IV.
    In Point II of his brief, defendant asserts that the judge erred by denying
    his motion for a judgment of acquittal on the third-degree aggravated assault
    charge (count six) at the conclusion of the trial. Defendant argues that the State
    failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove he caused significant injury to the
    child victim when he choked her for refusing to accede to his assaults and to
    force her to do so. Again, we disagree.
    A motion for acquittal must be granted "if the evidence is insufficient to
    warrant a conviction." R. 3:18-1.
    On a motion for judgment of acquittal, the governing
    test is: whether the evidence viewed in its entirety, and
    giving the State the benefit of all of its favorable
    testimony and all of the favorable inferences which can
    reasonably be drawn therefrom, is such that a jury could
    A-4142-17T4
    29
    properly find beyond a reasonable doubt that the
    defendant was guilty of the crime charged.
    [State v. D.A., 
    191 N.J. 158
    , 163 (2007) (citing State v.
    Reyes, 
    50 N.J. 454
    , 458-59 (1967)).]
    We have stated that "the trial judge is not concerned with the worth,
    nature[,] or extent (beyond a scintilla) of the evidence, but only with its
    existence, viewed most favorably to the State." State v. DeRoxtro, 327 N.J.
    Super. 212, 224 (App. Div. 2000) (quoting State v. Kluber, 
    130 N.J. Super. 336
    ,
    341 (App. Div. 1974)). Our review of a trial court's denial of a motion for
    acquittal is "limited and deferential," and is governed by the same standard as
    the trial court. State v. Reddish, 
    181 N.J. 553
    , 620 (2004).
    Applying these standards, we conclude that the State presented sufficient
    proofs at trial concerning the aggravated assault charge to survive defendant's
    motion for a judgment of acquittal. A person is guilty of aggravated assault
    under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(7) "if the person . . . causes significant bodily injury
    purposely or knowingly." "'Significant bodily injury' means bodily injury which
    creates a temporary loss of the function of any bodily member or organ or
    temporary loss of any of the five senses." N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1(d).
    Here, the child victim testified that defendant choked her on numerous
    occasions by putting his hand around her neck when she refused to obey his
    A-4142-17T4
    30
    sexual demands. Amy told Detective Serio that defendant choked her if she
    refused to come when he called her into his room. She also stated that on one
    of these occasions, Sally saw defendant choking her. At trial, Amy testified that
    defendant would put his hand on her neck and pull it forward to force her to put
    his penis into her mouth. Amy also reported these assaults to her mother.
    Defendant's use of these chokeholds on the child obviously caused a
    temporary loss of a bodily function, namely, Amy's ability to breathe, and
    therefore fell within the intendment of the statutory language of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-
    1(b)(7) and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1(d). Therefore, we discern no basis for disturbing
    the judge's decision denying defendant's motion for a judgment of acquittal on
    the aggravated assault charge.
    V.
    In Point III, defendant argues for the first time on appeal that because he
    and a detective mentioned that DYFS had initiated an investigation into his
    involvement with Amy during his first interview with the police on April 29,
    2015, and this statement was admitted into evidence, his convictions must be
    reversed. This argument lacks merit.
    In his April 29 statement, defendant told the detective that a DYFS worker
    advised him he could not continue to live in the house and babysit Sally while
    A-4142-17T4
    31
    the investigation was pending. Defendant also said that the worker asked him
    if he had touched the child or if she "gave [him] oral sex[.]" Defendant told the
    worker "no," and further stated that he never even let Amy come in his room.
    Prior to the trial, the judge held a Miranda hearing concerning both of
    defendant's statements to the police. After the hearing was completed, defendant
    withdrew his objection to the admission of the April 29 statement.9 In addition,
    defendant did not object to the statement when it was played to the jury at the
    trial. Further, when defendant testified during the trial, his attorney referred to
    the statement on direct examination in order to allow defendant to tell the jury
    that he had denied the allegations from the outset. However, defendant now
    asserts that the judge erred by failing to sua sponte redact the references to
    DYFS from the statement.
    As noted above, when a party argues for the first time on appeal that an
    error occurred during trial, we analyze the argument under the plain error
    standard. R. 2:10-2. Applying that standard, we perceive no error, much less
    reversible error, in the admission of defendant's unredacted, April 29 statement.
    The references to DYFS were fleeting. The prosecutor never referred to DYFS
    during her questioning of the witnesses or during her summation. Moreover,
    9
    The judge found that defendant's May 6, 2015 statement was admissible.
    A-4142-17T4
    32
    defendant was able to use the statement to support the overall defense strategy
    that defendant had consistently denied all of the allegations of abuse as soon as
    they were raised. Under these circumstances, we reject defendant's contention
    on this point.
    VI.
    Finally, defendant argues in Point IV that his sentence was excessive. We
    disagree.
    Trial judges have broad sentencing discretion as long as the sentence is
    based on competent credible evidence and fits within the statutory framework.
    State v. Dalziel, 
    182 N.J. 494
    , 500 (2005). Judges must identify and consider
    "any relevant aggravating and mitigating factors" that "are called to the court's
    attention" and "explain how they arrived at a particular sentence." State v. Case,
    
    220 N.J. 49
    , 64-65 (2014) (quoting State v. Blackmon, 
    202 N.J. 283
    , 297
    (2010)). "Appellate review of sentencing is deferential," and we therefore avoid
    substituting our judgment for the judgment of the trial court.
    Id. at 65;
    accord
    State v. O'Donnell, 
    117 N.J. 210
    , 215 (1989); State v. Roth, 
    95 N.J. 334
    , 365
    (1984).
    We are satisfied the judge made findings of fact concerning aggravating
    and mitigating factors and the imposition of consecutive sentences that were
    A-4142-17T4
    33
    based on competent and reasonably credible evidence in the record, and applied
    the correct sentencing guidelines enunciated in the Code. Accordingly, we
    discern no basis to second-guess the sentence.
    Affirmed.
    A-4142-17T4
    34