State v. Pierce

It is ORDERED that the petition for certification is granted and the matter is summarily remanded to the sentencing court to consider the real-time effect of the court’s sequencing of consecutive sentences. Specifically, in imposing a least restrictive or flat prison term preceding a more restrictive prison term, the court is directed to explain the consequence of any sequencing and to justify its exercise of discretion to impose the specific real-time consequence based on the court’s finding and weighing of aggravating factors. See State v. Ellis, 346 N.J.Super. 583, 597, 788 A.2d 849…