State v. Jamel Carlton

SYLLABUS This syllabus is not part of the Court’s opinion. It has been prepared by the Office of the Clerk for the convenience of the reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Court and may not summarize all portions of the opinion. State v. Jamel Carlton (A-62/63-24) (090241) Argued September 25, 2025 -- Decided February 23, 2026 JUSTICE NORIEGA, writing for a unanimous Court. In this appeal, the Court considers whether an enhanced sentence under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-3(a), New Jersey’s persistent offender statute, predicated on fact- finding rendered without the benefit of a jury,…