State v. Rolon

I am in accord with the Court’s disposition of this case and with its reading of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-l(b). I write separately to address State v. Merritt, 247 N.J.Super. 425, 589 A.2d 648 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 126 N.J. 336, 598 A.2d 893 (1991), and State v. Clark, 352 N.J.Super. 130, 799 A.2d 679 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 174 N.J. 545, 810 A.2d 65 (2002), two decisions interpreting cognate language in the burglary statute.

The burglary statute provides in relevant part:

Grading. Burglary is a crime of the second degree if in the course of committing the offense, the actor:(1) Purposely,…