robbery, and the jury then instructed on all lesser offenses.
State v. Battle, 209 N.J. Super. 255 (App. Div.), certif.
denied, 105 N.J. 560-61 (1986). In State v. Crouch, 225
N.J. Super. 100 (App. Div. 1988), however, the Appellate
Division distinguished Battle and refused to merge
defendant’s convictions for aggravated assault and robbery,
committed against the same victim, because aggravated
assault required the State to prove that defendant
committed serious bodily injury while second degree
robbery required only bodily injury.
Possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose will
merge into the robbery, unless the State can prove a larger
purpose and submits the matter to the jury through a
special verdict form. State v. Lado, 275 N.J. Super. 140,
158 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 138 N.J. 271 (1994); State
v. Bull, 268 N.J. Super. 504 (App. Div. 1993), certif. denied,
135 N.J. 304 (1994)(holding that possession of a firearm
for an unlawful purpose merges into armed robbery); but
see Hakeem v. Beyer, 990 F.2d 750 (3d Cir. 1993)(holding
that a charge of possession of a weapon for an unlawful
purpose does not necessarily merge into a charge of armed
robbery). A finding of not guilty on a count of possession
of a weapon for an unlawful purpose will not preclude a
conviction of first degree robbery. State v. Mieles, 199 N.J.
Super. 29, 40-41 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 101 N.J. 265
(1985).
Hindering apprehension is not a lesser included
offense for an accomplice who assists in the flight from the
robbery. State v. Williams, 232 N.J. Super. 432, 435-37
(App. Div.), certif. denied, 118 N.J. 208 (1989); but see
State v. Childs, 204 N.J. Super. 639, 651 (App. Div. 1985),
certif. denied, 104 N.J. 430 (1986). Flight which results in
death, will subject the perpetrator to a felony murder
charge with robbery as a lesser included offense. Harris v.
Oklahoma, 433 U.S. 682, 97 S.Ct. 2912, 53 L.Ed.2d 1054
(1977); State v. Pantusco, 330 N.J. Super. 424 (App. Div.
2000).
III. DEFENSES
There is no claim-of-right defense in a robbery
prosecution. State v. Harris, 141 N.J. 525, 557-59 (1995);
State v. Mejia, 141 N.J. 475, 490-500 (1995), overruling
State v. D’Agostino, 176 N.J. Super. 49 (App. Div. 1980),
certif. denied, 85 N.J. 494 (1981); State v. Bull, 259 N.J.
Super. 120 (Law Div. 1992); State v. Mayberry, 52 N.J. 413,
431 (1968)(pre-Code). However, in a capital trial, a
defendant may raise claim of right at the sentencing phase.
Mejia, supra, 141 N.J. at 500.
IV. SENTENCING
Armed robbery may subject the defendant to the Three
Strikes Law. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.1; State v. Oliver, 162 N.J.
580 (2000). Armed robbery where the defendant uses or
threatens the victim with the immediate use of a deadly
weapon, as defined in the No Early Release Act, even as an
accomplice, may subject the defendant to the No Early
Release Act. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2d; State v. Johnson, 166
N.J. 523, 766 (2001); State v. Rumblin, 166 N.J. 550, 766
(2001); State v. Reardon, 337 N.J. Super. 324, 766 (App.
Div. 2001); State v. Austin, 335 N.J. Super. 486, 490-93
(App. Div. 2000), certif. pending; State v. Williams, 333
N.J. Super. 356, 360 (App. Div. 2000). Robbery that
results in serious bodily injury also subjects a defendant to
the No Early Release Act. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2; State v.
Staten, 327 N.J. Super. 349 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 164
N.J. 561 (2000).Robbery while armed with a firearm, as defined in
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1f, mandates a minimum parole
ineligibility period under the Graves Act. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-
6c; State v. Austin, 335 N.J. Super. 486, 494 (App. Div.
2001), certif. pending. In State v. Hawks, 114 N.J. 359
(1989), the Supreme Court determined that a defendant
convicted for the second time of armed robbery must
receive an extended term pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 and
N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7c, notwithstanding the fact that the
offense which formed the basis of a defendant’s second
conviction occurred prior to defendant’s first conviction.
Id. at 365-66; State v. Gillespie, 203 N.J. Super. 417, 421
(Law Div. 1985).