State v. Sorino

117 P.3d 847, 108 Haw. 115
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals·Decided June 29, 2005·No. No. 26009·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinions

Opinion of the Court by

FOLEY, J.

Defendant-Appellant Gerven Sorino (Sori-no) appeals from the “Order Denying Defendant’s Motion to Set Aside Judgment of Conviction, to Allow Defendant to Withdraw His Plea of No Contest and to Set Case for Trial” filed on July 2, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (circuit court).2

On appeal, Sorino contends (1) the circuit court erred when it concluded it had complied with the requirement of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 802E-2 (1993)3 that it administer the statutory advisement on the record to Sorino; (2) the circuit court erred when it denied “Defendant’s Motion to Set Aside Judgment of Conviction, to Allow Defendant to Withdraw His Plea of No Contest and to Set Case for Trial” (Motion to Withdraw Plea) filed April 8, 2003 because a grant of the motion was mandatory, pursuant to HRS § 802E-3 (1993),4 where the court failed to comply with HRS § 802E-2; and (3) Sorino was denied effective assistance of counsel with respect to the Motion to Withdraw Plea because his counsel failed to provide any legal authority other than HRS §§ 802E-2 and 802E-3 and his counsel argued that the circuit court should apply the manifest injustice standard.

I.

On April 13, 1998, Sorino pled no contest to Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree in violation of HRS § 707-716(1)(d) (1993).5 The circuit court sentenced Sorino to five years of probation, and Judgment was entered on August 11, 1998. On July 9, 2002, the circuit court revoked Sorino’s probation, sentenced him to five years of imprisonment, [117]*117and filed its Order of Resentencing/Revocation of Probation.

[116]*116§ 707-716 Terroristic threatening in the first degree. (1) A person commits the offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree if the person commits terroristic threatening:
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(d) With the use of a dangerous instrument.
(2) Terroristic threatening in the first degree is a class C felony.

[117]*117On April 8, 2003, Sorino filed the Motion to Withdraw Plea, asking the circuit court to allow him to withdraw his no contest plea and to set his ease for trial “on the grounds: 1) that the Court did not advise Defendant of his immigration status prior to accepting Defendant’s plea of no contest and 2) manifest injustice.” Sorino argued that the circuit court had failed to advise him pursuant to HRS § 802E-2, and, therefore, pursuant to HRS § 802E-3, the circuit court was mandated to vacate the Judgment, permit him to withdraw his plea of no contest and enter a plea of not guilty, and set the case for trial. Attached to the motion was the April 13, 1998 transcript of proceedings at which Sori-no had entered his no contest plea and a copy of a “Notice to Appear In removal proceedings under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act” (Notice) from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (served on Sorino on September 19, 2002). The Notice stated that Sorino was deportable because he was not a citizen or national of the United States and because he had been convicted of Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree (committed against a person with whom he shared a child in common) on August 11, 1998 in the circuit court. The Notice further stated that Sorino was subject to removal from the United States pursuant to § 237(a)(2)(E)© of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, as amended, because Sor-ino was an alien who, after entry, had been convicted of “a crime of domestic violence, a crime of stalking, or a crime of child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment.”

On May 28, 2003, the State filed a memorandum opposing the Motion to Withdraw Plea, arguing that Sorino did “not hold an absolute right to withdraw his plea” and there had been no showing of “manifest injustice” entitling Sorino to withdraw his plea. The State argued that the record showed Sorino had been advised by the circuit court and fully understood the immigration consequences of his plea.

On June 2, 2003, the circuit court held a hearing on the Motion to Withdraw Plea. The circuit court issued its July 2, 2003 order denying the Motion to Withdraw Plea based on the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

FINDINGS OF FACT
1. On March 20, 1998, Defendant’s counsel requested a misdemeanor charge for his client because of “immigration consequences.”
2. On April 3, 1998, the Court, by way of a Pre-trial Conference, advised Defendant’s counsel to contact the Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding immigration consequences for his client.
3. On April 13, 1998, Defendant was warned on the record that his plea could have a bearing on his relationship with the Immigration and Naturalization Service; and based upon a colloquy with the court, Defendant was sufficiently advised and fully understood the potential immigration consequences of his plea.
4. On April 13, 1998, Defendant signed a Change of Plea form which warned him that if he was not a citizen of the United States, a conviction might have the consequence of deportation.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The Court is not required to resort to a ritualistic litany when advising a Defendant of the consequences of his plea. State v. Cornelio, 68 Haw. 644, 727 P.2d 1125 (1986).
2. The Court may use additional sources other than the Defendant to find a sufficient basis for his plea. State v. Tachibana, 67 Haw. 573, 698 P.2d 287 (1985).
3. Based upon the Findings of Fact above, Defendant has failed to make a showing of manifest injustice and therefore cannot withdraw his plea. State v. Adams, 76 Hawai'i 408, 879 P.2d 513 (1994).

[118]*118II.

Sorino contends the circuit court was required to personally address him in open court prior to accepting his plea of no contest and apprise him of the required advisement under HRS § 802E-2:

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State v. Sorino, 117 P.3d 847, 108 Haw. 115 (hawapp 2005).

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