State v. Mendez

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

VERNIERO, J.

In this criminal appeal, we are called on to review defendant’s conviction for tampering with physical evidence under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-6. A related issue is whether the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, N.J.S.A. 2C:1-1 to 2C:104-9 (Code), permits the State simultaneously to charge an accused with possessing and tampering with the same unit of controlled dangerous substance (CDS), in this case cocaine. We affirm the judgment of the Appellate Division upholding defendant’s conviction. We also hold that when a defendant allegedly possesses…