Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 26-JAN-2024 07:58 AM Dkt. 52 SO NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
STATE OF HAWAI#I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOHN CROKE, Defendant-Appellant
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CR. NO. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Wadsworth and Nakasone, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant John J. Croke (Croke), proceeding
self-represented, appeals from the March 13, 2023 Order Granting
Motion to Dismiss Amended Felony Information Filed October 26,
2022 (Order of Dismissal Without Prejudice), entered by the
Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Circuit Court).1
The State of Hawai#i (State) filed a March 1, 2021
Felony Information charging Croke with Assault in the Second
Degree, in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 707-
711(1)(a) (Supp. 2022).2 On May 17, 2021, Croke, proceeding with
counsel, filed a motion requesting that the Circuit Court appoint
1 The Honorable Paul B.K. Wong presided. 2 HRS § 707-711 provides, in pertinent part: § 707-711 Assault in the second degree. (1) A person commits the offense of assault in the second degree if the person: (a) Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes substantial bodily injury to another[.] a three-member panel to determine his fitness to proceed.3 The
court granted the motion and ordered Dr. Melissa Villalon
(Villalon), Dr. Steven Taketa (Taketa), and a State Designate of
the Courts and Corrections Division (State Designate) to
determine his fitness to proceed.
The Circuit Court received evaluations from Villalon,
Taketa, and Dr. Nikita Hay (Hay), the State Designate. The court
also received a report from Dr. Terence C. Wade (Wade), but it
was deleted from the lower-court docket because its upload into
this case was due to a clerical error. The court initially
deemed Croke unfit to proceed, suspended proceedings, and
committed him to treatment.4
On March 8, 2022, after receiving a letter from the
psychiatrist treating Croke, which recommended that the Circuit
Court re-examine Croke's fitness to proceed, the court ordered
Taketa, Villalon, and a State Designate to re-examine Croke. The
court received Villalon's, Taketa's, and Hay's further reports
and deemed Croke fit to proceed. Additional reports were later
submitted by Villalon, Taketa, and Hay, all deeming Croke fit to
proceed.
The State filed a September 1, 2022 State's Motion to
Amend the Felony Information (Motion to Amend) "to include the
statutory definition of 'substantial bodily injury.'"
Croke filed a September 7, 2022 Motion to Dismiss Based
Upon Defective Charge (Motion to Dismiss), arguing that the
3 The Honorable Shirley M. Kawamura presided. 4 The Honorable Christine E. Kuriyama presided.
2 Felony Information violated his due process rights to notice of
all the elements of the charged offense under the United States
and Hawai
On September 12, 2022, the Circuit Court granted the
Motion to Amend and denied the Motion to Dismiss.5
On October 26, 2022, the State filed an Amended Felony
Information.
On February 2 and 6, 2023, Croke filed motions to
dismiss the Amended Felony Information on various grounds. At a February 27, 2023 hearing, the Circuit Court found good cause to
dismiss without prejudice the Amended Felony Information pursuant
to State v. Jardine, 151 Hawai
Thereafter, the court entered the Order of Dismissal Without
Prejudice.
Croke timely filed a Notice of Appeal.
Croke presents two arguments on appeal,6 contending
that the Circuit Court: (1) prejudiced him by ordering a four-
person panel instead of the required three-person panel to examine his fitness to proceed in the case; and (2) erred when it
dismissed the Amended Felony Information without prejudice.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
5 The Honorable Paul B.K. Wong presided. 6 While Croke fails to present points of error on appeal in compliance with Hawai
3 the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we
resolve Croke's arguments as follows:
(1) Croke contends that he was never apprised as to
why a four-person panel was appointed to examine his fitness to
proceed with trial.
This argument appears to be based on a misunderstanding
on Croke's part. No four-person panel was appointed. As noted
above, the Circuit Court appointed three examiners: Villalon,
Taketa, and a State Designate. The court only considered three evaluations from Villalon, Taketa, and Hay. Wade's report was
deleted because it was filed in this case only due to a clerical
error. Croke concedes that the court did not consider Wade's
report. Therefore, no abuse of discretion occurred in the
appointment of the panel to determine Croke's fitness to proceed.
(2) Croke argues that this case should have been
dismissed with prejudice because the State did not hold a
required preliminary hearing under Hawai
Procedure (HRPP) Rule 5(a)(1) for admission to bail. Croke
further argues that no preliminary hearings were held as required
under HRPP Rule 5(c)(1) for an initial appearance or arraignment
to determine probable cause in violation of his due process
rights.7 In addition, Croke argues that because he was initially
7 HRPP Rule 5 provides, in pertinent part: Rule 5. PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING ARREST.
(a) In general. (1) UPON ARREST. An officer making an arrest under a warrant shall take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before the court having initially (continued...)
4 charged with a defective Felony Information, dismissing the case
without prejudice also violated his due process rights.
While preliminary hearings are generally required under
HRPP Rule 5, subsection (c)(1) eliminates that requirement if the
defendant is "charged by information before the date set for such
hearing." Further, under HRS § 801-1(a) (2014): No person shall be subject to be tried and sentenced to be punished in any court, for an alleged offense, unless upon indictment, complaint, or information, except for offenses within the jurisdiction of a district court or in summary proceedings for contempt. For any felony offense to be tried and sentenced upon complaint, a finding of probable cause after a preliminary hearing, or a waiver of the probable cause determination at the preliminary hearing, shall be required.
(Emphasis added). Moreover, the Hawai
v. Wong held that "[w]hen a defendant is . . . charged by
criminal information, a preliminary hearing need not — and, under
our rules, cannot — be conducted." 141 Hawai
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Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 26-JAN-2024 07:58 AM Dkt. 52 SO NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
STATE OF HAWAI#I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOHN CROKE, Defendant-Appellant
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CR. NO. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Wadsworth and Nakasone, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant John J. Croke (Croke), proceeding
self-represented, appeals from the March 13, 2023 Order Granting
Motion to Dismiss Amended Felony Information Filed October 26,
2022 (Order of Dismissal Without Prejudice), entered by the
Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Circuit Court).1
The State of Hawai#i (State) filed a March 1, 2021
Felony Information charging Croke with Assault in the Second
Degree, in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 707-
711(1)(a) (Supp. 2022).2 On May 17, 2021, Croke, proceeding with
counsel, filed a motion requesting that the Circuit Court appoint
1 The Honorable Paul B.K. Wong presided. 2 HRS § 707-711 provides, in pertinent part: § 707-711 Assault in the second degree. (1) A person commits the offense of assault in the second degree if the person: (a) Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes substantial bodily injury to another[.] a three-member panel to determine his fitness to proceed.3 The
court granted the motion and ordered Dr. Melissa Villalon
(Villalon), Dr. Steven Taketa (Taketa), and a State Designate of
the Courts and Corrections Division (State Designate) to
determine his fitness to proceed.
The Circuit Court received evaluations from Villalon,
Taketa, and Dr. Nikita Hay (Hay), the State Designate. The court
also received a report from Dr. Terence C. Wade (Wade), but it
was deleted from the lower-court docket because its upload into
this case was due to a clerical error. The court initially
deemed Croke unfit to proceed, suspended proceedings, and
committed him to treatment.4
On March 8, 2022, after receiving a letter from the
psychiatrist treating Croke, which recommended that the Circuit
Court re-examine Croke's fitness to proceed, the court ordered
Taketa, Villalon, and a State Designate to re-examine Croke. The
court received Villalon's, Taketa's, and Hay's further reports
and deemed Croke fit to proceed. Additional reports were later
submitted by Villalon, Taketa, and Hay, all deeming Croke fit to
proceed.
The State filed a September 1, 2022 State's Motion to
Amend the Felony Information (Motion to Amend) "to include the
statutory definition of 'substantial bodily injury.'"
Croke filed a September 7, 2022 Motion to Dismiss Based
Upon Defective Charge (Motion to Dismiss), arguing that the
3 The Honorable Shirley M. Kawamura presided. 4 The Honorable Christine E. Kuriyama presided.
2 Felony Information violated his due process rights to notice of
all the elements of the charged offense under the United States
and Hawai
On September 12, 2022, the Circuit Court granted the
Motion to Amend and denied the Motion to Dismiss.5
On October 26, 2022, the State filed an Amended Felony
Information.
On February 2 and 6, 2023, Croke filed motions to
dismiss the Amended Felony Information on various grounds. At a February 27, 2023 hearing, the Circuit Court found good cause to
dismiss without prejudice the Amended Felony Information pursuant
to State v. Jardine, 151 Hawai
Thereafter, the court entered the Order of Dismissal Without
Prejudice.
Croke timely filed a Notice of Appeal.
Croke presents two arguments on appeal,6 contending
that the Circuit Court: (1) prejudiced him by ordering a four-
person panel instead of the required three-person panel to examine his fitness to proceed in the case; and (2) erred when it
dismissed the Amended Felony Information without prejudice.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
5 The Honorable Paul B.K. Wong presided. 6 While Croke fails to present points of error on appeal in compliance with Hawai
3 the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we
resolve Croke's arguments as follows:
(1) Croke contends that he was never apprised as to
why a four-person panel was appointed to examine his fitness to
proceed with trial.
This argument appears to be based on a misunderstanding
on Croke's part. No four-person panel was appointed. As noted
above, the Circuit Court appointed three examiners: Villalon,
Taketa, and a State Designate. The court only considered three evaluations from Villalon, Taketa, and Hay. Wade's report was
deleted because it was filed in this case only due to a clerical
error. Croke concedes that the court did not consider Wade's
report. Therefore, no abuse of discretion occurred in the
appointment of the panel to determine Croke's fitness to proceed.
(2) Croke argues that this case should have been
dismissed with prejudice because the State did not hold a
required preliminary hearing under Hawai
Procedure (HRPP) Rule 5(a)(1) for admission to bail. Croke
further argues that no preliminary hearings were held as required
under HRPP Rule 5(c)(1) for an initial appearance or arraignment
to determine probable cause in violation of his due process
rights.7 In addition, Croke argues that because he was initially
7 HRPP Rule 5 provides, in pertinent part: Rule 5. PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING ARREST.
(a) In general. (1) UPON ARREST. An officer making an arrest under a warrant shall take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before the court having initially (continued...)
4 charged with a defective Felony Information, dismissing the case
without prejudice also violated his due process rights.
While preliminary hearings are generally required under
HRPP Rule 5, subsection (c)(1) eliminates that requirement if the
defendant is "charged by information before the date set for such
hearing." Further, under HRS § 801-1(a) (2014): No person shall be subject to be tried and sentenced to be punished in any court, for an alleged offense, unless upon indictment, complaint, or information, except for offenses within the jurisdiction of a district court or in summary proceedings for contempt. For any felony offense to be tried and sentenced upon complaint, a finding of probable cause after a preliminary hearing, or a waiver of the probable cause determination at the preliminary hearing, shall be required.
(Emphasis added). Moreover, the Hawai
v. Wong held that "[w]hen a defendant is . . . charged by
criminal information, a preliminary hearing need not — and, under
our rules, cannot — be conducted." 141 Hawai
7 (...continued) jurisdiction, or, for the purpose of admission to bail, before any judge or officer authorized by law to admit the accused person to bail.
. . . . (c) Felonies. In the district court, a defendant charged with a felony shall not be called upon to plead, and proceedings shall be had in accordance with this section (c).
(1) INITIAL APPEARANCE; SCHEDULING OF PRELIMINARY HEARING . At the initial appearance the court shall, in addition to the requirements under Rule 10(e), furnish the defendant with a copy of the complaint and affidavits in support thereof, if any, together with a copy of the appropriate order of judicial determination of probable cause, if any, and inform the defendant of the right to a preliminary hearing. If the defendant waives preliminary hearing pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of this rule, the court shall forthwith commit the defendant to answer in the circuit court. If the defendant does not waive such hearing, the court shall schedule a preliminary hearing, provided that such hearing shall not be held if the defendant is indicted or charged by information before the date set for such hearing.
5 P.3d 536, 542 (2017). The Circuit Court did not err in not
holding a preliminary hearing.
Croke contends that the Amended Felony Information
should have been dismissed with prejudice. As acknowledged by
both parties, the Felony Information was defective for failing to
include the definition of "substantial bodily injury." The
Amended Felony Information was also defective as it merely
reiterated the statutory definition of "substantial bodily
injury," which was described by the supreme court in Jardine as "generic." 151 Hawai
When the statutory definition of an offense is generic,
the State must then "state the species of [the victim's] injury .
. . [and] descend to particulars," as it otherwise fails to
apprise the defendant of the charge against them in violation of
their due process rights. Id. at 101, 508 P.3d at 1187 (quoting
State v. Israel, 78 Hawai
In this case, as in Jardine, the Amended Felony Information only
reiterated the generic, statutory definition of "substantial bodily injury." In Jardine, the supreme court affirmed our
decision in that case to affirm the circuit court's decision to
dismiss that case without prejudice. Id. at 102, 508 P.3d at
1188.
The supreme court has upheld and ordered dismissals of
numerous other cases without prejudice as the remedy for an
insufficient charge. See, e.g., State v. Kauhane, 145 Hawai
362, 370-72, 452 P.3d 359, 367-69 (2019); State v. Pacquing, 139
Hawai
6 Apollonio, 130 Hawai
(2013); State v. Wheeler, 121 Hawai
1170, 1173, 1187 (2009); see also State v. Taylor, 996 P.2d 571,
237 (Wash. 2000) (en banc) ("The remedy for an insufficient
charging document is reversal and dismissal of the charges
without prejudice to the State."). Croke provides no authority
and identifies no circumstance that would mandate dismissal with
prejudice in this case. Therefore, we conclude that the Circuit
Court did not err in entering the Order of Dismissal without prejudice.
The Circuit Court's March 13, 2023 Order of Dismissal
Without Prejudice is affirmed.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, January 26, 2024.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Acting Chief Judge John J. Croke, Defendant-Appellant, Pro Se. /s/ Clyde J. Wadsworth Associate Judge Stephen K. Tsushima, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, /s/ Karen T. Nakasone City and County of Honolulu, Associate Judge for Plaintiff-Appellee.