Libero v. State of Hawaii, Big Island, Kona Court

CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedNovember 13, 2024
Docket1:24-cv-00402
StatusUnknown

This text of Libero v. State of Hawaii, Big Island, Kona Court (Libero v. State of Hawaii, Big Island, Kona Court) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Libero v. State of Hawaii, Big Island, Kona Court, (D. Haw. 2024).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAIʻI MOSES ANGELO LIBERO, Civil No. 24-00402 MWJS-RT #A5004933, ORDER DISMISSING PETITION Petitioner, WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE vs.

STATE OF HAWAIʻI, BIG ISLAND, KONA COURT, et al.,

Respondents.

INTRODUCTION

Pro se petitioner Moses Angelo Libero alleges that he has been falsely imprisoned for crimes he did not commit. ECF No. 1. He seeks an immediate release from state custody, $999 quintillion dollars every six weeks for the remainder of his life, and ownership of Hawaiʻi Island “4 life every 6 weeks 4 life.” Id. at PageID.5. Libero’s pleading could be construed either as a civil complaint or as a petition for habeas relief. But the pleading does not satisfy the standards governing either type of submission. Accordingly, Libero’s pleading is DISMISSED. It also does not appear that Libero can cure the deficiencies in his pleading through amendment. The Court therefore does not grant Libero leave to amend his pleading at this time. If, after considering this Order, Libero still wishes to proceed with either a civil complaint or a habeas petition, he is ORERED TO SHOW CAUSE why such leave should be granted by submitting a letter by no later than December 13,

2024, explaining how he could possibly address the deficiencies described herein. If Libero cannot show that he can cure the deficiencies through an amendment of his pleading, then the Court will deny leave to amend and dismiss this action with

prejudice. Alternatively, Libero may voluntarily dismiss this action. BACKGROUND In February 2018, Libero was charged in Hawaiʻi state court with Attempted

Murder in the Second Degree (Count 1), Assault in the Second Degree (Count 2), Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree (Count 3), and Kidnapping (Count 4) for events that allegedly occurred on January 26, 2018.1 See Indictment, State v. Libero, No. 3CPC-18-0000112 (Haw. 3d Cir. Ct. Feb. 13, 2018), Dkt. 1; see also ECF No. 1, at PageID.1

(“I got accused of a crime that I did not commit on [January] 26, 2018.”). On April 24, 2019, Libero pleaded no contest to a lesser included offense in Count I—that is, Assault in the First Degree. See Minutes, Libero, No. 3CPC-18-0000112

(Haw. 3d Cir. Ct. Apr. 24, 2019), Dkt. 186; see also No Contest Plea, Libero, No. 3CPC-18-

1 These facts are taken from Libero’s petition, ECF No. 1, and public records in State v. Libero, No. 3CPC-18-0000112 (Haw. 3d Cir. Ct.). See Fed. R. Evid. 201(b) & (b)(2) (“The court may judicially notice a fact that is not subject to reasonable dispute because it . . . can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.”); Reyn’s Pasta Bella, LLC v. Visa USA, Inc., 442 F.3d 741, 746 n.6 (9th Cir. 2006) (“We may take judicial notice of court filings and other matters of public record.”). 0000112 (Haw. 3d Cir. Ct. Apr. 24, 2019), Dkt. 189. The state court accepted Libero’s plea and found him guilty of Assault in the First Degree. See Minutes, Libero, No. 3CPC-

18-0000112 (Haw. 3d Cir. Ct. Apr. 24, 2019), Dkt. 186. On June 28, 2019, Libero was sentenced to incarceration for an indeterminate period of ten years, with credit for time served. See Judgment of Conviction and

Sentence, Libero, No. 3CPC-18-0000112 (Haw. 3d Cir. Ct. June 28, 2019), Dkt. 202. Counts 2, 3, and 4 were dismissed with prejudice. See Motion for Nolle Prosequi with Prejudice as to Counts 2, 3, 4 of the Indictment Filed February 13, 2018, Libero, No.

3CPC-18-0000112 (Haw. 3d Cir. Ct. June 28, 2019), Dkt. 206. Libero is currently incarcerated at Halawa Correctional Facility, a state prison. See Vine, https://vinelink.vineapps.com/search/HI/Person (select “ID Number,” enter “A5004933” in “ID Number” field and select “Search”) (last visited Nov. 5, 2024).

According to the online inmate locator, Libero is scheduled to be released on January 23, 2028. Id. (select “Record Details”); see also ECF No. 1, at PageID.1 (“10 years max out 2028”).

The Court received Libero’s petition for relief on September 17, 2024. ECF No. 1. He names the State of Hawaiʻi Big Island Kona Court, Judge Robert Kim, attorney Kimberly Taniyama, and the Supreme Court of the United States as the parties responsible for his alleged false imprisonment. Id. at PageID.1-3. Libero alleges that he

was “accused of a crime that [he] did not commit” and asks “when is my court date and what time.” ECF No. 7, at PageID.22. He also claims that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and appears to argue that he was wrongfully convicted. See ECF

No. 1, at PageID.1; ECF No. 1, at PageID.4 (alleging federal question jurisdiction and listing as the basis “false imprisonment, false document[,] false evadents [sic], false statement[,] false records, wrongful judge, inaffective [sic] counsel”). Libero also

contends that he has “the right to see [his] accuser in court and no witnesses and no victim came to [his] last day of [his] speedy [trial] court.” Id. at PageID.12. He seeks his immediate release from prison, $999 quintillion dollars every six weeks for the remainder of his life, and ownership of Hawaiʻi Island “4 life every 6 weeks 4 life.” Id.

at PageID.5; see also id. at PageID.6 (“I like get out of prison now”); id. at PageID.7 (“get out of prison (now)”); id. at PageID.13 (“Can I [get] out asap.”). LEGAL STANDARD

Libero’s submission could be viewed either as a civil complaint or as a habeas petition. The Court therefore briefly discusses the legal standards governing each of these types of pleadings.

1. Because Libero makes a demand for money damages, his complaint could be viewed as a civil complaint. When a prisoner files an in forma pauperis civil complaint, that complaint does not automatically kickstart a lawsuit; instead, the Court must first screen the complaint under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A. See Byrd v. Phoenix Police

Dep’t, 885 F.3d 639, 641-42 (9th Cir. 2018). Claims or complaints that are frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim for relief, or seek damages from defendants who are immune from suit must be dismissed before any summons has issued. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). This screening process involves the same standard as that used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Rosati v. Igbinoso, 791 F.3d 1037, 1039 (9th Cir. 2015)

(per curiam). Under this standard, “a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (cleaned up). A claim is “plausible” when the facts alleged

support a reasonable inference that the plaintiff is entitled to relief from a particular defendant for specific misconduct. See id. As a general matter, courts liberally grant leave to amend if it appears that the plaintiff can correct the defects in the complaint. See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130. But when a

claim cannot be saved by amendment, dismissal with prejudice is appropriate. See Sylvia Landfield Tr. v. City of Los Angeles, 729 F.3d 1189, 1196 (9th Cir. 2013). 2.

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