State of New Jersey v. Zakeem D. Brown

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-2125-21

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

ZAKEEM D. BROWN,

a/k/a ZIGGY,

Defendant-Appellant.

_______________________

Argued November 1, 2023 – Decided November 28, 2023

Before Judges Firko and Susswein.

On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law

Division, Mercer County, Docket No. 17-04-0196.

Rochelle Mareka Amelia Watson argued the cause for

appellant (Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender,

attorney; Elizabeth C. Jarit, of counsel and on the

briefs; Rochelle Mareka Amelia Watson, of counsel

and on the brief).

Lauren Cohen argued the cause for amicus curiae

American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and

Rutgers Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic (Alexander

Shalom and Jeanne LoCicero, attorneys, on the brief;

Laura Cohen, of counsel and on the brief).

Colin J. Rizzo, Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause

for respondent (Angelo J. Onofri, Mercer County

Prosecutor, attorney; Colin J. Rizzo, of counsel and on

the brief).

PER CURIAM

Defendant Zakeem Brown appeals from an August 20, 2018 Law Division

order denying his motion to suppress incriminating statements he made to

detectives investigating a homicide. Defendant, who was seventeen years old at

the time of the homicide and ensuing custodial interrogation, eventually pled

guilty in adult court to an amended charge of first-degree aggravated

manslaughter. He argues the interrogating detectives violated his Miranda1

rights by imposing restrictions on his mother's participation in the interrogation,

abrogating her role as a buffer and advisor. He claims, for example, that

detectives encouraged her to remain quiet. Defendant further claims that when

she left the interrogation room at defendant's request, she was neither offered a

chance to monitor the electronically-recorded interrogation, nor advised that she

could return to the interrogation room at any time. Defendant further argues he

was not afforded an opportunity to consult privately with her after the Miranda

1

Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

A-2125-21

2

warnings were administered. Nor was he informed of his right to ask his mother

to return to the interrogation room after he asked her to step out.

After reviewing the record in light of the arguments of the parties and the

governing legal principles, and after carefully considering the totality of relevant

circumstances that militate for and against a finding of voluntariness, we

conclude the State failed to meet its heavy burden of proving beyond a

reasonable doubt that defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his Miranda

rights. Although no one circumstance categorically compels suppression, we

conclude the cumulative effect of the police tactics regarding the parent's

participation in the interrogation creates a reasonable doubt as to the

voluntariness of defendant's incriminating statements.

We therefore reverse the denial of the suppression motion and vacate his

conviction. We reject, however, defendant's request—which is joined by amici

American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and the Rutgers Criminal and

Youth Justice Clinic (collectively, defense amici)—that we create a new per se

rule requiring that juveniles consult with appointed counsel before waiving

Miranda rights.

I.

A-2125-21

3

In April 2017, defendant was charged by indictment with first-degree

murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(1); first-degree robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1(a)(1);

first-degree felony murder, N.J.S.A 2C:11-3(a)(3); second-degree unlawful

possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1); and second-degree possession

of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a)(1).

In September 2017, defendant moved to suppress incriminating statements

he made to police during the electronically-recorded custodial interrogation.

The suppression hearing was convened on August 20, 2018. At the conclusion

of the hearing, the motion court issued an oral opinion concluding that

defendant's Fifth Amendment rights had not been violated.

On January 7, 2020, defendant pled guilty to first degree murder.

However, on February 19, 2020, defendant moved to withdraw his guilty plea.

That motion was granted in April 2021.

In September 2021, the State moved to dismiss the counts charging felony

murder, first-degree robbery, and second-degree unlawful possession of a

weapon. The case proceeded to trial on the remaining counts charging

knowing/purposeful murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful

purpose. A mistrial was declared after the jury could not reach a unanimous

verdict.

A-2125-21

4

On December 7, 2021, defendant pled guilty to an amended charge of

aggravated manslaughter pursuant to a plea agreement. 2 On February 25, 2022,

defendant was sentenced to a twenty-year prison term subject to the No Early

Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.

Defendant raises the following contentions for our consideration:

POINT I

THE POLICE OBTAINED STATEMENTS IN

VIOLATION OF THE PROTECTIONS REQUIRED

OF JUVENILE INTERROGATIONS AND AS A

RESULT OF PROHIBITED INTERROGATION

TACTICS, INCLUDING BY ENCOURAGING

DEFENDANT'S MOTHER TO ALLOW THE

INTERROGATION OF HER CHILD IN HER

ABSENCE AND BY REQUESTING THAT SHE

REFRAIN FROM INTERVENING DURING

QUESTIONING.

A. The State Failed To Establish That The

Waiver And Subsequent Statements Were Made

Knowingly, Intelligently, And Voluntarily Under

Presha And Its Progeny. 3

B. Alternatively, This Case Demonstrates That

Juveniles Must Be Provided Counsel During

Custodial Interrogations In Order To Fully

Protect Their Constitutional Rights.

2

As part of his guilty plea, defendant preserved the right to appeal the denial

of the motion to suppress his statement to police. See R. 3:9-3(f).

3

State v. Presha, 163 N.J. 304 (2000).

A-2125-21

5

POINT II

RESENTENCING IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE

COURT'S REASONS FOR FINDING

AGGRAVATING FACTORS LACKED BASES

GROUNDED IN ANY EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD,

AND THE REJECTION OF MITIGATION

EVIDENCE IS CONTRARY TO SETTLED LAW.

Amici raise the following contentions:

POINT I

DUE TO THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL

IMMATURITY, YOUNG PEOPLE FACE UNIQUE

AND SIGNIFICANT RISKS DURING CUSTODIAL

INTERROGATIONS.

A. Ongoing Brain Development Negatively

Affects Adolescents' Judgment And Decision-

Making, Especially In Stressful Situations.

B. Young People Are Less Able to Understand

And Knowingly, Intelligently, And Voluntarily

Waive Their Legal Rights Than Adults.

C. Developmental Immaturity Breeds False

Confessions.

D. Youth Of Color Are More Vulnerable to

Standard Police Interrogation Techniques And

More Likely To Waive Their Constitutional

Rights Involuntarily Than White Youth.

POINT II

A-2125-21

6

IN LIGHT OF THESE VULNERABILITIES, YOUTH

MUST BE AFFORDED ACCESS TO AND

CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL BEFORE

BEING ASKED TO WAIVE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS.

A. Parental Presence Is Inadequate Protection For

Children Subjected To Police Interrogation.

B. Consultation With Counsel Is A Sine Qua Non

Of Valid Miranda Waivers By Youth.

II.

We discern the following facts from the suppression hearing. Because we

must consider the totality of the circumstances in determining whether defendant

knowingly and voluntarily waived his right against self-incrimination, we

recount the facts in considerable detail. The State relied on the testimony of one

of the interrogating officers, Detective Robert Booth, the electronic recording

of the stationhouse interrogation, see R. 3:17, and a recording of the police

colloquy with defendant's mother after she left the interrogation room.

On May 11, 2016 at approximately 9:50 p.m., the victim, Ricardo Montalvan

Jr., was shot and killed while sitting in a vehicle in the area of Whittaker Avenue

in Trenton. Police officers responded to the scene and located Divon Ray hiding

under a car nearby. Officers obtained security camera footage near the scene of

the crime that showed two individuals, later determined to be Ray and defendant.

A-2125-21

7

Ray admitted to police that he and another individual were in the vicinity of

the shooting. Initially, Ray refused to name the other person. After being shown

photographs, he identified defendant as the other individual. Ray told police

that after spotting the victim sitting in his vehicle, defendant used a gun to take

the victim's cell phone while Ray stood nearby.

On May 16, 2016, defendant and his mother, Latoya Brown (Latoya) 4

were brought to the homicide task force office. Once at the office, Detective

Booth and Detective Nancy Diaz initially spoke privately with Latoya. Booth

informed Latoya that they wished to speak with defendant and told her, "because

he's a juvenile, we want to – we need your permission to speak with him."

The following exchange then occurred between Latoya and the detectives:

Detective Booth: [W]hat we want to avoid, is—is us

talking to your—to your son without your knowledge.

That being said, when we do speak with him, he—he

has every right, just like an adult, as far as it goes with

[Miranda]. You know, right to remain silent and ̶ and

all the enumerated [Miranda] rights. However, because

he is a juvenile . . . you're his guardian. Correct?

[Latoya]: Yes, I am.

Detective Booth: So you'd have to speak with him. And

we'd let you explain those rights to him, if—if you

wanted to.

4

Because defendant and his mother share the same last name, we use her first

name to avoid confusion. We mean no disrespect in doing so.

A-2125-21

8

[Latoya]: Yes.

Detective Booth: Okay. We'd like to interview him.

Sometimes I've had experience where it goes—where

it's more fruitful when a—a guardian is in the room and

sometimes better— better when a guardian is not there.

(Inaudible)

[Latoya]: No, it's going to go better with me in the

room. And I'm going to tell him if he did something,

he need to own up to it or if he knows something, he

need to tell it. Because he know I don't play. I don't

play.

Detective Booth: The only thing I—I'd ask is, when we

do start speaking with him, you—we'll bring him in.

You'll be sitting right there. He will be present. When

we do start speaking with him, if you let us

Detective Diaz: Yeah. Just

Detective Booth: do our job.

Detective Diaz: Right. As much as you can contain

yourself to try to—you know, allowing us to speak to

him, but let us do the interview. I mean, honestly,

you're going to be there, but let us talk to him. Okay?

Detective Booth: Okay. You said last week— well. . .

we'll get to that when we get to that. Let's—let's step

out. We'll get him to come in and then I'll read to—

there's a form I got to read to him and to you and I'll

have you both sign those rights that—that I was talking

about.

[Latoya]: Okay.

Detective Diaz: Then we'll talk about it. Okay?

A-2125-21

9

Detective Booth: Do you have any questions before we

start?

[Latoya]: Uh-huh. I have none.

Detective Booth: Okay. All right. Give me a minute. I

appreciate your cooperation, too. I know this is—this

is a difficult situation, but right now, you know, we'll

—we'll do what we can right now to . . . minimize this

situation and go from there. Okay?

[Latoya]: Uh-huh.

Detective Booth: If at any time you do have a question

or anything, just let me know.

[Latoya]: Uh-huh.

Detective Booth: All right. Thanks.

Defendant was then brought into the interrogation room and informed of

his rights in the following colloquy:

Detective Booth: All right, guys. Sorry to (inaudible),

you know, wake you up like this and to disturb you on

this morning. I was just explaining to your mom that I

wanted to speak with you about a few different things.

In order for me to do that, because you are 17, your

mom has to be present or she has to sign off on—on a

form that says that I can speak with you without her

permission (sic). She's elected to be present so there's

a couple—there's a little bit of paperwork that goes

along with that. We are going to get through that and

then I'm sure you guys are—are anxious to see what we

want to ask you about.

A-2125-21

10

[Latoya]: Uh-huh. I'm sure he is.

....

Detective Booth: Okay. [Defendant], before you—

yeah. I'm going to read you these rights, these Miranda

rights. At any time if you have any questions or you

don't understand anything, either of you, please let me

know. Okay. Before we ask you any questions, you

must understand your rights. You have the right to

remain silent. Do you understand that?

Defendant: Yes.

[Latoya]: Uh-huh.

Detective Booth: Okay. Anything you say may be

used—used against you in court. Do you understand

that?

Defendant: Uh-huh.

Detective Diaz: Okay.

Detective Booth: Yes. Okay. You have the right to talk

to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions

and have him with you during questioning. Do you

understand that?

Defendant: (Inaudible).

Detective Booth: I need you to say yes.

Defendant: Yes.

[Latoya]: Yes.

A-2125-21

11

Detective Booth: Okay. If you cannot afford an

attorney, one will be appointed for you before any

questioning if you wish. Do you understand that?

Defendant: Yes.

[Latoya]: Yes.

Detective Booth: Okay. If you decide to answer

questions now without a lawyer present, you will still

have the right to stop answering at any time. You also

have the right to stop answering at any time until you

talk to a lawyer. Do you understand that?

Defendant: Yes.

[Latoya]: Yes.

Detective Booth: Okay. All right. This one says I

acknowledge that I've been advised of the rights listed

above. I understand my rights and am willing to waive

them and speak with the police. Are there any

questions that you guys have?

[Latoya]: Nope.

Defendant: No.

Detective Booth: Okay. What I'm going to do is I'm

going to have [defendant] sign this. If you guys wish

to waive your rights, I'm going to have him sign it and

I'm going to have you sign it right below. Okay?

[defendant], I'm going to have you sign that right there.

And, mom, I'm going to have you sign that there.

[Latoya]: Underneath him?

Detective Diaz: Right here.

A-2125-21

12

Police eventually revealed to defendant that they were investigating a

shooting, and that there was a "video of [defendant and Ray] walking from this

location intermittently to that location. . . . [a]nd . . . there's a video camera that

captures the incident. . . . it looks like a robbery that goes bad."

Defendant claimed he was not in the area of Elmer and Whittaker, but

rather was on Hamilton Avenue walking towards the vicinity of Monmouth

Street when he heard shots that he believed at the time were firecrackers.

Defendant was unclear if he was by himself or with a person whom he identified

as Roman.

The following exchange then occurred:

Detective Booth: Okay. Okay. [Defendant], what you

just told me is moot. Here's the thing. We talked to a

lot of people. That's my job, I talk to people. Right.

And, unfortunately or fortunately, a lot of times when I

talk to people, they don't tell me the truth right away.

And I understand that.

However, after talking with so many people, you

kind of get to learn who is telling the truth and who's

not. And right now you're not telling the truth. Okay.

I'm pretty sure mom knows this, because mom

probably knows—

Detective Diaz: That—you better than anybody.

A-2125-21

13

Detective Booth: —if you're—you're telling the truth

better than—than we do. Right? But that's—that's the

issue that we have. Now from what I can tell, okay,

whatever happened that night probably got out of hand.

All right. Whatever happened, you probably didn't

mean it to happen, but it happened. Okay. Now the

question isn't what happened or who did what. The

question is where do we go from here. All right.

Detective Diaz: Uh-huh.

Detective Booth: How old are you?

Defendant: Seventeen.

Detective Booth: You are [seventeen] years old.

You've got the rest of your life –

Detective Diaz: Your whole life ahead of you.

Detective Booth: —ahead of you.

[Latoya]: Uh-huh.

Detective Booth: Okay. I don't want this incident or

you not telling the truth about this incident to affect,

you know, the—the rest of your life. Do you

understand what I'm saying? So it's real important that

you—you know, I'm not going to lie to you. Okay. I

don't want you to lie to me. All right. We already know

what happened.

Detective Diaz: Uh-huh.

Detective Booth: We already know, basically,

everything about it. Right now we want to speak with

you and we want you to clarify a few things. Okay.

And we want to—we want to get this, you know, to

A-2125-21

14

where I can say you came in here and from that point

on, you know, mistakes were made, but here the truth

came out. Okay. And we can move on with this and

put this behind us. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Can you tell me exactly what happened that night?

Defendant: Um. Me and . . . Divon met up with —

[Latoya]: Hold on. Would you like me to step out?

Defendant: Huh? Yeah.

Detective Booth: Is that what you want?

Detective Diaz: (Inaudible). Do you (inaudible)

[Latoya]: If he's—if this is what's going [to] happen,

then I don't—he don't want to hurt me.

Detective Booth: I understand.

[Latoya]: I know he don't want . . . to hurt me.

Detective Booth: I understand.

[Latoya]: So I don't want him to hurt me either.

Detective Diaz: And let me say something

Detective Booth: Okay.

Detective Diaz: —to you before, I think that you're

going to do the right thing. It sounds like you're going

to tell us the truth, like he said. This woman has

sacrificed a lot for you. Okay. And the fact that you

see her hurting here, you owe her that. Okay. You owe

her to—to tell the truth. Not to sit here and lie because

I don't think that's the way she raised you. Correct?

A-2125-21

15

Defendant: Uh-huh.

Detective Diaz: Okay. So . . . tell us what really

happened that night. Because we already know. We

just need you to tell us and clarify some things for us.

Okay?

Defendant: Uh-huh.

Detective Diaz: She doesn't want to be here anymore,

I'm going to step out with her. I'll come back in, but

give her that respect. Okay?

Detective Booth: Do you want to—

Detective Diaz: Give me a second.

([Latoya] escorted out of room by Detective Diaz).

Detective Booth: Listen, I know this is tough.

Whatever I can do to help you out in this situation,

okay, I'll do. All right. That being said, I wasn't lying

when I said we need to know the truth about what

happened.

Following this exchange, defendant made numerous incriminating

statements. He claimed, for example, that on a prior occasion, the victim along

with other assailants "jumped" him.

Defendant then admitted:

We stopped right there. Divon was like that's Ricky

right there. I was like where. And he was like right

there, whatcha gonna do. I'm like I'm going to scare

him. As soon as I said that, Divon—I'm like, bro,

A-2125-21

16

remember me. And he was like, oh, shit. And then

when I said that, Divon said—yelled my name, and it—

it startled me and like, boom and the second time boom.

I hurried up and put it down, like I threw it down

because I ain't really mean to— I ain't mean to shoot at

him or nothing. I was just trying to just scare him, like.

Like, oh, yeah, stop messing—you're gonna stop

messing with him. Boom. Because he jumped me

multiple times and he keep jump—he jumped me every

other—every chance they get. And I'm not running. I

don't be running from them, so.

III.

Following testimony and arguments from counsel, the judge issued an oral

decision from the bench. The judge summarized defendant's contentions. First,

"defendant argue[d] that the detectives improperly told [Latoya] that she

should—she should not interfere or interject herself into the interrogation."

Next, "defendant argue[d] that [Latoya] was also not separately advised of her

rights as a parent to act on her son's behalf . . . . [and] the detectives improperly

used [Latoya] . . .to clarify certain facts." Defendant also contended that

"detectives improperly 'pounded on the opportunity' to question defendant

without [Latoya]'s presence after she offered to leave." Finally, defendant

contended that Latoya failed to give consent to detectives to speak to defendant

without her present when she went into another room, prior to defendant's

confession.

A-2125-21

17

The motion judge rejected those contentions and found defendant made a

knowing and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights. The judge found "the

detective's instruction that [Latoya] not interject too often had little to no bearing

on the defendant's ability to understand his rights or to waive them."

The judge also considered the impact of Latoya leaving the interrogation

room, explaining:

[Latoya] clearly offered to leave the room so that her

son might feel more comfortable telling the truth. It

was just after this that the defendant finally gave a more

detailed account of his role and ultimately confessed to

the shooting. This [c]ourt is required to take in[to]

account the fact that [Latoya] left the interrogation

room as a highly significant factor in its analysis of the

totality of circumstances. However, similar to cases of

Q.N. [5] and Presha, [Latoya] left the room after which

she enabled her son to tell the truth. As such, the [c]ourt

takes no issue with this in this case.

This appeal followed.

IV.

We begin our analysis by acknowledging the legal principles governing

this appeal, starting with the foundational principle that the scope of our review

of a suppression hearing is limited. See State v. Handy, 206 N.J. 39, 44-45

(2011). We "must uphold the factual findings underlying the trial court's

5

State ex rel. Q.N., 179 N.J. 165, 173 (2004).

A-2125-21

18

decision so long as those findings are supported by sufficient credible evidence

in the record." Id. at 44 (quoting State v. Elders, 192 N.J. 224, 243 (2007)).

"An appellate court 'should give deference to those findings of the trial judge

which are substantially influenced by his [or her] opportunity to hear and see

the witnesses and to have the "feel" of the case, which a reviewing court cannot

enjoy.'" Elders, 192 N.J. at 244 (quoting State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146, 161

(1964)).

In contrast to the deference we owe to a trial court's factual and credibility

findings, we review a trial court's legal conclusions de novo. S.S., 229 N.J. at

380. Because issues of law "do not implicate the fact-finding expertise of the

trial courts, appellate courts construe the Constitution, statutes, and common law

de novo—with fresh eyes—owing no deference to the interpretive conclusions

of trial courts, unless persuaded by their reasoning." Ibid. (internal quotation

marks omitted) (quoting State v. Morrison, 227 N.J. 295, 308 (2016)); see also

Manalapan Realty, L.P. v. Twp. Comm. of Manalapan, 140 N.J. 366, 378 (1995)

(noting that appellate courts are not bound by a trial court's interpretations of

the "legal consequences that flow from established facts"). In the event of a

mixed question of law and fact, we review a trial court's determinations of law

A-2125-21

19

de novo but will not disturb a court's factual findings unless they are "c learly

erroneous." State v. Marshall, 148 N.J. 89, 185 (1997).

Turning to substantive legal principles, the right against self-incrimination

is "[o]ne of the most fundamental rights protected by both the Federal

Constitution and state law. . . . " State v. O'Neill, 193 N.J. 148, 167 (2007). It

is well-settled that "[c]onfessions obtained by the police during a custodial

interrogation are barred from evidence unless the defendant has been advised of

his or her constitutional rights." State v. Knight, 183 N.J. 449, 461 (2005). A

waiver of the constitutional right against self-incrimination must be voluntary,

knowing, and intelligent. Ibid. (citing Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444).

The standard for reviewing the validity of a waiver is especially strict

under New Jersey law, which provides criminal suspects greater protections than

are afforded under the United States Constitution. In State v. Erazo, our

Supreme Court reaffirmed that "[w]ith respect to the trial court's admission of

police-obtained statements, . . . an appellate court 'should engage in a "searching

and critical" review of the record to ensure protection of a defendant's

constitutional rights.'" 254 N.J. 277, 297 (2023) (quoting State v. Hreha, 217

N.J. 368, 381-82 (2014)). Importantly, moreover, our law requires the State to

prove a valid waiver beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. O.D.A.-C., 250 N.J.

A-2125-21

20

408, 420 (2022). Federal law, in contrast, requires proof the waiver was valid

by the much lower preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. Ibid. (quoting

Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 168 (1986)).

When determining whether the State satisfied its burden that a waiver was

knowing, intelligent and voluntary, a court must consider the "totality of the

circumstances," which includes factors such as the defendant's "age, education

and intelligence, advice concerning constitutional rights, length of detention,

whether the questioning was repeated and prolonged in nature, and whether

physical punishment or mental exhaustion was involved." Knight, 183 N.J. at

462-63 (quoting State v. Galloway, 133 N.J. 631, 654 (1993)). Additionally, a

court may consider the defendant's "previous encounters with law enforcement,

and the period of time between 'administration of the [Miranda] warnings and

the volunteered statement.'" Id. at 463 (alteration in original) (quoting State v.

Timmendequas, 161 N.J. 515, 614 (1999)).

Importantly for purposes of this appeal, the standard for establishing a

valid waiver of Miranda rights is heightened when juveniles are subjected to

custodial interrogation. State in Int. of A.A., 240 N.J. 341, 354 (2020). Our

courts recognize that "juveniles – teenagers and children alike – are typically

less mature, often lack judgment and are generally more vulnerable to pressure

A-2125-21

21

than adults." Ibid. (citing J.D.B. v. North Carolina, 546 U.S. 261, 272-73

(2011)). Consequently, "the greatest care must be taken" to assure that

a juvenile's statement during custodial interrogation is voluntary, "in the sense

not only that it was not coerced or suggested, but also that it was not the product

of ignorance of rights or of adolescent fantasy, fright or despair." In re Gault,

387 U.S. 1, 55 (1967).

In Presha, our Supreme Court held that juvenile interrogees have the right

to have a parent or guardian present when Miranda warnings are administered.

163 N.J. at 322 (2000). The Court explained,

[w]hen younger offenders are in custody, the parent

serves as a buffer between the juvenile, who is entitled

to certain protections, and the police, whose

investigative function brings the officers necessarily in

conflict with the juvenile's legal interests. Parents are

in a position to assist juveniles in understanding their

rights, acting intelligently in waiving those rights, and

otherwise remaining calm in the face of an

interrogation.

[Presha, 163 N.J. at 315 (citing Gallegos v. Colorado,

370 U.S. 49, 54 (1962)).]

In A.S., the Court further commented, "'[t]he role of a parent in the context

of a juvenile interrogation takes on special significance,' because '[i]n that

circumstance, the parent serves as advisor to the juvenile, [and] someone wh o

A-2125-21

22

can offer a measure of support in the unfamiliar setting of the police station."

203 N.J. at 147 (alterations in original) (quoting Presha, 163 N.J. at 314).

In A.A., the Court recently confirmed "[t]he protections outlined in Presha

remain good law." A.A., 240 N.J. at 358. The Court announced further

guidance, ruling that "[t]he police should advise juveniles in custody of their

Miranda rights – in the presence of a parent or legal guardian – before the police

question, or a parent speaks with, the juvenile." Id. at 358. Furthermore, the

Court instructed that police should then "give parents or guardians a meaningful

opportunity to consult with the juvenile in private about those rights." Ibid. The

Court emphasized that "[i]f law enforcement officers do not allow a parent and

juvenile to consult in private, absent a compelling reason, that fact should weigh

heavily in the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the juvenile's

waiver and statements were voluntary." Id. at 359.

However, our Supreme Court has never announced a categorical rule with

respect to the participation of a parent in a custodial interrogation of a seventeen-

year-old interrogee. The absence of a parent or legal guardian will not

automatically render a statement inadmissible, particularly when the juvenile

providing the statement is over the age of fourteen. See Presha, 163 N.J. at 308,

317; see also State ex rel. A.S., 203 N.J. 131, 148-49 (2010). Instead, an

A-2125-21

23

interrogation may be conducted without parental participation so long as the

officers act with "the utmost fairness and in accordance with the highest

standards of due process and fundamental fairness." Presha, 163 N.J. at 317

(first quoting S.H., 61 N.J. 108, 115 (1972); then citing State v. R.W., 115 N.J.

Super. 286, 296 (App. Div. 1971)).

We add that the parental participation rule announced in Presha, and

recently restated in A.A., does not displace the totality-of-the-circumstances test

but rather is a critical part of it. The A.S. Court stressed that point, explaining,

"the presence of a parent is a 'highly significant factor' in the totality of the

circumstances analysis contemplated by Presha . . . ." 203 N.J. at 154 (emphasis

in original).

V.

We next apply these basic Fifth Amendment principles to the matter

before us. We first address defendant's contention the detectives' pre -

interrogation discussion with Latoya functioned to abrogate her role as a buffer

and advisor to defendant.

While speaking to Latoya, Booth commented that while he needed her

permission to speak to defendant and she could be in the room, it was

"sometimes better -- better when a guardian is not there." Furthermore, Diaz

A-2125-21

24

instructed Latoya that while she could be in the interrogation room, she must

"contain [her]self to try to -- you know, allowing us to speak to him, but let us

do the interview. I mean honestly, you're going to be there, but let us talk to

him." (emphasis added).

We conclude the admonition to "contain yourself" and "let us talk to him"

improperly encroached upon her role as a buffer by limiting her participation,

suggesting she should be a mere spectator and refrain from interrupting police

questioning. We acknowledge from the context of the conversation that the

detectives may have been concerned that Latoya might assume the role of

interrogator and that their instruction that she "contain herself" and "let us do

the interview" was meant to safeguard rather than denigrate defendant's Fifth

Amendment rights. See State in the Int. of M.P., 476 N.J. Super. 242, 267 (App.

Div. 2023) ("The actual role played by a parent during a stationhouse

interrogation—whether as a "buffer" or instead as an adjunct law enforcement

interrogator—is a fact-sensitive question to be determined on a case-by-case

basis."). But we do not focus on the officers' subjective intent. See State v.

Diaz, 470 N.J. Super. 495, 523-24 (App. Div. 2022), leave to appeal denied, 251

N.J. 8 (2022) ("We emphasize that under the analytical approach we follow in

this case, we do not focus on the detectives' subjective intent but rather on the

A-2125-21

25

reasonably likely impact of their overall conduct on defendant's understanding

of his true status and predicament."). Rather, we consider the potential effect

the detectives' comments might have had on Latoya's understanding of her role

in the interrogation room.

We are troubled the detectives' instructions to Latoya before the

interrogation could have discouraged her from intervening and posing questions

to the interrogating detectives, and not just to refrain from posing substantive

questions to her son. We conclude the detectives essentially asked her to be

more passive during the interrogation without clearly explaining that she was

under no obligation to "let [the officers] do the interview." Indeed, they failed

to convey that in her role as a buffer and advisor, she had the right throughout

the interrogation to protect her son from the questions posed to him. Given the

allocation of the burden of proof, moreover, we construe any ambiguity as to the

meaning and impact of the detective's pre-interrogation remarks to Latoya

against the State, leading us to conclude that the pre-interrogation discussion

militates against a finding that the ensuing waiver of constitutional rights was

knowing and voluntary.

We are even more concerned that the detectives did not provide an

opportunity for mother and son to discuss privately whether to waive Miranda

A-2125-21

26

rights after they were administered. We reiterate and stress that the Court in

A.A. held that "[i]f law enforcement officers do not allow a parent and juvenile

to consult in private, absent a compelling reason, that fact should weigh heavily

in the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the juvenile's waiver

and statements were voluntary." 240 N.J. at 359. Here, the State offers no

compelling reason to excuse the failure to allow for a private consultation.

We add that in M.P., we determined the guidance announced in A.A. has

retroactive effect, noting,

[t]he guidance provided in A.A. was a logical extension

of Presha. Furthermore, as the State acknowledges, the

Court did not create a per se rule requiring police to

allow for the interrogee and parent to consult privately

after the warnings are read but before Miranda rights

are waived. Instead, the pronouncement in A.A. was

stated as "guidance" as to what police "should" do. 240

N.J. at 358. Relatedly, the Court held that the failure to

provide an opportunity for private consultation after

Miranda warnings are administered is a relevant

circumstance that "should weigh heavily" in a

reviewing court's totality-of-the circumstances

analysis. Id. at 359. The Court did not suggest, much

less hold, that any such failure automatically triggers

the exclusionary rule as if, for example, the police had

omitted a warning. Identifying a particular factor to be

considered as part of an inherently holistic test hardly

"breaks new ground." See Teague [v. Lane], 489 U.S.

[288,] 301 [1989]. To the extent A.A. amplified the

existing totality-of-the-circumstances test, rather than

mandated a new rule of police procedure, its rationale

A-2125-21

27

should be given retroactive effect. See [State v.] Feal,

194 N.J. [293,] 308 [2008].

[M.P., 476 N.J. Super. at 293.]

At oral argument before us, the State acknowledged this portion of M.P., stating

it would not argue against retroactive application of the A.A. guidance in this

matter.

We thus conclude the failure to afford an opportunity for private

consultation following administration of the Miranda warnings "weigh[s]

heavily" against a finding that defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his

Miranda rights. See A.A., 240 N.J. at 359.

We turn next to the circumstances concerning Latoya exiting the

interrogation room, leaving defendant to face interrogators alone. We begin by

acknowledging the detectives did not initiate her decision to exit the room.

Rather, Latoya herself first broached the subject by asking defendant, "[h]old

on. Would you like me to step out?" Defendant responded, "[h]uh? Yeah."

In other words, this is not a situation where police deliberately excluded

Latoya from the interrogation room, at least at the moment she elected to excuse

herself from the ongoing interrogation. Cf. Presha, 163 N.J. at 318 (noting it

would be "difficult for us to envision prosecutors successfully carrying their

burdens in future cases in which there has been some deliberate exclusion of a

A-2125-21

28

juvenile's parent or legal guardian from the interrogation"). The case law is

clear that a parent or guardian may decline to be present at the interrogation. Id.

at 317. Presumably, that decision may be made at any time, including during

the course of an ongoing interrogation.

In Q.N., the Court provided helpful guidance on this question, stating:

[i]n sum, the record demonstrates that [the parent]

voluntarily absented herself from the unrecorded

portion of the interview. That circumstance qualifies

as an exception to Presha's bright-line rule concerning

interrogations of juveniles under the age of fourteen.

We trust that, with the benefit of this opinion, the police

in future situations will not suggest that the parent or

legal guardian depart an interrogation area but will

allow that suggestion to originate, if at all, from the

accompanying adults themselves. Similarly, we

assume that the police will inform the juvenile that,

once gone, the adult is available to return to the

interrogation area during any part of questioning at the

juvenile's request.

[Q.N., 179 N.J. at 179-80 (emphasis added).]

In the present matter, defendant was not advised that he could ask for his

mother to return to the interrogation room. Nor did the detectives advise Latoya

she had the right to return. To the contrary, Diaz took her to another room and

advised her to sign a consent form memorializing that she was waiving her right

to participate in the interrogation. We note that while the form acknowledges

that "my child can stop answering questions at any time," it does not advise that

A-2125-21

29

the parent has the right to withdraw consent and either participate in the

interrogation or direct that it be halted. 6 We add the detectives did not afford

Latoya an opportunity to monitor the electronically-recorded interrogation, as

occurred in Q.N., 179 N.J. at 169.

Aside from the consent form's deficiencies, Diaz's comments to Latoya

after she exited the interrogation room effectively precluded any further

opportunity for Latoya to serve as a buffer and advisor. Diaz told Latoya,

[t]hey're still in the investigation like I said—I

mentioned it when you were crying in there—and there

was a reason why I said what I said because he

obviously knows that what he's gonna say is gonna hurt

you. And you knew that so you decided to get out of

the room so now it's up to him to fess up and explain

the reasons why this happened on the 11th, okay? If

things got out of hand, then--then he's gotta pretty much

say it. Okay?

Far from advising Latoya of her right to return to the interrogation room,

the detective's comments endorsed Latoya's decision to exit the room to avoid

being hurt by her son's admissions. Worse still, rather than reaffirming Latoya's

role to safeguard defendant's right against self-incrimination, Diaz stated

6

Although the signed consent form is part of the record before us, the record

does not indicate whether that form was drafted or approved by the county

prosecutor or the Attorney General. It would be prudent, in our view, for the

county prosecutor and Attorney General to review the form to address its

deficiencies.

A-2125-21

30

unequivocally, "so now it's up to [defendant] to fess up." It is hard to conceive

advice more contrary to defendant's right against self-incrimination, or contrary

to Latoya's role to safeguard that right. We conclude that the circumstances

surrounding Latoya's decision to leave the interrogation room and the discussion

she had with a detective in another room militate against a finding of

voluntariness.

We note by way of summary that other circumstances that are relevant

under the totality-of-the-circumstances test, such as age, whether the

questioning was repeated and prolonged in nature, and whether physical

punishment or mental exhaustion was involved, see Knight, 183 N.J. at 463, do

not support defendant's contention we should reverse the denial of the

suppression motion. However, the cumulative effect of the police missteps

regarding Latoya's participation in the interrogation process is enough to create

a reasonable doubt as to whether defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived

his right against self-incrimination. We conclude the State did not meet its

heavy burden of proof, thus requiring suppression of defendant's incriminating

statements made after his mother left the interrogation room. We reiterate and

stress no one circumstance is dispositive; rather it is the cumulative effect of the

A-2125-21

31

limitations imposed on Latoya's participation that creates a reasonable doubt

requiring suppression.

VI.

We need only briefly address the request made by defendant and defense

amici that we revamp New Jersey's existing juvenile interrogation jurisprudence

by adopting a new categorical rule that juveniles must be provided counsel prior

to waiving their Miranda rights. The thoughtful and comprehensive arguments

raised by defendant and defense amici are substantially identical to the ones that

were made in M.P. We decline to create a new per se rule barring uncounseled

juvenile interrogations for the reasons we recently explained at length in M.P.,

476 N.J. Super. at 256-57, 265-70.

Moreover, in light of our decision to reverse the denial of the suppression

motion and vacate defendant's guilty-plea conviction, we need not address his

sentencing argument.

Reversed and remanded for entry of an

order vacating the judgment of conviction. We do not retain jurisdiction.

A-2125-21

32