State v. Araki

923 P.2d 891, 82 Haw. 474
CourtHawaii Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 30, 1996
Docket19042, 19130
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 923 P.2d 891 (State v. Araki) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Araki, 923 P.2d 891, 82 Haw. 474 (haw 1996).

Opinions

MOON, Chief Justice.

In this consolidated appeal, involving promoting pornography for minors, plaintiff-appellant/cross-appellee State of Hawaii (the prosecution) appeals from the circuit court’s order granting defendant-appellee/cross-ap-pellant Noriyuki Araki’s motion to suppress pre-trial identification. Araki appeals from the circuit court’s denial of his motions (1) to dismiss indictment based on insufficient evidence, and (2) for return of property and to suppress evidence. For the reasons discussed below, we hold that: (1) the circuit court properly denied Araki’s motions (a) to dismiss indictment based on insufficient evidence, and (b) for return of property and to suppress evidence; and (2) the circuit court erred in granting Araki’s motion to suppress pre-trial identification.

I. BACKGROUND

This appeal presents this court with its first occasion to review the offense of promoting pornography for minors. See Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 712-1215(l)(a) (1993).2 On October 29, 1993, a fourteen year-old minor [hereinafter, CM] rented an X-rated3 (adult) video, entitled “Blondes Who Crave Black Dicks” [hereinafter, the rented video], from Golf Academy of Hawaii, Incorporated dba GAP Video Rental and Golf Range [hereinafter, GAP Video], owned by Lynn Nose. CM did not have his parents’ permission to rent an adult video.

A few weeks later, on November 23, 1993, an employee of GAP Video telephoned CM’s mother [hereinafter, Mrs. CM] and informed her that her son had rented a video and that the video was overdue. After learning that the rented video was an adult video, Mrs. CM called the police to complain. When Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Officer Arcadio Ramos responded to Mrs. CM’s call, Mrs. CM voluntarily turned the rented video over to the police.

In their subsequent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the rental of the adult video to CM, police learned that another minor [hereinafter, LL] had also allegedly rented an adult video, entitled “Texas Towers,” from GAP Video. As part of the police investigation into that incident, HPD -undercover officer Brian Johnson entered GAP Video and purchased “Texas Towers” [hereinafter, the purchased video].

Thereafter, on December 15, 1993, HPD Officer Victor Muniz requested a search warrant authorizing the search of the premises of GAP Video for various items associated with the rental of adult videos to CM and LL. The search warrant was granted the following day, December 16, 1993. Later that day, at approximately six o’clock in the evening, the police escorted CM and LL to GAP Video where both minors entered the store in an attempt to rent another adult video. When the minors exited the store, having failed in their “undercover” attempt to rent an adult video, the police executed the search warrant, recovering various items from the premises of GAP Video.

[477]*477The police then conducted a two-person line-up composed of Araki and Mizuho (Mitchell) Kayama, both of whom were employees of GAP Video. CM and LL, who by that time were inside a police van with tinted windows, were asked whether either of the two individuals who were standing on the curb in front of the video store, had rented them an adult video. CM identified Araki as the person who had rented him an adult video on October 29,1993; LL, however, was unable to identify the person who had rented him an adult video.

On the strength of CM’s identification, Araki was arrested and, approximately a year later, on December 14, 1994, a grand jury indicted Araki for disseminating to CM,4 a minor, material which is pornographic for minors, thereby committing the offense of promoting pornography for minors, in violation of HRS § 712-1215(l)(a).

On March 21, 1995, Araki filed the following motions: (1) “Motion to Dismiss Indictment Based on Insufficient Evidence”; (2) “Motion to Return Property and Suppress Evidence”; and (3) “Motion to Suppress Identification of Defendant.” The circuit court denied motions (1) and (2), but granted motion (3), and these interlocutory appeals followed.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Motion to Dismiss Indictment Based on Insufficient Evidence

Araki contends that the indictment against him must be dismissed because: (1) the rented video was never subjected to a judicial determination of obscenity, in violation of the procedural requirements outlined in Buman-glag;

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Green
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2024
State v. Tooher
518 P.3d 1173 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2022)
Kaneaiakala v. Frink
D. Hawaii, 2021
State v. Riveira
478 P.3d 295 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2020)
State v. Walton.
324 P.3d 876 (Hawaii Supreme Court, 2014)
State v. Dukes
745 S.E.2d 137 (Court of Appeals of South Carolina, 2013)
State v. Kane
203 P.3d 674 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2009)
State v. Stan's Contracting, Inc.
137 P.3d 331 (Hawaii Supreme Court, 2006)
In the Interest of Doe
114 P.3d 945 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2005)
State v. Lawson
78 P.3d 1159 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2003)
State v. Detroy
72 P.3d 485 (Hawaii Supreme Court, 2003)
State v. Taua
49 P.3d 1227 (Hawaii Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Navarro
708 A.2d 416 (New Jersey Superior Court App Division, 1998)
State v. Soto
933 P.2d 66 (Hawaii Supreme Court, 1997)
State v. Araki
923 P.2d 891 (Hawaii Supreme Court, 1996)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
923 P.2d 891, 82 Haw. 474, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-araki-haw-1996.