State v. Bridges

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

*404GARIBALDI, J.

Pursuant to a negotiated plea under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-12 (“section 12”), defendant pleaded guilty to the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7 (“section 7”). In exchange for the plea, the State agreed, pursuant to section 12, to waive the mandatory-minimum period of parole ineligibility and to recommend that defendant be given a split sentence, “probation with 364 days in the county jail.” The narrow issue is whether the court has the discretion under section 12…