FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 16-OCT-2023 07:59 AM Dkt. 57 OP
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
---O0O---
STATE OF HAWAI‘I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOVEN JOSEPH BANARES, Defendant-Appellant
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CASE NO. 1PC151001819)
OCTOBER 16, 2023
GINOZA, CHIEF JUDGE, LEONARD AND GUIDRY, JJ.
OPINION OF THE COURT BY GUIDRY, J.
Defendant-Appellant Joven Joseph Banares (Banares)
appeals from the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order
Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendant Banares's Motion FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
to Dismiss for Violation of Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure
Rule 9 (Rule 9 Order), entered by the Circuit Court of the First
Circuit on March 28, 2022. Banares appeals from the portion of
the circuit court's Rule 9 Order that tolls, pursuant to Hawaii
Revised Statutes (HRS) § 706-627 (2014), the period of his
probation. Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised, we vacate the
circuit court's tolling of Banares's period of probation, and
the circuit court's conclusions of law (COL) 5 through 9. We
hold that, on the record of this case, in which the circuit
court did not hear or issue a decision concerning or upon a
motion to revoke probation, the tolling provision set forth in
HRS § 706-627 does not apply to toll the period of Banares's
probation.
Banares was charged by felony information with
Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree, in violation of
HRS § 712-1243 (2014). Banares pleaded no contest, and in May
2016, was sentenced to, inter alia, four years of probation.1 On
February 6, 2017, the State of Hawai‘i (State) filed a motion to
1 The Honorable Dean E. Ochiai presided over the sentencing. The Honorable Kevin T. Morikone presided over the February 22, 2022 hearing on Banares's February 8, 2022 Motion to Dismiss for Violation of Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure Rule 9 (Rule 9 Motion to Dismiss), and issued the Rule 9 Order. 2 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
revoke probation (Motion to Revoke), and to resentence Banares
to imprisonment, alleging that Banares violated various terms
and conditions of his probation.
In conjunction with the State's Motion to Revoke, the
circuit court issued a bench warrant on February 7, 2017, for
Banares's arrest. The State concedes that the bench warrant was
not served until almost five years later on January 17, 2022.
Banares turned himself in to the Honolulu Police Department.
In February 2022, Banares filed his Rule 9 Motion to
Dismiss, requesting that his case be dismissed with prejudice.
Banares contended, pursuant to Hawai‘i Rules of Penal Procedure
(HRPP) Rule 9, that the delay of almost five years in serving
him with the bench warrant violated the requirement that
warrants "shall be executed without unnecessary delay by the
arrest of the defendant." HRPP Rule 9(c)(3)(i); State v. Owens,
116 Hawai‘i 172, 174-75, 172 P.3d 484, 486-87 (2007). Banares
further contended that he had remained in the jurisdiction and
was available for service between the dates of February 7, 2017,
and January 17, 2022.2 The State did not dispute that a Rule 9
violation had occurred, but objected to a dismissal of Banares's
2 The record reflects that Banares was issued a traffic infraction citation in case number 1DTI-21-095742, and Banares appeared in court on September 7, 2021 via Zoom for a hearing on that matter.
3 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
case, and further argued that the period of his probation should
be tolled pursuant to HRS § 706-627 (2014).3 The circuit court
heard the matter, and took the parties' arguments under
advisement.
On March 28, 2022, the circuit court issued the Rule 9
Order, in which it declined to dismiss Banares's conviction,
dismissed the Motion to Revoke,4 and then concluded that
HRS § 706-627 applied to mandate the tolling of the period of
3 HRS § 706-627 (2014) provides that,
Tolling of probation. (1) Upon the filing of a motion to revoke a probation or a motion to enlarge the conditions imposed thereby, the period of probation shall be tolled pending the hearing upon the motion and the decision of the court. The period of tolling shall be computed from the filing date of the motion through and including the filing date of the written decision of the court concerning the motion for purposes of computation of the remaining period of probation, if any. In the event the court fails to file a written decision upon the motion, the period shall be computed by reference to the date the court makes a decision upon the motion in open court. During the period of tolling of the probation, the defendant shall remain subject to all terms and conditions of the probation except as otherwise provided by this chapter.
(2) In the event the court, following hearing, refuses to revoke the probation or grant the requested enlargement of conditions thereof because the defendant's failure to comply therewith was excusable, the defendant may be granted the period of tolling of the probation for purposes of computation of the remaining probation, if any.
(Emphasis added.)
4 The circuit court found, and it is not contested, that: "[t]here is no evidence that the State made any attempt to serve the warrant at issue[;] [t]here is no evidence that [Banares] left the jurisdiction or attempted to evade service[;]" and "[t]here is affirmative evidence that [Banares] was on the island of Oʻahu on August 2, 2021 when he was cited for a traffic infraction." See Findings of Fact 10-12. 4 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
time from the filing of the motion to revoke probation "until
the decision of the court."
The circuit court explained its rationale for tolling
under HRS § 706-627 in its COLs 5 through 9, as follows,
5. The plain language of HRS 706-627(1) mandates that the time from the filing of a motion to revoke probation "until the decision of the court" shall be tolled. The subsection goes on to specify that tolling continues until the decision "concerning the motion. . . ." The common meaning of the terms are inclusive and general and do not qualify the period based upon whether the decision is made on the merits of the motion or not. No exception is allowed for in subsection (1) itself and the only exception provided for in statute is in subsection (2).
6.
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FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 16-OCT-2023 07:59 AM Dkt. 57 OP
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
---O0O---
STATE OF HAWAI‘I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOVEN JOSEPH BANARES, Defendant-Appellant
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CASE NO. 1PC151001819)
OCTOBER 16, 2023
GINOZA, CHIEF JUDGE, LEONARD AND GUIDRY, JJ.
OPINION OF THE COURT BY GUIDRY, J.
Defendant-Appellant Joven Joseph Banares (Banares)
appeals from the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order
Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendant Banares's Motion FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
to Dismiss for Violation of Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure
Rule 9 (Rule 9 Order), entered by the Circuit Court of the First
Circuit on March 28, 2022. Banares appeals from the portion of
the circuit court's Rule 9 Order that tolls, pursuant to Hawaii
Revised Statutes (HRS) § 706-627 (2014), the period of his
probation. Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised, we vacate the
circuit court's tolling of Banares's period of probation, and
the circuit court's conclusions of law (COL) 5 through 9. We
hold that, on the record of this case, in which the circuit
court did not hear or issue a decision concerning or upon a
motion to revoke probation, the tolling provision set forth in
HRS § 706-627 does not apply to toll the period of Banares's
probation.
Banares was charged by felony information with
Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree, in violation of
HRS § 712-1243 (2014). Banares pleaded no contest, and in May
2016, was sentenced to, inter alia, four years of probation.1 On
February 6, 2017, the State of Hawai‘i (State) filed a motion to
1 The Honorable Dean E. Ochiai presided over the sentencing. The Honorable Kevin T. Morikone presided over the February 22, 2022 hearing on Banares's February 8, 2022 Motion to Dismiss for Violation of Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure Rule 9 (Rule 9 Motion to Dismiss), and issued the Rule 9 Order. 2 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
revoke probation (Motion to Revoke), and to resentence Banares
to imprisonment, alleging that Banares violated various terms
and conditions of his probation.
In conjunction with the State's Motion to Revoke, the
circuit court issued a bench warrant on February 7, 2017, for
Banares's arrest. The State concedes that the bench warrant was
not served until almost five years later on January 17, 2022.
Banares turned himself in to the Honolulu Police Department.
In February 2022, Banares filed his Rule 9 Motion to
Dismiss, requesting that his case be dismissed with prejudice.
Banares contended, pursuant to Hawai‘i Rules of Penal Procedure
(HRPP) Rule 9, that the delay of almost five years in serving
him with the bench warrant violated the requirement that
warrants "shall be executed without unnecessary delay by the
arrest of the defendant." HRPP Rule 9(c)(3)(i); State v. Owens,
116 Hawai‘i 172, 174-75, 172 P.3d 484, 486-87 (2007). Banares
further contended that he had remained in the jurisdiction and
was available for service between the dates of February 7, 2017,
and January 17, 2022.2 The State did not dispute that a Rule 9
violation had occurred, but objected to a dismissal of Banares's
2 The record reflects that Banares was issued a traffic infraction citation in case number 1DTI-21-095742, and Banares appeared in court on September 7, 2021 via Zoom for a hearing on that matter.
3 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
case, and further argued that the period of his probation should
be tolled pursuant to HRS § 706-627 (2014).3 The circuit court
heard the matter, and took the parties' arguments under
advisement.
On March 28, 2022, the circuit court issued the Rule 9
Order, in which it declined to dismiss Banares's conviction,
dismissed the Motion to Revoke,4 and then concluded that
HRS § 706-627 applied to mandate the tolling of the period of
3 HRS § 706-627 (2014) provides that,
Tolling of probation. (1) Upon the filing of a motion to revoke a probation or a motion to enlarge the conditions imposed thereby, the period of probation shall be tolled pending the hearing upon the motion and the decision of the court. The period of tolling shall be computed from the filing date of the motion through and including the filing date of the written decision of the court concerning the motion for purposes of computation of the remaining period of probation, if any. In the event the court fails to file a written decision upon the motion, the period shall be computed by reference to the date the court makes a decision upon the motion in open court. During the period of tolling of the probation, the defendant shall remain subject to all terms and conditions of the probation except as otherwise provided by this chapter.
(2) In the event the court, following hearing, refuses to revoke the probation or grant the requested enlargement of conditions thereof because the defendant's failure to comply therewith was excusable, the defendant may be granted the period of tolling of the probation for purposes of computation of the remaining probation, if any.
(Emphasis added.)
4 The circuit court found, and it is not contested, that: "[t]here is no evidence that the State made any attempt to serve the warrant at issue[;] [t]here is no evidence that [Banares] left the jurisdiction or attempted to evade service[;]" and "[t]here is affirmative evidence that [Banares] was on the island of Oʻahu on August 2, 2021 when he was cited for a traffic infraction." See Findings of Fact 10-12. 4 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
time from the filing of the motion to revoke probation "until
the decision of the court."
The circuit court explained its rationale for tolling
under HRS § 706-627 in its COLs 5 through 9, as follows,
5. The plain language of HRS 706-627(1) mandates that the time from the filing of a motion to revoke probation "until the decision of the court" shall be tolled. The subsection goes on to specify that tolling continues until the decision "concerning the motion. . . ." The common meaning of the terms are inclusive and general and do not qualify the period based upon whether the decision is made on the merits of the motion or not. No exception is allowed for in subsection (1) itself and the only exception provided for in statute is in subsection (2).
6. In contrast to HRS 706-627(1), HRS 706-627(2) makes a single exception to the tolling period mandated by subsection (1) solely in the situation where a court refuses a motion [to] revoke "because the defendant's failure to comply therewith was excusable." Only in such a situation is a court given discretion to allow a defendant to count time that is otherwise mandated to be tolled to the period of her or his probation.
7. The nature of this Court's ruling on this matter does not address whether or not there was any excusable failure to comply with any of the conditions of probation. Thus the Court does not have discretion to make an exception to the mandatory tolling period prescribed by HRS 706-627(1).
8. Further, nothing in Owens, supra, nor any other authority, provides the Court to otherwise count the tolled period mandated by HRS § 706-627(1) toward the time served in the period of probation ordered on May 5, 2017.
9. Thus the Court does not have discretion to make an exception to the mandatory tolling period prescribed by HRS 706-627(1).
Based on the above COL, the circuit court entered the
following rulings,
ACCORDINGLY IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Defendant Banares's Motion to Dismiss for Violation of Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure Rule 9 be and the same is hereby GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.
5 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
IT IS FURTHER HEREBY ORDERED that the motion to revoke probation filed February 6, 2017 in the above- captioned case is hereby dismissed.
IT IS FURTHER HEREBY ORDERED that the time from May 5, 2016 to and including February 6, 2017 shall accrue toward the period of Defendant's probation, that the time from February 6, 2017 to and including February 23, 2022 shall be tolled, meaning it shall not accrue toward the period of Defendant's probation, and that time from February 23, 2022 forward shall continue to accrue toward the period of Defendant's probation until any future intervening factors occur.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT as far [as] Defendant's motion requested that the Judgment of Conviction filed on May 5, 2016 or that the entire case be dismissed, those requests are DENIED.
Banares raises a single point of error on appeal. He
contends that "[t]he circuit court exceeded its authority in
applying HRS § 706-627 and tolling time. . . . Based on the
circuit court's errors, COLs 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, as well as the
orders tolling time and continuing Banares on probation must be
reversed." The State contends on appeal that the circuit
court's decision below should be affirmed because tolling was
either mandatory, pursuant to HRS § 706-627(1), or
discretionary, pursuant to HRS § 706-627(2).
We review the circuit court's conclusions of law de
novo, under the right/wrong standard of review. State v. Kido,
109 Hawai‘i 458, 461, 128 P.3d 340, 343 (2006). We conclude the
circuit court erred in that portion of the Rule 9 Order that
applies HRS § 706-627 to toll the time of Banares's probation
6 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
from February 6, 2017, to and including February 23, 2022.
Thus, the circuit court's COLs 5 through 9 are wrong.
We begin by examining the plain language of HRS § 706-
627. State v. Borge, 152 Hawai‘i 458, 464, 526 P.3d 435, 441
(2023) ("[I]mplicit in the task of statutory construction is our
foremost obligation to ascertain and give effect to the
intention of the legislature, which is to be obtained primarily
from the language contained in the statute itself.") (quoting
Ito v. Invs. Equity Life Holding Co., 135 Hawai‘i 49, 61, 346
P.3d 118, 130 (2015)).
HRS § 706-627 applies to toll a period of probation
pending "the hearing upon the motion [to revoke probation] and
the decision of the court." HRS § 706-627(1) (emphasis added).
The period of tolling is calculated in relation to the time in
which the circuit court issues its written "decision"
"concerning the motion," or, absent a written decision,
announces its "decision upon the motion" in open court. Id.
The record reflects that there is no such decision in this case.
The circuit court did not hear or issue a decision on the Motion
to Revoke due to the State's clear failure to serve the bench
warrant.
Indeed, due to the State's Rule 9 violation, the
circuit court dismissed the State's Motion to Revoke without
7 FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
reaching any of the issues raised or requests made therein. As
the circuit court observed in COL 7, the Rule 9 Order dismissing
the Motion to Revoke foreclosed its ability to address "whether
or not there was any excusable failure to comply with any of the
conditions of probation." Because the circuit court did not in
this case hear or issue a "decision" "concerning [or upon] the
motion [to revoke]," the tolling provision set forth in HRS §
706-627 cannot apply to toll the period of Banares's probation.
For the foregoing reasons, we vacate that portion of
the Rule 9 Order that applies HRS § 706-627 to toll the time of
Banares's probation from February 6, 2017, to and including
February 23, 2022, and COLs 5 through 9, and we remand for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
On the briefs: /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza Taryn R. Tomasa, Chief Judge Deputy Public Defender, for Defendant-Appellant. /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Associate Judge Loren J. Thomas, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, /s/ Kimberly T. Guidry City and County of Honolulu, Associate Judge for Plaintiff-Appellee.