State v. Noel E. Ferguson and Anthony M. Potts State v. Shameik Byrd (081423) (Passaic County and Statewide)

*1257 **85 In a criminal prosecution, the State must have territorial jurisdiction to enforce its laws against a defendant. State v. Denofa , 187 N.J. 24 , 36, 898 A.2d 523 (2006). Generally, the State can exercise territorial jurisdiction when either the defendant's conduct or the result of that conduct occurs in New Jersey and is an element of a criminal offense. N.J.S.A. 2C:1-3(a)(1). That general rule governing territorial jurisdiction, however, has limits. Absent a clear legislative purpose indicating otherwise, a defendant cannot be prosecuted for "conduct charged" in New Jersey when that…