NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 06-AUG-2025 08:03 AM Dkt. 57 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
STATE OF HAWAIʻI, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. AARON JONES, Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT (CASE NO. 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX(1))
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Nakasone, Chief Judge, Hiraoka and McCullen, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Aaron Jones was charged in
District Court of the Second Circuit with operating a vehicle
after person's license has been revoked or suspended for
operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, in
violation of Hawaiʻi Revised Statute (HRS) § 291E-62 (2020 &
Supp. 2021). Jones demanded a jury trial. He appeals from the
Circuit Court of the Second Circuit's March 10, 2023 order NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
denying his motion to dismiss. 1 In this interlocutory appeal,
Jones contends the circuit court (1) lacked jurisdiction and
(2) erred in determining the complaint need not include whether
he was represented by counsel or waived his right to counsel in
proceedings related to his prior convictions.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties and having given due consideration to
the issues raised and the arguments advanced, we resolve the
points of error as discussed below, and affirm.
(1) Jones contends the circuit court lacked
jurisdiction over this case because Plaintiff-Appellee State of
Hawai‘i (State) failed to file another complaint in circuit court
after he demanded a jury trial in district court.
The Hawai‘i Supreme Court addressed this issue in State
v. Bautista, holding "[n]o rule requires the State to file a
second complaint in circuit court" and "[t]here is no basis in
Hawai‘i law to conclude that the circuit court lacked subject
matter jurisdiction." State v. Bautista, 153 Hawai‘i 284, 290,
535 P.3d 1029, 1035 (2023). Based on the supreme court's
holding in Bautista, Jones' jurisdictional challenge lacks
support. See 153 Hawai‘i at 290, 535 P.3d at 1035.
1 The Honorable Kirstin M. Hamman presided.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
(2) Jones also contends the circuit court erred in
determining the complaint sufficiently alleged the charged
offense. Jones argues the complaint was defective because
"[t]he failure to plead essential facts about whether [he] was
represented by counsel at the time of his prior conviction is a
failure to plead an element" of HRS § 291E-62.
HRS § 291E-62 prohibits operating a vehicle after a
person's license has been revoked or suspended for operating a
vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. As relevant to
this appeal, HRS § 291E-62(c)(3) provides for certain penalties
if there are two or more convictions under this section within
five years of the current offense:
(c) Any person convicted of violating this section shall be sentenced as follows without possibility of probation or suspension of sentence:
. . . .
(3) For an offense that occurs within five years of two or more prior convictions for offenses under this section . . . :
(A) One year imprisonment;
(B) A $2,000 fine, to be deposited into the state drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund;
(C) Permanent revocation of the person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle; and
(D) Loss of the privilege to operate a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device, if applicable.
HRS § 291E-62(c)(3) (formatting altered and emphasis added).
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
The two or more prior convictions "are attendant
circumstances and an essential offense element that must be
alleged in the charging instrument in order to impose the
enhanced penalties for repeat offenders under HRS § 291E-62."
State v. Bryan, 124 Hawai‘i 404, 414, 245 P.3d 477, 487
(App. 2010).
The charging instrument in this case included the
language of two or more prior convictions as required:
That on or about the 29th day of April, 2022, in the Division of Wailuku, County of Maui, State of Hawaii, AARON JONES, having been convicted two or more times within a five-year period of the instant offense for Operating a Vehicle After License and Privilege Have Been Suspended or Revoked For Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant (Hawaii Revised Statute Section 291E-62), whose license and privilege to operate a vehicle had been revoked, suspended or otherwise restricted pursuant to Section 291E-62 or Part III of Chapter 291E or Section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 or Part VII or XIV of Chapter 286 or Section 200-81, 291-4, 291-4.4, 291-4.5 or 291-7 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, did intentionally, knowingly or recklessly operate and/or assume actual physical control of a vehicle on a public way, street, road or highway, while his license or privilege to operate a vehicle remains suspended or revoked, thereby committing the offense of Operating a Vehicle After License and Privilege Have Been Suspended or Revoked For Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant in violation of Section 291E- 62(a)(2) and subject to Section 291E-62(c)(3) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Jones asserts the State was also required to allege in
the charging instrument that he was represented by counsel or
waived his right to counsel when he was previously convicted.
Jones relies in part on State v. Kamae, 56 Haw. 628, 638, 548
P.2d 632, 639 (1976).
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
In Kamae, the supreme court examined whether a
presentence report was admissible evidence to prove Kamae's
prior convictions. 56 Haw. at 636, 638, 548 P.2d at 637, 639.
The supreme court determined even if the presentence report was
admissible evidence, the record was "glaringly deficient as it
does not show that appellant was represented by counsel during
any of the alleged prior offenses of which he was convicted, or
that he intelligently and voluntarily waived his constitutional
right to counsel." Id. at 638, 548 P.2d at 639. The supreme
court, however, did not hold that representation by counsel must
be alleged in the charging instrument. See id.
"[T]he sufficiency of the charging instrument is
measured, inter alia, by whether it contains the elements of the
offense intended to be charged, and sufficiently apprises the
defendant of what he or she must be prepared to meet." State v.
Wheeler, 121 Hawai‘i 383, 391, 219 P.3d 1170, 1178 (2009)
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 06-AUG-2025 08:03 AM Dkt. 57 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
STATE OF HAWAIʻI, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. AARON JONES, Defendant-Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT (CASE NO. 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX(1))
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Nakasone, Chief Judge, Hiraoka and McCullen, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Aaron Jones was charged in
District Court of the Second Circuit with operating a vehicle
after person's license has been revoked or suspended for
operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, in
violation of Hawaiʻi Revised Statute (HRS) § 291E-62 (2020 &
Supp. 2021). Jones demanded a jury trial. He appeals from the
Circuit Court of the Second Circuit's March 10, 2023 order NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
denying his motion to dismiss. 1 In this interlocutory appeal,
Jones contends the circuit court (1) lacked jurisdiction and
(2) erred in determining the complaint need not include whether
he was represented by counsel or waived his right to counsel in
proceedings related to his prior convictions.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties and having given due consideration to
the issues raised and the arguments advanced, we resolve the
points of error as discussed below, and affirm.
(1) Jones contends the circuit court lacked
jurisdiction over this case because Plaintiff-Appellee State of
Hawai‘i (State) failed to file another complaint in circuit court
after he demanded a jury trial in district court.
The Hawai‘i Supreme Court addressed this issue in State
v. Bautista, holding "[n]o rule requires the State to file a
second complaint in circuit court" and "[t]here is no basis in
Hawai‘i law to conclude that the circuit court lacked subject
matter jurisdiction." State v. Bautista, 153 Hawai‘i 284, 290,
535 P.3d 1029, 1035 (2023). Based on the supreme court's
holding in Bautista, Jones' jurisdictional challenge lacks
support. See 153 Hawai‘i at 290, 535 P.3d at 1035.
1 The Honorable Kirstin M. Hamman presided.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
(2) Jones also contends the circuit court erred in
determining the complaint sufficiently alleged the charged
offense. Jones argues the complaint was defective because
"[t]he failure to plead essential facts about whether [he] was
represented by counsel at the time of his prior conviction is a
failure to plead an element" of HRS § 291E-62.
HRS § 291E-62 prohibits operating a vehicle after a
person's license has been revoked or suspended for operating a
vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. As relevant to
this appeal, HRS § 291E-62(c)(3) provides for certain penalties
if there are two or more convictions under this section within
five years of the current offense:
(c) Any person convicted of violating this section shall be sentenced as follows without possibility of probation or suspension of sentence:
. . . .
(3) For an offense that occurs within five years of two or more prior convictions for offenses under this section . . . :
(A) One year imprisonment;
(B) A $2,000 fine, to be deposited into the state drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund;
(C) Permanent revocation of the person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle; and
(D) Loss of the privilege to operate a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device, if applicable.
HRS § 291E-62(c)(3) (formatting altered and emphasis added).
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
The two or more prior convictions "are attendant
circumstances and an essential offense element that must be
alleged in the charging instrument in order to impose the
enhanced penalties for repeat offenders under HRS § 291E-62."
State v. Bryan, 124 Hawai‘i 404, 414, 245 P.3d 477, 487
(App. 2010).
The charging instrument in this case included the
language of two or more prior convictions as required:
That on or about the 29th day of April, 2022, in the Division of Wailuku, County of Maui, State of Hawaii, AARON JONES, having been convicted two or more times within a five-year period of the instant offense for Operating a Vehicle After License and Privilege Have Been Suspended or Revoked For Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant (Hawaii Revised Statute Section 291E-62), whose license and privilege to operate a vehicle had been revoked, suspended or otherwise restricted pursuant to Section 291E-62 or Part III of Chapter 291E or Section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 or Part VII or XIV of Chapter 286 or Section 200-81, 291-4, 291-4.4, 291-4.5 or 291-7 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, did intentionally, knowingly or recklessly operate and/or assume actual physical control of a vehicle on a public way, street, road or highway, while his license or privilege to operate a vehicle remains suspended or revoked, thereby committing the offense of Operating a Vehicle After License and Privilege Have Been Suspended or Revoked For Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant in violation of Section 291E- 62(a)(2) and subject to Section 291E-62(c)(3) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Jones asserts the State was also required to allege in
the charging instrument that he was represented by counsel or
waived his right to counsel when he was previously convicted.
Jones relies in part on State v. Kamae, 56 Haw. 628, 638, 548
P.2d 632, 639 (1976).
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
In Kamae, the supreme court examined whether a
presentence report was admissible evidence to prove Kamae's
prior convictions. 56 Haw. at 636, 638, 548 P.2d at 637, 639.
The supreme court determined even if the presentence report was
admissible evidence, the record was "glaringly deficient as it
does not show that appellant was represented by counsel during
any of the alleged prior offenses of which he was convicted, or
that he intelligently and voluntarily waived his constitutional
right to counsel." Id. at 638, 548 P.2d at 639. The supreme
court, however, did not hold that representation by counsel must
be alleged in the charging instrument. See id.
"[T]he sufficiency of the charging instrument is
measured, inter alia, by whether it contains the elements of the
offense intended to be charged, and sufficiently apprises the
defendant of what he or she must be prepared to meet." State v.
Wheeler, 121 Hawai‘i 383, 391, 219 P.3d 1170, 1178 (2009)
(brackets, internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The
essential elements of an offense are "(1) conduct, (2) attendant
circumstances, (3) results of the conduct, as: (a) Are specified
by the definition of the offense, and (b) Negative a defense[.]"
HRS § 702-205 (2014) (formatting altered).
Additionally, Hawai‘i Rules of Penal Procedure
Rule 7(d) provides that "[t]he charge shall be a plain, concise
and definite statement of the essential facts constituting the
5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
offense charged." And relatedly, HRS § 701-114 (2014)
delineates facts that must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 701-115, no person may be convicted of an offense unless the following are proved beyond a reasonable doubt: (a) Each element of the offense;
(b) The state of mind required to establish each element of the offense;
(c) Facts establishing jurisdiction;
(d) Facts establishing venue; and
(e) Facts establishing that the offense was committed within the time period specified in section 701- 108. (2) In the absence of the proof required by subsection (1), the innocence of the defendant is presumed.
HRS § 701-114 (formatting altered). 2
For determining the sufficiency of the complaint here,
whether Jones was represented by counsel or waived his right to
counsel as related to his prior convictions is not an enumerated
element of HRS § 291E-62, is not a state of mind, and is not a
fact establishing jurisdiction, venue, or timeliness. See
generally HRS §§ 291E-62, 701-114, 702-205. Thus, the circuit
court did not err in determining the complaint need not include
whether Jones was represented by counsel or waived his right to
counsel as related to his prior convictions.
2 HRS § 701-108 (2014, Supp. 2021) relates to time limitations, while HRS § 701-115 (2014) relates to defenses.
6 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the circuit court's
March 10, 2023 order denying Jones' motion to dismiss and remand
this case to the circuit court for further proceedings.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, August 6, 2025. On the briefs: /s/ Karen T. Nakasone Chief Judge Benjamin E. Lowenthal, for Defendant-Appellant. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka Associate Judge Chad Kumagai, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen County of Maui, Associate Judge for Plaintiff-Appellee.