State v. Roman-Peter

537 P.3d 1210, 153 Haw. 363

• Court: Hawaii Supreme Court
• Decided: November 9, 2023
• Docket: SCAP-23-0000276
• Status: Published

Opinion

*** NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER ***

Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCAP-XX-XXXXXXX 09-NOV-2023 08:35 AM Dkt. 23 SO

SCAP-XX-XXXXXXX

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I

STATE OF HAWAI‘I, Plaintiff-Appellant,

vs.

RYAN ROMAN-PETER, Defendant-Appellee.

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX; CASE NO. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX)

SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Recktenwald, C.J., McKenna, Eddins, JJ., Circuit Judge Watanabe and Circuit Judge Ashford, assigned by reason of vacancies)

On May 5, 2022, a jury found Ryan Roman-Peter guilty of two

counts of attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of

carrying or use of a firearm in commission of a separate felony,

terroristic threatening in the first degree, and place to keep

pistol or revolver. Roman-Peter had been charged via a

complaint and preliminary hearing. *** NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER ***

After Roman-Peter’s conviction, but before his sentencing,

this court decided State v. Obrero, 151 Hawaiʻi 472, 517 P.3d 755

(2022). Obrero held that charging a defendant with a felony by

complaint, rather than through an indictment or information,

violates HRS § 801-1. Id.

Roman-Peter moved to dismiss based on Obrero. The circuit

court granted Roman-Peter’s motion. The State appealed. On

appeal, the State argues that Obrero does not apply

retroactively to defendants who were convicted after a trial.

The State applied for transfer, and we granted its request.

In State v. Bautista, 153 Hawaiʻi 284, 535 P.3d 1029 (2023),

this court recently resolved issues surrounding Obrero’s

retroactive impact. “Obrero applies to cases that were pending

trial before the decision. Obrero does not apply retroactively

to defendants who pled out or to defendants convicted after a

trial.” Id. at 289, 535 P.3d at 1034. We further clarified

that “defendants awaiting sentencing . . . are foreclosed from

having their pleas nullified or their trial convictions

overturned per HRS § 801-1.” Id. Because Roman-Peter was

convicted after a trial, Obrero does not impact his conviction.

2 *** NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER ***

Accordingly, we hold that the circuit court erred in

granting Roman-Peter’s motion to dismiss. We vacate the circuit

court’s order and remand the case for sentencing.

DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, November 9, 2023.

Brian R. Vincent /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald for petitioner /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna Randall K. Hironaka /s/ Todd W. Eddins for respondent /s/ Kathleen N.A. Watanabe

/s/ James H. Ashford