NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 04-SEP-2025 07:59 AM Dkt. 51 SO NOS. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX and CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX (consolidated)
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI I
STATE OF HAWAI I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MALIALEI S. JAHAD, Defendant-Appellant
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT HONOLULU DIVISION (CASE NOS. 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX and 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Presiding Judge, Hiraoka and Guidry, JJ.) Defendant-Appellant Malialei Jahad (Jahad) appeals from
the District Court of the First Circuit, Honolulu Division's
(District Court),1 April 21, 2023 Notice of Entry of Judgment
and/or Order in 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX and April 21, 2023 Notice of
Entry of Judgment and/or Order in 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX (Orders Setting
Aside DANC Plea), entered in favor of Plaintiff-Appellee State of
Hawai i (State).
Jahad raises two points of error on appeal, contending
that the District Court erred when: (1) it found that Jahad had
received notice of the terms and conditions of deferral, and
subsequently granted the State's motion to set aside; and (2) it
1 The Honorable Harlan Y. Kimura presided in both cases. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
granted the State's motions to set aside deferral for violations
that were not alleged in writing.
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 resolve Jahad's
points of error as follows:
(1) Jahad argues that "[a] defendant whose motion for
deferral is accepted must be given a written copy of the terms
and conditions of deferral to satisfy notice requirements" and
that "[w]hen formal notice requirements of a deferral are not met
because a defendant is not given a written copy of the terms and
conditions, the setting aside of that deferral constitutes both a
statutory and constitutional violation and, therefore, is
prohibited." This argument has merit.
The Hawai i Supreme Court has held that "under HRS
§ 853–1 (1993 & Supp. 2007), referring to a [deferred acceptance
of guilty plea (DAGP)], and incorporating HRS § 706–624 (1993 &
Supp. 2007), pertaining to probation, the defendant must be given
a written copy of the conditions imposed pursuant to his or her
DAGP." State v. Shannon, 118 Hawai i 15, 17, 185 P.3d 200, 202
(2008) (footnotes omitted). While this case involves a deferred
acceptance of nolo contendere (DANC) plea, the granting of
deferral is authorized by Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 853-1
(2014),2 which applies to both DAGPs and DANC pleas.
2 HRS 853-1 states:
§ 853-1 Deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea; discharge and dismissal, expungement of records. (a) Upon proper motion as provided by this chapter:
(continued...)
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Specifically, HRS § 853-1 (b) authorizes deferral supervision
conditions by reference to HRS 706-624 (2014), which governs
conditions of probation. The supreme court has held that "the
tolling provisions under HRS § 706-627 apply to deferral periods
pursuant to a DAG plea," and thus, these statutory sections are
applicable to deferral of a DANC plea. See State v. Kaufman, 92
2 (...continued) (1) When a defendant voluntarily pleads guilty or nolo contendere, prior to commencement of trial, to a felony, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor;
(2) It appears to the court that the defendant is not likely again to engage in a criminal course of conduct; and
(3) The ends of justice and the welfare of society do not require that the defendant shall presently suffer the penalty imposed by law,
the court, without accepting the plea of nolo contendere or entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the defendant and after considering the recommendations, if any, of the prosecutor, may defer further proceedings.
(b) The proceedings may be deferred upon any of the conditions specified by section 706-624. As a further condition, the court shall impose a compensation fee pursuant to section 351-62.6 and a probation services fee pursuant to section 706-648 upon every defendant who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or felony; provided that the court shall waive the imposition of a compensation or probation services fee, if it finds that the defendant is unable to pay the compensation or probation services fee. The court may defer the proceedings for a period of time as the court shall direct but in no case to exceed the maximum sentence allowable; provided that, if the defendant has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a petty misdemeanor, the court may defer the proceedings for a period not to exceed one year. The defendant may be subject to bail or recognizance at the court's discretion during the period during which the proceedings are deferred.
(c) Upon the defendant's completion of the period designated by the court and in compliance with the terms and conditions established, the court shall discharge the defendant and dismiss the charge against the defendant.
(d) Discharge of the defendant and dismissal of the charge against the defendant under this section shall be without adjudication of guilt, shall eliminate any civil admission of guilt, and is not a conviction.
(e) Upon discharge of the defendant and dismissal of the charge against the defendant under this section, the defendant may apply for expungement not less than one year following discharge, pursuant to section 831-3.2.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Hawai i 322, 329-30, 991 P.2d 832, 839-40 (2000). Finally, HRS
§ 706-624 (3) states, in pertinent part, (3) Written statement of conditions. The court shall order the defendant at the time of sentencing to sign a written acknowledgment of receipt of conditions of probation. The defendant shall be given a written copy of any requirements imposed pursuant to this section, stated with sufficient specificity to enable the defendant to comply with the conditions accordingly.
(Emphasis added).
Here, nothing in the record establishes that Jahad
received a written copy of the terms and conditions of probation.
In fact, it was explicitly established via the probation
officer's testimony that, because Jahad's sentencing occurred
when COVID restrictions were in place, she could not and did not
visit Jahad to "review all the forms, the special and mandatory
conditions of probation," and she could not and did not receive a
signature from Jahad that showed that Jahad acknowledged said
terms. In 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX, proposed terms and conditions were
eventually filed on January 29, 2021, and the signed order,
including terms and conditions, was filed on February 3, 2021.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 04-SEP-2025 07:59 AM Dkt. 51 SO NOS. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX and CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX (consolidated)
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI I
STATE OF HAWAI I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MALIALEI S. JAHAD, Defendant-Appellant
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT HONOLULU DIVISION (CASE NOS. 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX and 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Presiding Judge, Hiraoka and Guidry, JJ.) Defendant-Appellant Malialei Jahad (Jahad) appeals from
the District Court of the First Circuit, Honolulu Division's
(District Court),1 April 21, 2023 Notice of Entry of Judgment
and/or Order in 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX and April 21, 2023 Notice of
Entry of Judgment and/or Order in 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX (Orders Setting
Aside DANC Plea), entered in favor of Plaintiff-Appellee State of
Hawai i (State).
Jahad raises two points of error on appeal, contending
that the District Court erred when: (1) it found that Jahad had
received notice of the terms and conditions of deferral, and
subsequently granted the State's motion to set aside; and (2) it
1 The Honorable Harlan Y. Kimura presided in both cases. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
granted the State's motions to set aside deferral for violations
that were not alleged in writing.
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 resolve Jahad's
points of error as follows:
(1) Jahad argues that "[a] defendant whose motion for
deferral is accepted must be given a written copy of the terms
and conditions of deferral to satisfy notice requirements" and
that "[w]hen formal notice requirements of a deferral are not met
because a defendant is not given a written copy of the terms and
conditions, the setting aside of that deferral constitutes both a
statutory and constitutional violation and, therefore, is
prohibited." This argument has merit.
The Hawai i Supreme Court has held that "under HRS
§ 853–1 (1993 & Supp. 2007), referring to a [deferred acceptance
of guilty plea (DAGP)], and incorporating HRS § 706–624 (1993 &
Supp. 2007), pertaining to probation, the defendant must be given
a written copy of the conditions imposed pursuant to his or her
DAGP." State v. Shannon, 118 Hawai i 15, 17, 185 P.3d 200, 202
(2008) (footnotes omitted). While this case involves a deferred
acceptance of nolo contendere (DANC) plea, the granting of
deferral is authorized by Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 853-1
(2014),2 which applies to both DAGPs and DANC pleas.
2 HRS 853-1 states:
§ 853-1 Deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea; discharge and dismissal, expungement of records. (a) Upon proper motion as provided by this chapter:
(continued...)
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Specifically, HRS § 853-1 (b) authorizes deferral supervision
conditions by reference to HRS 706-624 (2014), which governs
conditions of probation. The supreme court has held that "the
tolling provisions under HRS § 706-627 apply to deferral periods
pursuant to a DAG plea," and thus, these statutory sections are
applicable to deferral of a DANC plea. See State v. Kaufman, 92
2 (...continued) (1) When a defendant voluntarily pleads guilty or nolo contendere, prior to commencement of trial, to a felony, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor;
(2) It appears to the court that the defendant is not likely again to engage in a criminal course of conduct; and
(3) The ends of justice and the welfare of society do not require that the defendant shall presently suffer the penalty imposed by law,
the court, without accepting the plea of nolo contendere or entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the defendant and after considering the recommendations, if any, of the prosecutor, may defer further proceedings.
(b) The proceedings may be deferred upon any of the conditions specified by section 706-624. As a further condition, the court shall impose a compensation fee pursuant to section 351-62.6 and a probation services fee pursuant to section 706-648 upon every defendant who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or felony; provided that the court shall waive the imposition of a compensation or probation services fee, if it finds that the defendant is unable to pay the compensation or probation services fee. The court may defer the proceedings for a period of time as the court shall direct but in no case to exceed the maximum sentence allowable; provided that, if the defendant has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a petty misdemeanor, the court may defer the proceedings for a period not to exceed one year. The defendant may be subject to bail or recognizance at the court's discretion during the period during which the proceedings are deferred.
(c) Upon the defendant's completion of the period designated by the court and in compliance with the terms and conditions established, the court shall discharge the defendant and dismiss the charge against the defendant.
(d) Discharge of the defendant and dismissal of the charge against the defendant under this section shall be without adjudication of guilt, shall eliminate any civil admission of guilt, and is not a conviction.
(e) Upon discharge of the defendant and dismissal of the charge against the defendant under this section, the defendant may apply for expungement not less than one year following discharge, pursuant to section 831-3.2.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Hawai i 322, 329-30, 991 P.2d 832, 839-40 (2000). Finally, HRS
§ 706-624 (3) states, in pertinent part, (3) Written statement of conditions. The court shall order the defendant at the time of sentencing to sign a written acknowledgment of receipt of conditions of probation. The defendant shall be given a written copy of any requirements imposed pursuant to this section, stated with sufficient specificity to enable the defendant to comply with the conditions accordingly.
(Emphasis added).
Here, nothing in the record establishes that Jahad
received a written copy of the terms and conditions of probation.
In fact, it was explicitly established via the probation
officer's testimony that, because Jahad's sentencing occurred
when COVID restrictions were in place, she could not and did not
visit Jahad to "review all the forms, the special and mandatory
conditions of probation," and she could not and did not receive a
signature from Jahad that showed that Jahad acknowledged said
terms. In 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX, proposed terms and conditions were
eventually filed on January 29, 2021, and the signed order,
including terms and conditions, was filed on February 3, 2021.
However, while the order was filed, there is no evidence in the
record that written copies of the terms and conditions were given
to Jahad; in 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX, there is also nothing in the record
to show that Jahad received the written copies of the terms and
conditions.
Based on the record, and as acknowledged by the State,
the District Court clearly erred in finding that Jahad had
received notice of the terms and conditions of deferral.
(2) Jahad argues that "[t]he revocation of Jahad's
deferral violated her due process and statutory rights because it
was based on conduct that was not alleged in the motions to set
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
aside deferral." Additionally, Jahad argues that the motions to
set aside deferral filed in 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX and 1DCW-XX-XXXXXXX
alleged the same single violation: that "Defendant failed to
obtain a substance abuse assessment and/or treatment until
clinically discharged." Jahad submits that because the District
Court assigned no fault for Jahad's inability to obtain a
substance abuse assessment and/or treatment, the District Court
abused its discretion by granting the State's motions on other
grounds not raised in the motions - namely, that "Jahad was to
have reported to the probation office as soon as she was released
from custody," and also that Jahad left the jurisdiction of O ahu
even though she was prohibited from doing so. This point of
error also has merit.
The supreme court has held that "[d]ue process mandates
that factual information upon which revocation is sought be
provided to the defendant, inasmuch as '[t]he question of whether
the defendant should be sentenced to imprisonment or to probation
is no less significant than the question of guilt[.]' A
defendant, threatened with the loss or change of probation
status, must be given the same procedural protections afforded at
the time of original disposition [,i.e., sentencing]." State v.
Durham, 125 Hawai i 114, 125-26, 254 P.3d 425, 436-37, amended on
reconsideration in part, 125 Hawai i 249, 258 P.3d 946 (2011)
(cleaned up); see also State v. Wong, 73 Haw. 81, 829 P.2d 1325,
opinion amended on reconsideration, 73 Haw. 625, 831 P.2d 935
(1992).
Here, like in Durham and Wong, Jahad was given notice
via two motions to set aside DANC plea, both containing a single
5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
ground for revocation: that "Defendant failed to obtain a
substance abuse assessment and/or treatment until clinically
discharged." However, the District Court relied on additional
findings to support the granting of the State's motions, stating
that "[Jahad] was to have reported to the probation office as
soon as she was released from custody [and that she did not],"
and also that Jahad was "prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction
of Oahu," and thus "for all those reasons, there is a
preponderance of the evidence that the allegations in the motion
to set aside [DANC plea] has been proved."
Jahad did not receive notice of the additional grounds
for the granting of the State's motions. Therefore, the District
Court abused its discretion in granting the State's motion to set
aside the DANC plea.
For these reasons, the District Court's April 21, 2023
Orders Setting Aside DANC Plea are vacated and this case is
remanded to the District Court for further proceedings consistent
with this Summary Disposition Order.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai i, September 4, 2025.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Presiding Judge Seth Patek, Deputy Public Defender, /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka for Defendant-Appellant. Associate Judge
Loren J. Thomas, /s/ Kimberly T. Guidry Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Associate Judge City & County of Honolulu, for Plaintiff-Appellee.