State v. Alisna ( 2021 )


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  •    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    Electronically Filed
    Intermediate Court of Appeals
    CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    08-NOV-2021
    07:52 AM
    Dkt. 116 SO
    NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
    OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
    STATE OF HAWAI#I, Plaintiff-Appellee,
    v.
    GABRIEL ALISNA, Defendant-Appellant
    APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT
    (CRIMINAL NO. 1PC131001861)
    SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
    (By:   Ginoza, Chief Judge, Leonard and Hiraoka, JJ.)
    Defendant-Appellant Gabriel Alisna appeals from the
    "Judgment of Conviction and Sentence" entered by the Circuit
    Court of the First Circuit on July 30, 2020.1            For the reasons
    explained below, we affirm the Judgment.
    On December 18, 2013, Alisna was indicted by the O#ahu
    grand jury on five counts of Violation of Privacy in the First
    Degree in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 711-
    1110.9.2     The indictment charged, in relevant part:
    COUNT 1: On or about January 1, 2013, to and
    including February 16, 2013, in the City and County of
    Honolulu, State of Hawaii, GABRIEL ALISNA, did intentionally
    or knowingly install or use, or both, in any private place,
    1
    The Honorable Karen T. Nakasone entered the Judgment but the
    Honorable Rom A. Trader presided over Alisna's trial.
    2
    Alisna was also indicted on two counts of Sexual Assault in the
    Fourth Degree in violation of HRS § 707-733(l)(a). Those counts were severed
    for a separate trial, and were ultimately dismissed without prejudice on
    May 12, 2020.
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    without consent of the person or persons to wit,
    [complaining witness], entitled to privacy therein, any
    device for observing, recording, amplifying, and/or
    broadcasting another person in a stage of undress or sexual
    activity in that place, thereby committing the offense of
    Violation of Privacy in the First Degree, in violation of
    Section 711-1110.9 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
    Counts 2-5 were substantially identical to Count 1, except for
    the names of the complaining witnesses and the dates of the
    alleged offenses.
    When Alisna was indicted HRS § 711-1110.9 (Supp. 2012)
    provided, in relevant part:
    § 711-1110.9 Violation of privacy in the first
    degree. (1) A person commits the offense of violation of
    privacy in the first degree if, except in the execution of a
    public duty or as authorized by law, the person
    intentionally or knowingly installs or uses, or both, in any
    private place, without consent of the person or persons
    entitled to privacy therein, any device for observing,
    recording, amplifying, or broadcasting another person in a
    stage of undress or sexual activity in that place.
    (Emphasis added.)3
    Alisna worked as a teacher for Kamehameha Schools. He
    lived in faculty housing on the Kapālama Campus. Alisna filed a
    pretrial motion to suppress evidence. He argued that Kamehameha
    Schools employees entered his residence without his permission,
    removed his property (a mini-spy camera with a memory card), and
    provided it to the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) as evidence
    in his criminal case. The trial court denied the motion to
    suppress.
    Jury-waived trial began on October 1, 2018. The State
    introduced evidence that Alisna video recorded three minors,
    without their permission, while the minors were showering nude in
    Alisna's residence. The State rested.
    Alisna rested without calling any witnesses. He then
    filed a motion to dismiss. He argued that Counts 1-5 failed to
    allege all elements of the offense because there was no
    3
    The State's answering brief quotes the current version of the
    statute rather than the version in effect at the time of the alleged offense.
    2
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    allegation that he was not acting "in the execution of a public
    duty or as authorized by law[.]"
    Alisna also made an oral motion for a judgment of
    acquittal. He argued that the State failed to prove that he was
    not acting "in the execution of a public duty or as authorized by
    law[.]"
    The trial court denied both of Alisna's motions by
    order entered on November 6, 2018. The trial court ruled:
    the exception that's embodied in 711-1110.9 constitutes a
    defense and not an element of the offense and, therefore,
    that is pivotal to the Court's ruling on both of these
    motions, because if it is an element, it's required to be
    alleged, it's required to be proven or disproved.
    If it's a defense, then it's not required to be
    alleged, and it's not required for the State to produce
    evidence of that in its case in chief.
    The Judgment was entered on July 30, 2020. Alisna was
    found guilty as charged on Counts 1-5. He was sentenced to five
    years in prison on each count, to run concurrently. This appeal
    followed.
    Alisna contends: (1) the trial court erroneously denied
    his motion to suppress evidence; (2) the trial court erroneously
    denied his motion to dismiss counts 1-5 of the indictment; and
    (3) the trial court erroneously denied his motion for judgment of
    acquittal.
    1.    The trial court did not err by denying
    the motion to suppress evidence.
    Alisna argues that his mini-spy camera and memory card
    should have been suppressed as evidence because Kamehameha
    Schools employees entered his on-campus apartment and removed
    those items without his permission, in violation of his right to
    be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures under the
    Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I,
    section 7 of the Hawai#i Constitution.
    [T]he proponent of a motion to suppress has the burden of
    establishing not only that the evidence sought to be
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    excluded was unlawfully secured, but also, that [their] own
    Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the search and
    seizure sought to be challenged. The proponent of the
    motion to suppress must satisfy this burden of proof by a
    preponderance of the evidence.
    State v. Lawson, 103 Hawai#i 11, 19, 
    78 P.3d 1159
    , 1167 (App.
    2003) (quoting State v. Anderson, 84 Hawai#i 462, 467, 
    935 P.2d 1007
    , 1012 (1997)).
    The purpose of the constitutional right to be secure
    against unreasonable searches and seizures is "to protect
    individuals against intrusions by the government." Lawson, 103
    Hawai#i at 19, 
    78 P.3d at 1167
     (quoting State v. Kahoonei, 83
    Hawai#i 124, 129, 
    925 P.2d 294
    , 299 (1996)). Evidence obtained
    by a private individual acting wholly on their own initiative is
    properly admissible in a criminal trial. 
    Id.
     There is no
    bright-line rule to determine whether a private individual is
    acting on their own or as a government agent; "the correct test
    for determining whether a private individual is a government
    agent is the 'totality of the circumstances test.'" Kahoonei, 83
    Hawai#i at 130, 
    925 P.2d at 300
    .
    The [Hawai#i Supreme Court] stated that under the totality
    of the circumstances test, several factors may be considered
    in determining whether a private individual was acting as a
    police agent:
    whether the private individual: (1) was actively
    recruited [by the government]; (2) was directed by a
    government agent; (3) acted for a private purpose; and
    (4) received any payment for [their] services.
    Lawson, 103 Hawai#i at 19-20, 
    78 P.3d at 1167-68
     (first quoting
    Kahoonei, 83 Hawai#i at 127, 
    925 P.2d at 297
    ; and then citing
    State v. Boynton, 
    58 Haw. 530
    , 537–38, 
    574 P.2d 1330
    , 1335
    (1978)).
    Alisna's motion to suppress was heard on May 17, 18,
    and June 19, 2018. The trial court entered findings of fact,
    conclusions of law, and its order denying the motion to suppress
    on July 27, 2018. Alisna challenges findings of fact nos. 21,
    22, and 23, and conclusions of law nos. 16, 17, 18, and 19.
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    We review findings of fact under the "clearly
    erroneous" standard. Lawson, 103 Hawai#i at 19, 
    78 P.3d at 1167
    .
    A finding of fact is clearly erroneous when (1) the record lacks
    substantial evidence to support the finding, or (2) despite
    substantial evidence in support of the finding, the appellate
    court is nonetheless left with a definite and firm conviction
    that a mistake has been made. 
    Id.
    The trial court found:
    21.   The Court finds that entry into [Alisna]'s residence
    on March 7, 2014 was consistent and supported by
    provisions of the lease agreement entered into by and
    between [Alisna] and KS [Kamehameha Schools].
    Alisna's on-campus housing agreement was in evidence as defense
    exhibit E. Under this agreement, Alisna was prohibited from
    using his apartment "for any unlawful or immoral purpose
    whatsoever[.]" If Kamehameha Schools discovered that illegal or
    immoral acts were taking place in Alisna's apartment, Kamehameha
    Schools had the right to terminate Alisna's tenancy and to "take
    any other reasonable action [as] necessary to stop the illegal or
    immoral activity." The agreement allowed Kamehameha Schools to
    enter Alisna's apartment to conduct inspections. Finding of fact
    no. 21 was supported by substantial evidence and was not clearly
    erroneous.
    The trial court also found:
    22.   The Court further finds that the testimony received at
    the hearing on the Motion to Suppress from KS security
    officers, Clark Mills and Michael Moses, as well as
    from HPD officers John Omerod and Detective Brian
    Tokita, are credible.
    Evaluating witness credibility is within the province of the
    trial court, and will not be second-guessed on appeal. State v.
    Jenkins, 93 Hawai#i 87, 103-04, 
    997 P.2d 13
    , 29-30 (2000).
    Finally, the trial court found:
    23.   That KS security officers who searched and seized
    evidence from [Alisna]'s residence were acting as
    private actors employed by a private school entity.
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    Alisna is bound by the following findings of fact, which he does
    not contest, State v. Rodrigues, 145 Hawai#i 487, 494, 
    454 P.3d 428
    , 435 (2019):
    4.    On or about March 2, 2013, KS received an anonymous
    report that [Alisna] secretly video recorded KS
    students in the nude, while they showered at
    [Alisna]'s residence.
    5.    Upon receiving the above-mentioned report, KS
    initiated an attorney-driven investigation of [Alisna]
    independent of any police investigation. KS did not
    inform HPD or any other institution of the allegation
    against [Alisna] or its independent investigation of
    [Alisna].
    . . . .
    8.    On March 7, 2013, while [Alisna] attended the faculty
    meeting, and at the direction of KS compliance officer
    David Burge, KS security officers Clark Mills and
    Michael Moses, [sic] entered [Alisna]'s residence
    without notice to, or permission from, [Alisna] and
    without a warrant; searched [Alisna]'s residence,
    including [Alisna]'s shower; discovered, among other
    things, a bracket located in the shower of [Alisna]'s
    residence, a mini-spy camera equipped with a Secure
    Digital ("SD") memory card that fit into the shower
    bracket, and various power cords; and physically
    removed the mini-spy camera with SD memory card and
    accompanying power cords, among other things, from
    [Alisna]'s residence.
    9.    KS security officers took the items seized from
    [Alisna]'s residence to the KS security office,
    located on the Kapalama [sic] campus.
    . . . .
    12.   The KS security officers who entered [Alisna]'s
    residence were not employed or otherwise contracted by
    HPD or any other governmental agency.
    . . . .
    14.   KS security officers Mills and Moses did not receive
    any compensation from HPD or any other law enforcement
    agency for the search of [Alisna]'s residence.
    These uncontested facts support finding of fact no. 23, which was
    not clearly erroneous.
    Alisna also challenges conclusions of law nos. 16, 17,
    18 and 19. The trial court's conclusions of law are reviewed
    under the right/wrong standard. Lawson, 103 Hawai#i at 19, 
    78 P.3d at 1167
    . A conclusion of law that is supported by the trial
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    court's findings of fact and reflects an application of the
    correct rule of law will not be overturned. Est. of Klink ex
    rel. Klink v. State, 113 Hawai#i 332, 351, 
    152 P.3d 504
    , 523
    (2007).
    The trial court concluded:
    16.   . . . For the following reasons, the court concludes
    that the March 7, 2013 search and seizure was a
    private search, not subject to the constitutional
    restraints set forth in the Fourth Amendment to the
    United States Constitution and Article I, Section 7 of
    the Hawaii [sic] State Constitution, and the
    exclusionary rule does not preclude the State from
    using evidence recovered as a result of the March 7,
    2013 search and seizure:
    a.    It is undisputed that KS security officers
    are not employed, or otherwise contracted
    by HPD or any other governmental agency.
    b.    It is undisputed that KS is a private
    educational institution and employs its
    own security personnel.
    c.    KS has a responsibility to act with the
    best interest of the minor students who
    attend its school.
    d.    KS security officers are not law
    enforcement officers. They do not have
    the authority to effectuate an arrest, nor
    are they charged with the responsibility
    of enforcing the laws of the State of
    Hawaii [sic].
    e.    KS did not report the anonymous tip to
    police authorities at the time it was
    received, which indicates that KS was not
    motivated by law enforcement purposes.
    f.    The security personnel involved in the
    search were not "actively" or inactively
    "recruited" by the police or any other
    governmental agency. On the contrary, KS
    security officers were acting as private
    individuals presumably, at the behest of
    their employer, KS. Furthermore, the
    security officers were not paid by the
    government to conduct the search and the
    [sic] received no enumeration [sic] for
    this search by police.
    g.    KS security was not "specifically
    directed" by HPD. In fact, HPD was not
    aware of the search being conducted by KS,
    nor was it aware of the anonymous
    complaint made to KS officials that
    [Alisna] had secretly been recording
    students in the shower of [Alisna]'s
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    residence. Furthermore, HPD was not
    present when the search was executed on
    March 7, 2013, nor did KS request HPD's
    presence during the search. KS did not
    contact HPD until March 8, 2013, one day
    after the search had already been
    completed and evidence seized by KS. No
    evidence, save for Moses's written
    statement, was turned over to Officer
    Omerod during his initial investigation of
    [Alisna] on March 8, 2013.
    h.    Prior to the March 7, 2013 search and
    seizure, [Alisna] entered into a lease
    agreement with KS and was residing in
    faculty on-campus housing provided to him
    by KS. Under the terms of [the] lease
    agreement, KS security was authorized to:
    (1) enter [Alisna]'s residence, (2)
    immediately terminate the lease agreement,
    and (3) take any reasonable action to stop
    any illegal or immoral activity. KS
    security officers entered [Alisna]'s
    residence in a manner consistent with the
    lease agreement.
    i.    That the motivation of KS security
    officers to enter into [Alisna]'s
    residence, whether proper or not, under
    the lease agreement entered into by and
    between KS and [Alisna], is irrelevant
    given that the security officers were not
    acting as law enforcement or agents of law
    enforcement.
    The factual premises for conclusion of law no. 16 are supported
    by substantial evidence in the record. Conclusion of law no. 16
    reflects the proper application of the Kahoonei "totality of the
    circumstances test."
    The trial court also concluded:
    17.   . . . [Alisna] relies on State v. Bowe, 77 Haw. Hawaii
    [sic] 51 (1994), which stands for the proposition that
    the State cannot use a statement that is deemed
    involuntary when provided under the undue influence of
    a private person. For the following reasons, the
    court concludes that the March 7, 2013 search and
    seizure did not rise to the level of a
    constitutionally invalid infringement of [Alisna]'s
    right to privacy under Article I, Section 7 of the
    Hawaii [sic] State Constitution:
    a.    Bowe is distinguishable from the present case in
    several, important ways. First, Bowe involved a
    statement that later deemed by the appellate
    court to be "involuntary" and thus suppressed
    under Article I, Section 10 of the Hawaii [sic]
    State Constitution and State v. Kelekolio, 74
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    Haw. 479 (1993). Unlike Bowe, [Alisna] is not
    seeking suppression of any statement he may have
    provided. Second, in Bowe, the police contacted
    the basketball head coach to make arrangements
    to have certain members of the team, to include
    Bowe, appear at the police station for purposes
    of providing a statement. Here, unlike in Bowe,
    the police were contacted after the March 7,
    2013 search and seizure. Third, unlike in Bowe,
    there is no evidence of [Alisna] being coerced
    to allow KS into his residence for purposes of a
    search. Accordingly, Bowe is not applicable.
    (Handwriting in italics.) The trial court correctly
    distinguished Bowe; conclusion no. 17 was not wrong.
    The trial court also concluded:
    18.   During the June 19, 2018 motion hearing, the Court
    observed:
    Although there was some interaction between KS
    and law enforcement at some point, there was
    nothing that rose to the level such that they,
    meaning KS security staff, could be viewed by
    this Court as agents of law enforcement. There
    was no prior discussion before they began their
    investigation, there was no sharing of
    information, there was no request for direction,
    instruction, there was absolutely
    nothing--certainly there was no payment or
    reward or anything like that which some of the
    cases speak about.
    The factual premises for conclusion of law no. 18 are supported
    by substantial evidence in the record; conclusion of law no. 18
    reflects the proper application of the Kahoonei "totality of the
    circumstances test." Conclusion of law no. 18 was not wrong.
    Finally, the trial court concluded:
    19.   In light of the above, and based upon applicable
    statutory and legal authority, the court properly
    denies [Alisna]'s December 12, 2016 Motion to Suppress
    Evidence on both the constitutional and statutory
    claims raised by [Alisna].
    Conclusion of law no. 19 is supported by the trial court's
    findings of fact and reflects an application of the correct rule
    of law. It was not wrong.
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    2.    The trial court did not abuse its
    discretion by denying the motion to
    dismiss.
    "A trial court's ruling on a motion to dismiss an
    indictment is reviewed for an abuse of discretion." State v.
    Deguair, 136 Hawai#i 71, 84, 
    358 P.3d 43
    , 56 (2015) (citation
    omitted). "The trial court abuses its discretion when it clearly
    exceeds the bounds of reason or disregards rules or principles of
    law or practice to the substantial detriment of a party
    litigant." 
    Id.
     (citation omitted). "The burden of establishing
    abuse of discretion is on appellant, and a strong showing is
    required to establish it." 
    Id.
     at 84–85, 358 P.3d at 56–57.
    Alisna contends that counts 1-5 of the indictment
    should have been dismissed because the State failed to allege
    that Alisna was not acting "in the execution of a public duty or
    as authorized by law[.]" However, HRS § 806-29 (1993) provides:
    § 806-29 Exceptions need not be negatived. No
    indictment for any offense created or defined by statute
    shall be deemed objectionable for the reason that it fails
    to negative any exception, excuse, or proviso contained in
    the statute creating or defining the offense. The fact that
    the charge is made shall be considered as an allegation that
    no legal excuse for the doing of the act existed in a
    particular case.
    HRS § 806-29 "specifically provides that an indictment
    is not required to negate exceptions set forth in the statute
    establishing the offense." State v. Turping, 136 Hawai#i 333,
    335, 
    361 P.3d 1236
    , 1238 (App. 2015) (citing HRS § 806-29
    (2014))4. Thus, the State was not required to allege that Alisna
    was not acting "in the execution of a public duty or as
    authorized by law" in counts 1-5 of the indictment. Contrary to
    Alisna's contentions, findings of fact nos. 9 and 11 in the
    November 6, 2018 order were supported by substantial evidence and
    were not clearly erroneous; conclusions of law nos. 3, 9, and
    11-18 were supported by the trial court's findings of fact and
    4
    The 2014 version and 1993 version of HRS § 806-29 are identical
    because the statute has not been amended since 1972.
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    reflect an application of the correct rules of law. The trial
    court did not abuse its discretion by denying Alisna's motion to
    dismiss.
    3.    The trial court did not err by denying
    the motion for judgment of acquittal.
    We review the trial court's ruling on a motion for
    judgment of acquittal de novo using the same standard as the
    trial court. See State v. Carroll, 146 Hawai#i 138, 150, 
    456 P.3d 502
    , 514 (2020). The standard applied by a trial court in ruling
    upon a motion for a judgment of acquittal is whether, viewing the
    evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a trier
    of fact could fairly conclude that the defendant was guilty
    beyond a reasonable doubt. 
    Id.
    Alisna's motion for judgment of acquittal argued that
    the State failed to prove he was not acting "in the execution of
    a public duty or as authorized by law[.]" In response, the State
    argued that the exception was "not a material element for [sic]
    which the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt." The trial
    court agreed with the State:
    [T]he Court's going to rule that the exception that's
    embodied in 711-1110.9 constitutes a defense and not an
    element of the offense and, therefore, that is pivotal to
    the Court's ruling on both of these motions, because if it
    is an element, it's required to be alleged, it's required to
    be proven or disproved.
    If it's a defense, then it's not required . . . for
    the State to produce evidence of that in its case in chief.
    . . . .
    And notwithstanding the fact that there's complete
    lack of evidence with regard to disproving the exception,
    that [sic] that's not fatal in this particular case to the
    State.
    The Hawai#i Supreme Court's recent decision in State v.
    Castillon, 144 Hawai#i 406, 
    443 P.3d 98
     (2019) is dispositive. In
    that case Castillon was convicted of driving without a license
    (DWOL). The DWOL statute at issue, HRS § 286-102(a) (2007),
    provided that "No person, except one exempted under section 286-
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    105 . . . shall operate any category of motor vehicles listed in
    this section without first being appropriately examined and duly
    licensed as a qualified driver of that category of motor
    vehicles." (Emphasis added.) HRS § 286-105 (2007) provided that
    persons possessing a valid driver's license issued by Canada, or
    a valid commercial driver's license issued by Canada or Mexico,
    were "exempt from license[.]"
    Castillon contended that the State had the burden to
    prove she did not have a valid driver's license issued by Canada,
    or a valid commercial driver's license issued by Canada or
    Mexico, and failed to present any evidence on that essential
    element of DWOL. The supreme court disagreed. Citing HRS § 701-
    115(a), the supreme court stated that "a fact or set of facts
    which negatives penal liability" is a defense. Id. at 411, 443
    P.3d at 103. The supreme court then held:
    Here, if Castillon had introduced "some evidence"[5] that she
    possessed a valid driver's license in Canada or a valid
    commercial driver's license in Canada or Mexico, the burden
    would shift to the State to introduce evidence disproving
    her defense.
    Therefore, we concur with the ICA's conclusion that
    the exemptions referenced in HRS § 286-102(a) and described
    in HRS § 286-105 are defenses to the offense of DWOL, for
    which Castillon bore the initial burden of production. We
    make this determination irrespective of whether Castillon
    had knowledge or private control over facts establishing
    that she had a valid driver's license in Canada or Mexico.
    Because she did not produce "some evidence" that she
    possessed a valid driver's license that would qualify her
    for exemption, as set forth in HRS § 286-105, the burden did
    not shift to the State.
    Id. at 412, 443 P.3d at 104.
    Similarly, in this case evidence that Alisna acted "in
    the execution of a public duty or as authorized by law" when he
    secretly recorded students showering in the nude would negative
    penal liability under HRS § 701-1110.9. Under HRS § 701-115(a),
    5
    "'Some evidence' is 'such evidence [that] would support the
    consideration of that issue by the jury, no matter how weak, inconclusive, or
    unsatisfactory the evidence may be.'" Castillon, 144 Hawai#i at 411 n.9, 443
    P.3d at 103 n.9 (quoting State v. Maelega, 80 Hawai#i 172, 178–79, 
    907 P.2d 758
    , 764–65 (1995)) (other citations omitted).
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    that set of facts would be a defense, for which Alisna bore the
    burden of production. Alisna introduced no evidence that he
    acted in the execution of a public duty or as authorized by law.
    Thus, the burden never shifted to the State to introduce evidence
    disproving the defense. Castillon, 144 Hawai#i at 411-12, 443
    P.3d at 103-04; cf. State v. Romano, 114 Hawai#i 1, 6, 
    155 P.3d 1102
    , 1107 (2007) (holding statutory exception was a defense);
    State v. Jenkins, 93 Hawai#i 87, 107, 
    997 P.2d 13
    , 33 (2000)
    (same); State v. Lee, 90 Hawai#i 130, 138, 
    976 P.2d 444
    , 452
    (1999) (same); State v. Bowman, 135 Hawai#i 180, 187, 
    346 P.3d 249
    , 256 (App. 2015) (same), rev'd on other grounds, 137 Hawai#i
    398, 
    375 P.3d 177
     (2016); Turping, 136 Hawai#i at 336-37, 361 P.3d
    at 1239-40 (same); State v. Nobriga, 
    10 Haw. App. 353
    , 359, 
    873 P.2d 110
    , 113 (1994) (same), overruled on other grounds by State
    v. Maelega, 80 Hawai#i 172, 
    907 P.2d 758
     (1995). Findings of fact
    nos. 9 and 11 in the November 6, 2018 order were supported by
    substantial evidence and were not clearly erroneous; conclusions
    of law nos. 3, 9, and 11-18 were supported by the trial court's
    findings of fact and reflect an application of the correct rules
    of law.
    For the foregoing reasons, the "Judgment of Conviction
    and Sentence" entered by the circuit court on July 30, 2020, is
    affirmed.
    DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, November 8, 2021.
    On the briefs:
    /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza
    Keith S. Shigetomi,                    Chief Judge
    for Defendant-Appellant.
    /s/ Katherine G. Leonard
    Brian R. Vincent,                      Associate Judge
    Deputy Prosecuting Attorney,
    City and County of Honolulu,           /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka
    for Plaintiff-Appellee.                Associate Judge
    13