State v. Yamashita. ( 2022 )

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Electronically Filed
Supreme Court
SCWC-XX-XXXXXXX
05-AUG-2022
08:10 AM
Dkt. 17 OP
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
---o0o---
________________________________________________________________
STATE OF HAWAIʻI,
Respondent/Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
JOSHUA YAMASHITA,
Petitioner/Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
SCWC-XX-XXXXXXX
CERTIORARI TO THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
(CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX; CASE NOS. 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX,
2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX,
2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, and 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX)
AUGUST 5, 2022
RECKTENWALD, C.J., NAKAYAMA, McKENNA, WILSON, AND EDDINS, JJ.
OPINION OF THE COURT BY WILSON, J.
Petitioner/Defendant-Appellant Joshua Yamashita
(“Yamashita”) was convicted of various drug, theft, fraud, and
property crimes in the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit
(“circuit court”).1 At sentencing, in addition to a five-year
1 The Honorable Rhonda I.L. Loo presided.
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term of incarceration, Yamashita was ordered to pay a crime
victim compensation (“CVC”) fee under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes
(“HRS”) §§ 706-605(6) (Supp. 2018) and 351-62.6 (2015) and a
drug demand reduction (“DDR”) assessment under HRS § 706-650
(Supp. 2018). He objected to imposition of the CVC fee because
he was presently unable to pay and would not be able to pay the
CVC fee in the future. He also contended both the CVC fee and
DDR assessment amounted to unconstitutional taxes. The
Intermediate Court of Appeals (“ICA”) affirmed the circuit
court’s imposition of the CVC fee and DDR assessment, finding
there was substantial evidence that Yamashita would be able to
pay the CVC fee in the future and that the CVC fee and DDR
assessment were constitutional fines, not unconstitutional
taxes.
The ICA’s judgment on appeal is affirmed except as to
the issue of Yamashita’s ability to pay the CVC fee. His
present inability to pay the CVC fee mandated waiver of the fee
pursuant to HRS §§ 706-605(6) and 351-62.6.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Circuit Court Proceedings
In August 2017, Yamashita pleaded no contest in Case
No. 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX (the “First Case”) to one count of
unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in violation of HRS
2
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§ 708-836; Yamashita was sentenced to four years of probation
and ordered to pay restitution and fees.
Between November 20, 2017 and October 30, 2018,
Yamashita was charged in seven other cases (the “Other Cases”)
and subsequently pleaded no contest to drug, theft, fraud, and
property crimes in the circuit court.2 Under the plea agreement
for the Other Cases, Yamashita also admitted to violating the
terms and conditions of probation in the First Case. On May 31,
2019, the circuit court held a sentencing hearing for the Other
Cases, and a resentencing hearing for the First Case. The
circuit court entered a judgment on the Other Cases convicting
and sentencing Yamashita to a term of incarceration of five
years for each felony, one year for each misdemeanor, and thirty
days for each petty misdemeanor, to be served concurrently. The
circuit court also ordered Yamashita to pay $1,810.00 in court
2 In November 2018, Yamashita entered into a plea agreement under
which he pleaded no contest to twenty-six other counts in seven other cases
(Case Nos. 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-18-
0000215, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2CPC-XX-XXXXXXX), including: two
counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in violation of HRS §
708-836; two counts of unauthorized entry into motor vehicle in the first
degree in violation of HRS § 708-836.5; five counts of theft in the second
degree in violation of HRS § 708-831; two counts of theft in the third degree
in violation of HRS § 708-832; two counts of theft in the fourth degree in
violation of HRS § 708-833; one count of criminal property damage in the
third degree in violation of HRS § 708-822; two counts of criminal property
damage in the fourth degree in violation of HRS § 708-823; two counts of
unauthorized possession of confidential personal information in violation of
HRS § 708-839.55; four counts of theft of credit card in violation of HRS §
708-8102; two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card in violation of HRS §
708-8100; one count of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree in
violation of HRS § 712-1243; and one count of prohibited acts related to drug
paraphernalia in violation of HRS § 329-43.5.
3
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fines, $8,767.20 in restitution, a $2,075.00 CVC fee under HRS
§§ 706-605(6) and 351-62.6,3 a $2,500.00 internet crimes against
children (“ICAC”) fee,4 and a $100.00 DDR assessment under HRS
3 HRS § 706-605(6) provides, in relevant part:
The court shall impose a compensation fee upon every person convicted
of a criminal offense pursuant to section 351-62.6; provided that the court
shall waive the imposition of a compensation fee if it finds that the
defendant is unable to pay the compensation fee.
HRS § 351-62.6 provides:
(a) The court shall impose a compensation fee upon every defendant who
has been convicted or who has entered a plea under section 853-1 and who is
or will be able to pay the compensation fee. The amount of the compensation
fee shall be commensurate with the seriousness of the offense as follows:
(1) Not less than $105 nor more than $505 for a felony;
(2) $55 for a misdemeanor; and
(3) $30 for a petty misdemeanor.
The compensation fee shall be separate from any fine that may be
imposed under section 706-640 and shall be in addition to any other
disposition under this chapter; provided that the court shall waive the
imposition of a compensation fee if the defendant is unable to pay the
compensation fee. Moneys from the compensation fees shall be deposited into
the crime victim compensation special fund under section 351-62.5.
(b) The criteria of section 706-641 may apply to this section. In
setting the amount of the compensation fee to be imposed, the court shall
consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to:
(1) The seriousness of the offense;
(2) The circumstances of the commission of the offense;
(3) The economic gain, if any, realized by the defendant;
(4) The number of victims; and
(5) The defendant’s earning capacity, including future earning capacity.
(c) The compensation fee shall be considered a civil judgment.
4 In addition to a CVC fee and DDR assessment, the circuit court
also originally imposed an ICAC fee pursuant to HRS § 846F-3 (2014), which
provides in relevant part that “[t]he court shall order every defendant to
pay an [ICAC] fee of up to $100 for each felony or misdemeanor conviction;
provided that no fee shall be ordered when the court determines that the
defendant is unable to pay the fee.” HRS § 846F-3(a). However, the circuit
court ultimately found that Yamashita was presently unable to pay and waived
the ICAC fee.
(continued . . .)
4
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§ 706-650.5 The circuit court then entered an Order of
Resentencing in the First Case whereby Yamashita’s probation was
revoked; he was resentenced to serve five years of incarceration
(. . . continued)
Further, we note that with respect to the Other Cases, the
circuit court’s May 31, 2019 judgment levied an ICAC fee totaling $2,500.00
(25 counts each received an ICAC fee of $100.00, for a total ICAC fee of
$2,500.00). However, the judgment contains a typographical error that states
the total ICAC fee is $2,100.00. This typographical error appears to have
impacted some court proceedings and party submissions. The correct amount of
the ICAC fee imposed with respect to the Other Cases is $2,500.00.
5 HRS § 706-650 provides, in relevant part:
(1) In addition to any disposition authorized by chapter 706 or 853,
any person who is:
(a) Convicted of an offense under part IV of chapter 712, except
sections 712-1250.5 and 712-1257;
. . . .
shall be ordered to pay a monetary assessment under subsection (2),
except as provided under subsection (5).
. . . .
Notwithstanding sections 706-640 and 706-641 and any other law to the
contrary, the assessments provided by this section shall be in addition to
and not in lieu of, and shall not be used to offset or reduce, any fine
authorized or required by law and shall be paid pursuant to section 706-651.
. . . .
(4) All monetary assessments paid and interest accrued on
funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the drug
demand reduction assessments special fund.
(5) If the court determines that the person has the ability to pay the
monetary assessment and is eligible for probation or will not be sentenced to
incarceration, unless otherwise required by law, the court may order the
person to undergo a substance abuse treatment program at the person’s
expense. If the person undergoes a substance abuse treatment program at the
person’s expense, the court may waive or reduce the amount of the monetary
assessment. Upon a showing by the person that the person lacks the financial
ability to pay all or part of the monetary assessment, the court may waive or
reduce the amount of the monetary assessment.
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with credit for time served (to be served concurrently with the
sentences in the Other Cases) and ordered to pay $1,000 in
restitution, a $105 CVC fee, and a $100 ICAC fee.
Taking the First Case and the Other Cases together,
Yamashita was sentenced to financial penalties totaling $1,810
in fines, $9,767.20 in restitution, a $2,180 CVC fee, a $2,600
ICAC fee, and a $100 DDR assessment.6
The circuit court ordered that Yamashita pay, in order:
restitution, the CVC fee, the ICAC fee, the DDR assessment, and
the fines at the rate of twenty-five percent of gross earnings
while incarcerated, then at a rate of at least $30.00 per month
upon his release. At sentencing, Yamashita requested a waiver
of the CVC fee7 and the circuit court set an evidentiary hearing
to determine his ability to pay and whether his request for a
waiver of the CVC fee should be granted.
6 We note that Yamashita’s appeal encompasses all eight of his
circuit court cases to which he was sentenced and/or resentenced on May 31,
2019 (the First Case, along with the Other Cases). However, some court
proceedings and most party submissions in the record refer only to the $2,075
CVC fee and the $2,500 ICAC fee levied in the Other Cases. This opinion
treats the CVC fee at issue as one combined CVC fee as levied across all
eight cases, in the amount of $2,180.00 (the $2,075.00 CVC fee from the Other
Cases, plus the $105.00 CVC fee from the First Case). Additionally, this
opinion treats the ICAC fee at issue as one combined ICAC fee in the amount
of $2,600.00 (the $2,500 ICAC fee from the Other Cases, plus the $100.00 ICAC
fee from the First Case). Further proceedings consistent with this opinion
shall use these same combined amounts for the CVC fee ($2,180.00) and the
ICAC fee ($2,600.00).
7 Yamashita does not argue before this court that the circuit court
abused its discretion in imposing a DDR assessment, but does contend that the
DDR assessment is an unconstitutional tax. Thus, the DDR assessment will
only be discussed in the context of Yamashita’s constitutional arguments.
6
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In support of his request for a waiver of the CVC fee,
Yamashita filed a motion to reconsider all of his sentences
across the First Case and the Other Cases (“Motion to Reconsider
Sentence”) asking the court to waive the CVC fee because he was
unable to pay it. Yamashita relied on Haw. Insurers Council v.
Lingle, 120 Hawaiʻi 51, 59, 201 P.3d 564, 572 (2008) in arguing
that the CVC fee and DDR assessment were unconstitutional taxes
given the constitutional principle that only the legislative
branch of government has the authority to tax. He argued that
the CVC fee and DDR assessment were not constitutionally
permissible user fees, paid “in exchange for a particular
governmental service which benefits the party paying the fee
. . . to compensate the governmental entity providing the
services for its expenses[,]” but rather, were taxes “imposed by
the government on persons, entities, transactions, or property
to yield public revenue[,]” which may not be delegated by the
legislature. Lingle, 120 Hawaiʻi at 60, 62, 201 P.3d at 573, 575(internal quotation marks omitted). Yamashita contended that to
determine whether a charge is a user fee, as opposed to a tax,
the court should apply the three-part test in Lingle, 120 Hawaiʻi
at 62, 201 P.3d at 575, which considers whether the charge “(1)
applies to the direct beneficiary of a particular service, (2)
is allocated directly to defraying the costs of providing the
service, and (3) is reasonably proportionate to the benefit
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received.” Under the Lingle test, Yamashita argued that the CVC
fee and DDR assessment were unconstitutional taxes because they
were set and collected at the court’s discretion, primarily, “to
generate revenue.”
The circuit court held an evidentiary hearing to
assess Yamashita’s ability to pay the CVC fee and to determine
whether he should be granted a waiver of said fee. At the
hearing, Yamashita testified that he was twenty-nine years old
and had a GED. He testified that, prior to incarceration, he
was “on the streets,” and his last non-prison job was as a
roofer. Yamashita testified that he was currently incarcerated
at Halawa Correctional Facility (“HCF”) and was employed at HCF
as a plumber. He confirmed that he had not been trained as a
plumber, but “learned on the job.” Yamashita testified that as
a plumber he made twenty-five cents an hour and worked about
thirty-five hours a week, which averaged to about $15.00 to
$20.00 per month in prison income. He also stated that his
mother sometimes put $100.00 per month in his HCF account, when
she was able to. He testified that $30.00 per month was
automatically removed from his account by the “[c]ourt” and that
his HCF account was currently empty. He claimed that he had no
other sources of income and had no investments or assets. He
stated that he had two daughters and paid $100.00 in child
support every month. Yamashita testified that he had no medical
8
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issues, and that he could get a full-time job and intended to
work to support himself and his daughters and to pay off his
financial obligations upon release from prison. Yamashita
testified that he was presently unable to pay the CVC fee, but
agreed that if he became employed post-incarceration, it would
be “feasible” for him to pay $30.00 per month after his release.
After the evidentiary hearing to assess Yamashita’s
ability to pay the CVC fee, the circuit court filed an order on
January 15, 2020 granting in part and denying in part
Yamashita’s Motion to Reconsider Sentence, and denying
Yamashita’s request for a waiver of the CVC fee. Based on
Yamashita’s testimony, in its Findings of Fact (“FOFs”) and
Conclusions of Law (“COLs”), the circuit court concluded that
Yamashita was “healthy, young, ha[d] his GED, [wa]s able-bodied,
and [wa]s willing and able to find employment after release from
custody.” The circuit court found that “Defendant’s plumbing
job at Halawa will provide him with training and a skillset that
will allow him to become gainfully employed outside of prison.”
Thus, the circuit court determined that because Yamashita had
“skills as a plumber, was employed at his evidentiary hearing,
and ha[d] the ability to become employed in the future,” paying
$30.00 per month post-incarceration “would be feasible” and he
would “eventually be able to pay” his financial obligations,
“including his CVC fees.”
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As to Yamashita’s constitutional claims, the circuit
court concluded that because the CVC fee and DDR assessment were
expended for “legitimate criminal justice purposes,” both
charges were constitutional.8
B. Appellate Proceedings
1. ICA Appeal
Yamashita argued in his appeal to the ICA that the
circuit court erred in denying his Motion to Reconsider
Sentence.9 He first posited that the circuit court erroneously
“concluded that it must consider [his] future earning capacity”
when imposing the CVC fee, and contended that future earning
capacity was only relevant to the amount of the CVC fee under
HRS § 351-62.6(b).10 The State denied that the circuit court
8 In support of its finding that the CVC fee and DDR assessment
were constitutional, the circuit court relied on a “framework” adopted by a
Texas appeals court wherein a court cost was constitutional if it was
“expended for legitimate criminal justice purposes.” Peraza v. State, 467
S.W.3d 508, 517 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). According to Peraza, “[a] criminal
justice purpose is one that relates to the administration of our criminal
justice system. Whether a criminal justice purpose is ‘legitimate’ is a
question to be answered on a statute-by-statute/case-by-case basis.” Id. at
517-18. Under the Texas framework, the circuit court found that CVC funds
were expended for a legitimate criminal justice purpose, namely, “to provide
financial aid to victims of crimes,” and thus, concluded that HRS § 351-
62.5(b) was not unconstitutional. The circuit court found that DDR funds
were also expended for a legitimate criminal justice purpose, namely, “to
supplement substance abuse treatment and other substance abuse demand
reduction programs[,]” and thus, concluded that HRS § 706-650 was not
unconstitutional.
9 Yamashita specifically challenged the circuit court’s COLs Nos.
4–5, 10, 13, 15, 17–19, and 22–23.
10 Yamashita noted that even if the court could consider future
earning capacity, the circuit court’s “highly speculative assumption” that he
(continued . . .)
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abused its discretion by imposing a CVC fee and argued that the
“most reasonable and consistent reading” of HRS §§ 706-605(6)
and 351-62.6(a) together permitted consideration of a
defendant’s future ability to pay CVC fees. Yamashita responded
that this interpretation of the statutes did not align with
legislative intent: “protecting the indigent” from having to
pay a CVC fee.
The ICA issued a Summary Disposition Order (“SDO”)
affirming the circuit court’s Order of Resentencing, Judgments
of Conviction, and Reconsideration Order. In affirming the
circuit court’s imposition of the CVC fee, the ICA reasoned that
the circuit court’s unchallenged findings established that
Yamashita would be able to pay the CVC fee in the future because
Yamashita voluntarily applied for his plumbing job at
Halawa because he wanted to work; the plumbing job will
provide him with training and a skillset that will allow
him to become gainfully employed outside of prison; he was
in good health and faced no kind of medical issue that
would prevent him from working; and he intended to work
full-time once released from prison or placed on parole to
support his two daughters and pay his court-ordered
restitution, fines, and fees.
Given this evidence, the ICA concluded that the circuit court’s
finding that Yamashita would be able to pay the CVC fee was not
clearly erroneous.
(. . . continued)
would be able to pay the CVC fee in the future was “not supported by the
evidence” and was not reasonably foreseeable.
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As to Yamashita’s constitutional argument, the ICA
found that the CVC fee and DDR assessment were constitutional
criminal fines, citing its decision in State v. Adcock, 148
Hawaiʻi 308, 320–21, 473 P.3d 769, 781–82 (App. 2020), where it
held that “the CVC fee is a fine, not a tax,” because (1) “it is
a penalty imposed after a criminal conviction[;]” (2) “it
is . . . paid into a special fund in the state treasury that
does not reimburse payments related to the defendant’s
prosecution[;]” and (3) “it makes the severity of the crime a
criterion to be considered when the court orders the payment.”
The ICA reasoned that the “same analysis” applied to the DDR
assessment in the present case. Thus, the ICA upheld the
constitutionality of both the CVC fee and DDR assessment.
2. Application for Writ of Certiorari
Yamashita filed a timely application for writ of
certiorari on March 1, 2021. In his application, Yamashita
argued that the ICA gravely erred by (1) affirming the circuit
court’s determination that he would be able to pay the $2,180
CVC fee; and (2) declining to apply the three-part test in State
v. Medeiros, 89 Hawaiʻi 361, 973 P.2d 736 (1999), to determine
whether the CVC fee and DDR assessment were unconstitutional
taxes. Yamashita’s application for writ of certiorari was
accepted.
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III. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
A. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
This court reviews the circuit court’s FOFs “under the
clearly erroneous standard.” 7’s Enters. v. Del Rosario, 111
Hawaiʻi 484, 489, 143 P.3d 23, 28 (2006).
A finding of fact is clearly erroneous when, despite
evidence to support the finding, the appellate court is
left with the definite and firm conviction in reviewing the
entire evidence that a mistake has been committed. A
finding of fact is also clearly erroneous when the record
lacks substantial evidence to support the finding. We have
defined substantial evidence as credible evidence which is
of sufficient quality and probative value to enable a
person of reasonable caution to support a conclusion.
Id. COLs are reviewed de novo under the right/wrong standard.
Id. “A COL that is supported by the trial court’s FOFs and that
reflects an application of the correct rule of law will not be
overturned.” Amfac, Inc. v. Waikiki Beachcomber Inv. Co., 74
Haw. 85, 119, 839 P.2d 10, 29 (1992). Mixed questions of law
and fact are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard.
Narayan v. Ass’n of Apartment Owners of Kapalua Bay Condo., 140
Hawaiʻi 75, 83, 398 P.3d 664, 672 (2017).
B. Constitutionality of Statutes
“We review questions of constitutional law de novo,
under the right/wrong standard.” Tax Found. of Haw. v. State,
144 Hawaiʻi 175, 185, 439 P.3d 127, 137 (2019) (quoting State v.
Kalaola, 124 Hawaiʻi 43, 49, 237 P.3d 1109, 1115 (2010)).
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IV. DISCUSSION
A. The Circuit Court Erred by Imposing a CVC Fee on Yamashita
Pursuant to HRS §§ 706-605 and 351-62.6 Because He Was
Unable to Pay the CVC Fee
The ICA erred by affirming the circuit court’s
imposition of a CVC fee pursuant to HRS §§ 706-605 and 351-62.6
because Yamashita was presently unable to pay the fee. The
issue in the present case is whether the court, in imposing a
CVC fee, should have considered only Yamashita’s present ability
to pay, or whether it was permitted to also consider his future
ability to pay. Resolution of this issue hinges on the
interpretation of HRS §§ 706-605 and 351-62.6, both of which
apply in the present case because they both provide for the
imposition of a CVC fee on every convicted criminal defendant.11
We consider the following rules of statutory construction in
interpreting their meaning:
First, legislative enactments are presumptively valid and
should be interpreted in such a manner as to give them
effect. Second, laws in pari materia, or upon the same
subject matter, shall be construed with reference to each
other. What is clear in one statute may be called in aid
to explain what is doubtful in another. Third, where there
is a plainly irreconcilable conflict between a general and
a specific statute concerning the same subject matter, the
specific will be favored. However, where the statutes
simply overlap in their application, effect will be given
to both if possible, as repeal by implication is
disfavored.
11 See supra note 3.
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Richardson v. City & County of Honolulu, 76 Hawaiʻi 46, 54–55,
868 P.2d 1193, 1201–02 (1994), reconsideration denied, 76 Hawaiʻi
247, 871 P.2d 795 (1994), judgment aff’d, 124 F.3d 1150 (9th
Cir. 1997) (internal quotation marks, brackets, and citations
omitted).
Under the plain language of both HRS §§ 706-605 and
351-62.6, the court must (1) impose a CVC fee on every convicted
defendant and (2) waive the CVC fee if the defendant is
presently unable to pay. HRS § 706-605(6) provides that “[t]he
court shall impose a [CVC] fee upon every person convicted of a
criminal offense pursuant to section 351-62.6” but states that
“the court shall waive the imposition of a [CVC] fee if it finds
that the defendant is unable to pay the [CVC] fee.” HRS § 351-
62.6(a) specifies that a CVC fee shall be imposed “upon every
defendant who has been convicted or who has entered a plea under
section 853-1 and who is or will be able to pay the [CVC] fee”
but states, like HRS § 706-605(6), “that the court shall waive
the imposition of a [CVC] fee if the defendant is unable to pay
the [CVC] fee.” It is evident that both statutes mandate the
imposition of a CVC fee and mandate waiver when a defendant is
presently unable to pay.
The plain language of HRS §§ 706-605 and 351-62.6,
however, differs slightly as to under what circumstances the
court should impose a CVC fee: HRS § 706-605(6) provides that a
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CVC fee shall be imposed on “every person convicted of a
criminal offense” while HRS § 351-62.6(a) provides that a CVC
fee shall be imposed on every defendant who has been convicted
of or pleaded to a criminal offense and “who is or will be able
to pay” the fee. Thus, given this differing language, the issue
is whether there is a “plainly irreconcilable conflict” between
HRS §§ 706-605(6) and 351-62.6(a), or whether the two statutes
“simply overlap in their application.” Id. at 55, 868 P.2d at
1202. There is no “plainly irreconcilable conflict” between the
two statutes as both statutes overlap and provide that the court
“shall waive” the CVC fee if “the defendant is unable to pay[.]”
HRS §§ 706-605(6), 351-62.6(a). Under both HRS §§ 706-605(6)
and 351-62.6(a), if the court determines the defendant is
presently unable to pay the CVC fee, the court is required to
waive the fee and there is no need to determine whether the
defendant “will be able to pay” the fee under HRS § 351-62.6(a).
The legislative history of both statutes evinces the
legislature’s intent to mandate waiver of CVC fees when the
defendant is presently unable to pay. The authority to impose
CVC fees was established in 1998 by Act 206, which added now-HRS
§ 351-62.6 in its entirety and amended HRS § 706-605 to add a
provision imposing CVC fees. 1998 Haw. Sess. Laws 717. Neither
Act 206 itself nor the legislature’s committee reports explain
why HRS § 351-62.6, but not HRS § 706-605, imposes a CVC fee on
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a defendant who “will be able to pay.” The legislative history
of Act 206, however, clearly reflects the legislative intent
that waiver of the CVC fee be mandatory, rather than
discretionary, if a defendant is presently unable to pay.12
Conf. Comm. Rep. No. 123, in 1998 House Journal, at 1003, 1998
Senate Journal, at 796–97 (amending the bill to require that the
court waive the CVC fee if the defendant was unable to pay);
Conf. Comm. Rep. No. 156, in 1998 House Journal, at 1025–26,
1998 Senate Journal, at 819 (same); H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No.
894-98, in 1998 House Journal, at 1404 (same). Thus, the
legislative history of HRS §§ 351-62.6 and 706-605 supports an
interpretation wherein the guiding inquiry in imposing a CVC fee
is whether the defendant is presently able to pay such a fee.
If not, the court is required to waive the fee.
In this case, both the circuit court and the ICA
emphasized the language in HRS § 351-62.6(a) that purports to
impose a CVC fee on every defendant “who is or will be able to
12 The Senate Committee on Judiciary was the only committee to posit
that CVC fees should be discretionary instead of mandatory, voicing a
“concern[] that requiring mandatory compensation [of CVC fees] would
eliminate the discretion of the Judiciary in imposing these penalties” and
stating that “[j]udges should have the discretion not to impose compensation
fees on a defendant who is unable to pay.” H. Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 894-98,
in 1998 House Journal, at 1404.
17
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pay the [CVC] fee.”13 In its SDO, the ICA pointed to its holding
in State v. Pulgados, 148 Hawaiʻi 361, 477 P.3d 155 (App. 2020),
cert. denied, No. SCWC-XX-XXXXXXX, 2021 WL 815862 (Mar. 3,
2021), which stated that “a sentencing court must impose CVC
fees upon the satisfaction of two conditions: (1) that the
defendant has been convicted of a criminal offense, including a
conviction upon a plea; and (2) a determination that the
defendant is or will be able to pay the CVC fee.” 148 Hawaiʻi at
369, 477 P.3d at 163. However, imposing a CVC fee solely
considering the two aforementioned conditions relied on by the
ICA ignores the provisions in both HRS §§ 351-62.6(a) and 706-
605(6) that the court must waive the CVC fee when the defendant
is presently unable to pay. Mandatory waiver where the
defendant is presently unable to pay renders irrelevant whether
a defendant may gain the ability to pay in the future. Thus, to
the extent that the holding in Pulgados allows a court to impose
a CVC fee on a defendant who is presently unable to pay, that
holding is overruled.
In the present case, the circuit court concluded that
Yamashita was “presently unable to pay ICAC fees” given his
“limited earning potential” in prison, his current prison
13 In its COL No. 18, the circuit court found that “[a]s part of the
CVC statute, the legislature included specific language that requires a
judge’s contemplation of a defendant’s present and future abilities to pay.”
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income, and his child support and restitution obligations, and
waived the $2,600.00 ICAC fee.14 At the evidentiary hearing to
determine whether Yamashita should be granted a waiver of the
CVC fee, Yamashita testified that he had no assets or
investments and no consistent income other than the twenty-five
cents an hour he earned from his HCF plumbing job.15 Yamashita
also testified that he paid $100.00 per month in child support
and that for every $100.00 accrued in his HCF account, $30.00
was automatically withdrawn and applied toward his court-ordered
financial obligations.
Unlike its decision not to impose an ICAC fee, the
circuit court made no finding as to Yamashita’s present ability
to pay a CVC fee, concluding only that Yamashita was “willing
and will eventually be able to pay the restitutions, fees, and
fines, including his CVC fees.” However, the circuit court’s
14 The circuit court’s COL No. 20 provided:
The Court finds that, taking into account only [Yamashita]’s current
ability to pay, he is unable to pay the $[2,600] in ICAC fees. [Yamashita]’s
current income while incarcerated does not cover his liabilities that include
ICAC fees. All of [Yamashita]’s current income goes towards higher-ranking
priorities such as his child support obligations and restitution in his
cases. Even after his current income is garnished for those aforementioned
liabilities, he still owes all payments on his CVC fees. Taking into account
only his current ability to pay, because he is incarcerated with limited
earning potential, he has no present opportunity to begin to pay down his
ICAC assessments. For these reasons, the Court determines that [Yamashita]
is presently unable to pay ICAC fees.
15 Yamashita testified that he worked approximately thirty-five
hours a week and averaged about $15.00 to $20.00 a month in prison income.
He also testified that his mother sometimes deposited $100.00 in his prison
account, but clarified that these deposits were irregular.
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reasoning as to Yamashita’s present inability to pay an ICAC fee
also applies to his present inability to pay a CVC fee.16 We
agree with the circuit court’s conclusion that Yamashita is
unable to pay an ICAC fee, and find that he is also unable to
pay a CVC fee and that the CVC fee should be waived.17 The
circuit court’s findings, that the ICA found supported imposing
a CVC fee, bore on Yamashita’s future—not present—ability to pay
the fee.18 Thus, because Yamashita is presently unable to pay,
the circuit court erred by imposing a CVC fee and the ICA erred
by affirming the circuit court’s imposition of such a fee.19
16 Similar to the language in HRS §§ 351-62.6(a) and 706-605(6) that
mandates waiver where a defendant is presently unable to pay CVC fees, HRS
§ 846F-3(a) provides that “no [ICAC] fee shall be ordered when the court
determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fee.”
17 The circuit court imposed a $2,180.00 CVC fee and a $2,600.00
ICAC fee on Yamashita and ultimately determined that Yamashita was not
presently able to pay the $2,600.00 ICAC fee.
18 The circuit court reasoned in COL No. 13 that Yamashita was
“healthy, young, . . . able-bodied, and willing and able to find employment
after release from custody.” The circuit court found in COL No. 14 that
Yamashita’s work as a plumber at HCF “will provide him with training and a
skillset that will allow him to become gainfully employed outside of prison.”
The circuit court found in COL No. 15 that because Yamashita “has skills as a
plumber, was employed at his evidentiary hearing, and has the ability to
become employed in the future[,]” that “when he becomes employed outside of
prison, the minimum payment of $30.00 per month would be feasible.” The
circuit court concluded in COL No. 23 that although Yamashita was “not
currently in a position where he is able to pay ICAC fees because of his
imprisonment and other financial obligations[,]” he was “willing and will
eventually be able to pay the restitutions, fees, and fines, including his
CVC fees.”
19 The ICA, in holding the circuit court did not err by imposing a
CVC fee on Yamashita, also found, in part, that “Yamashita voluntarily
applied for his plumbing job at [HCF] because he wanted to work” and that “he
intended to work full-time once released from prison or placed on parole to
support his two daughters and pay his court-ordered restitution, fines, and
(continued . . .)
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B. The CVC Fee and DDR Assessment Are Not Unconstitutional
Taxes
The CVC fee and DDR assessment were constitutional
criminal fines, not unconstitutional taxes.20 “A fine . . . is a
‘retributive payment’ due the sovereign[,]” and “advance[s]
punitive objectives[.]” State v. Gaylord, 78 Hawaiʻi 127, 152,
890 P.2d 1167, 1192 (1995) (quoting State v. Murray, 63 Haw. 12,
16, 621 P.2d 334, 337 (1980), then quoting Standards for
Criminal Justice § 18–3.16 cmt. (Am. Bar Ass’n 1994)). Criminal
(. . . continued)
fees.” A defendant’s expressed willingness to work while or after being
incarcerated does not bear on their present or future ability to pay, and
moreover, should not increase their risk of being subjected to financial
punishment--that is, being saddled with court-imposed costs. As such, we do
not regard Yamashita’s willingness to work at HCF while incarcerated and
after his release from prison as weighing in favor of imposing a CVC fee.
20 The Hawaiʻi Constitution directs that “[t]he taxing power shall be
reserved to the State[.]” Haw. Const. art. VIII, § 3. This court has
confirmed that “[t]he power of taxation is essentially a legislative power”
and “cannot be delegated” to the executive branch. Lingle, 120 Hawaiʻi at 59,
201 P.3d at 572 (quoting McCandless v. Campbell, 20 Haw. 411, 420 (1911)).
Yamashita contends that to determine whether the CVC fee and DDR assessment
amount to unconstitutional taxes, we should apply the test developed by this
court in Medeiros. In Medeiros, a defendant sought to enjoin enforcement of
a Honolulu ordinance that permitted the City and County to collect a fee from
“a person convicted of any misdemeanor or felony” for “services performed by
the city in connection with the arrest, processing, investigation, and
prosecution of the convicted person.” 89 Hawaiʻi at 362 n.1, 973 P.2d at 737
n.1. This court invalidated the ordinance, and set forth a three-part test:
if “the charge (1) applies to the direct beneficiary of a particular service,
(2) is allocated directly to defraying the costs of providing the service,
and (3) is reasonably proportionate to the benefit received[,]” the charge is
a permissible user fee, not an unconstitutional tax. Id. at 367, 973 P.2d at
742.
In Lingle, however, this court clarified that the Medeiros test
“is properly confined to evaluating whether the charge is a user fee or a
tax.” 120 Hawaiʻi at 64, 201 P.3d at 577. As discussed, infra, the CVC fee
and DDR assessments are neither user fees nor taxes, but rather, criminal
fines. Therefore, the Medeiros test is not applicable to this case.
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fines are expressly permitted under the Hawaiʻi Penal Code “as a
means of penalizing the offender.” HRS § 706-640 cmt.
As the ICA held in its SDO, the CVC fee is a
permissible criminal fine, not an unconstitutional tax, because:
(1) the charge is “imposed after criminal conviction[]” and is
“authorized” by the legislature as “punishment for criminal
behavior[;]” (2) the charge is “paid into [a] special
fund[] . . . that do[es] not reimburse payments related to” or
“offset the costs of” the defendant’s prosecution; and (3) when
imposing a CVC fee, the court must consider “the severity of the
crime” and may also consider the criteria in HRS § 706-641,
which applies to other criminal fines. Adcock, 148 Hawaiʻi at
320, 473 P.3d at 781.
Furthermore, the statutes authorizing the CVC fee and
DDR assessment fall within HRS chapter 706, titled “Disposition
of Convicted Defendants,” which contains all provisions related
to criminal punishment and sentencing, including probation,
imposition of fees, fines, and restitution, and imprisonment.
See HRS chapter 706. Both the CVC fee and DDR assessment are
mandatory punishments imposed upon convicted defendants—a court
may waive the CVC fee only if the defendant is unable to pay,
HRS §§ 706-605(6), 351-62.6, and may waive the DDR assessment
only if the defendant is unable to pay or is ordered to enter a
22
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substance abuse treatment program at the defendant’s own
expense, HRS § 706-650. And because the court is required to
consider the severity of the defendant’s crime when setting the
amount of the CVC fee and DDR assessment, the more serious the
offense, the higher the maximum amount the court may impose.
See HRS §§ 351-62.6 and 706-650. Because the CVC fee and DDR
assessment are criminal fines and not taxes, the ICA did not err
in upholding the constitutionality of the CVC fee and DDR
assessment.
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the ICA’s January 6, 2021
Judgment on Appeal is vacated in part as to its imposition of
the $2,180.00 CVC fee, as it was based on the conclusion that
Yamashita will be able to pay the CVC fee in the future. The
Judgment on Appeal is affirmed in all other respects. The case
is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
Benjamin E. Lowenthal, /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald
for Petitioner
/s/ Paula A. Nakayama
Richard B. Rost,
for Respondent /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
/s/ Michael D. Wilson
/s/ Todd W. Eddins
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