NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-3476-17T3
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
IBANGA ARCHIBONG,
Defendant-Appellant.
_____________________________
Submitted January 21, 2020 – Decided February 5, 2020
Before Judges Ostrer and Susswein.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
Division, Passaic County, Municipal Appeal No. 6158.
Robert Pentangelo, attorney for appellant.
Camelia M. Valdes, Passaic County Prosecutor,
attorney for respondent (Patrick F. Breen, Assistant
Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Ibanga Archibong appeals from his convictions for operating a motor
vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor (DUI), N.J.S.A. 39:4-
50, and refusal to submit to a chemical test, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a, following a
trial de novo in the Law Division. He contends the State failed to sustain its
burden of proof. We discern "'sufficient credible evidence . . . in the record' to
support the trial court's findings." State v. Robertson, 228 N.J. 138, 148 (2017)
(quoting State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146, 162 (1964)). And, we are particularly
loath to disturb concurrent findings of two courts. See State v. Locurto, 157
N.J. 463, 474 (1999). Therefore, we affirm.
In support of the DUI conviction, the Law Division credited the arresting
State trooper, the sole trial witness, who described defendant's erratic driving,
physical characteristics, and field-sobriety-test performance. Defendant failed
to maintain his lane by repeatedly driving on the fog line between his lane and
the shoulder to his left, and crossing the skip line between his lane and the one
to his right. Once stopped, defendant demonstrated sluggish movements; his
eyes were watery and bloodshot; and the trooper detected the smell of alcoholic
beverages. Defendant performed poorly on the walk-and-turn test and the one-
leg-stand test, and he admitted consuming one beer.
The trial court was not obliged to accept defendant's attempt to ascribe
"innocent connotations" to his actions – for example, his eyes were watery and
bloodshot because he was tired. Cf. State v. Citarella, 154 N.J. 272, 279-81
A-3476-17T3
2
(1998) (stating that an officer is not required to accept "purely innocent
connotations . . . to a person's actions" if the actions are also "'consistent with
guilt'") (quoting State v. Arthur, 149 N.J. 1, 11 (1997)). The totality of the
State's evidence was sufficient to support the finding that defendant was driving
under the influence; he suffered a "substantial deterioration or diminution of
[his] mental faculties or physical capabilities," which "so affect[ed] [his]
judgment or control . . . as to make it improper for him to drive on the highway."
State v. Tamburro, 68 N.J. 414, 421 (1975). See also State v. Bealor, 187 N.J.
574, 590 (2006); State v. Cryan, 363 N.J. Super. 442, 456 (App. Div. 2003);
State v. Morris, 262 N.J. Super. 413, 421 (App. Div. 1993).1
In support of the refusal conviction, the trooper testified that in advance
of administering the Alcotest chemical breath test, he performed all the
prerequisite routines, and defendant consented to take the test. Nonetheless,
defendant failed to produce sufficient air in three opportunities. Defendant does
not challenge the State's proofs of the first three elements of the refusal
violation. See State v. Marquez, 202 N.J. 485, 502 (2010) (explaining that, to
sustain a conviction, the State must prove (1) probable cause to believe a
1
Defendant's refusal was additional circumstantial evidence supporting his
conviction, see State v. Stever, 107 N.J. 543, 559 (1987), although the Law
Division did not rely on it for that purpose.
A-3476-17T3
3
defendant was driving under the influence; (2) the defendant was arrested for
doing so; (3) the officer asked the defendant to take the chemical breath test,
and informed the defendant of the consequences if he or she refused; and (4) the
defendant refused). He challenges the finding that he refused. But, it is of no
moment that defendant blew some small, inadequate amount of air into the
mouthpiece. He also blew air around the mouthpiece while puffing out his
cheeks, to exaggerate his effort. As defendant provided no evidence of a
relevant physical disability, see State v. Monaco, 444 N.J. Super. 539, 551 (App.
Div. 2016), the trial court justifiably concluded that the State met its burden.
See, e.g., State v. Schmidt, 206 N.J. 71, 87 (2011) (affirming refusal conviction
in case of defendant's "unexplained and repeated failures to provide the
necessary breath amounts to produce valid test results").
To the extent not addressed, defendant's remaining arguments lack
sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(2).
Affirmed.
A-3476-17T3
4
STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. IBANGA ARCHIBONG (6158, PASSAIC COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)
Combined Opinion