State v. Thompson ( 2022 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed
Intermediate Court of Appeals
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
09-JUN-2022
07:48 AM
Dkt. 51 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
STATE OF HAWAI#I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
RIAN THOMPSON, Defendant-Appellant
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT
(WAI#ANAE DIVISION)
(CASE NO. 1DTA-19-02260)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
(By: Leonard, Presiding Judge, Hiraoka and Nakasone, JJ.)
Defendant-Appellant Rian Thompson (Thompson) appeals
from the Notice of Entry of Judgment and/or Order and
Plea/Judgment entered on September 25, 2020 (Judgment), in the
District Court of the First Circuit, Wai#anae Division (District
Court).1
On July 15, 2019, Thompson was charged by complaint
with Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant, in
violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 291E-61(a)(1) and/or
(a)(3) (Supp. 2018).2 On February 14, 2020, Thompson moved to
1
The Honorable Sherri-Ann L. Iha presided.
2
HRS § 291E-61(a) provides, in part:
HRS § 291E-61 Operating a vehicle under the
influence of an intoxicant (a) A person commits the
offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of
an intoxicant if the person operates or assumes actual
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
dismiss the case pursuant to Hawai#i Rules of Penal Procedure
(HRPP) Rule 48 and/or his constitutional speedy trial rights. On
September 25, 2020, the District Court dismissed the case without
prejudice.
Thompson raises a single point of error on appeal,
contending that the District Court erred in dismissing the case
without prejudice, instead of with prejudice. Thompson further
contends that, at the very least, the case should be vacated and
remanded for appropriate findings.
Plaintiff-Appellee State of Hawai#i (the State) argues
that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in
dismissing the case without prejudice. However, the State
acknowledges that the District Court did not state that it
considered the Estencion3 factors and then clearly articulate its
findings on the record.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs
submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we
resolve Thompson's point of error as follows:
HRPP Rule 48(b) provides that "the court shall, on
motion of the defendant, dismiss the charge, with or without
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physical control of a vehicle:
(1) While under the influence of alcohol in an
amount sufficient to impair the person's
normal mental faculties or ability to care
for the person and guard against casualty;
. . . .
(3) With .08 or more grams of alcohol per two
hundred ten liters of breath[.]
3
See State v. Estencion, 63 Haw. 264, 625 P.2d 1040 (1981).
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
prejudice in its discretion, if trial is not commenced within"
the time required by HRPP Rule 48. "[I]n determining whether to
dismiss a charge with or without prejudice under HRPP Rule 48(b),
the trial court must not only consider the Estencion factors, but
must also clearly articulate the effect of the Estencion factors
and any other factor it considered in rendering its decision."
State v. Hern, 133 Hawai#i 59, 64, 323 P.3d 1241, 1246 (App.
2013) (citation omitted). In addition, a trial court has the
inherent power in criminal cases to "dismiss a case on its own
motion for failure to prosecute with due diligence" with or
without prejudice, but must issue written findings articulating
the reasons for its decision to dismiss with or without
prejudice. See State v. Mageo, 78 Hawai#i 33, 37-38, 889 P.2d
1092, 1096-97 (App. 1995) (citations omitted). Indeed, the trial
court must consider the appropriate factors, which depend upon
the grounds for dismissal. See id. at 37, 889 P.2d at 1096(dismissal with or without prejudice for want of prosecution
requires a "balancing of the interest of the state against
fundamental fairness to a defendant with the added ingredient of
the orderly functioning of the court system" (quoting State v.
Moriwake, 65 Haw. 47, 56, 647 P.2d 705, 712 (1982)) (internal
quotation marks and brackets omitted),4 see also Estencion, 63
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The factors that the trial court should consider in maintaining
this balance include:
(1) the severity of the offense charged; (2) the
number of prior mistrials and the circumstances of the
jury deliberation therein, so far as is known; (3) the
character of prior trials in terms of length,
complexity and similarity of evidence presented;
(4) the likelihood of any substantial difference in a
(continued...)
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Haw. at 269, 625 P.2d at 1044 (dismissal with or without
prejudice for violation of HRPP Rule 48 requires consideration
of: "the seriousness of the offense; the facts and the
circumstances of the case which led to the dismissal; and the
impact of a reprosecution on the administration of this chapter
and on the administration of justice").
Here, the District Court did not enter findings in
support of its decision to dismiss the case without prejudice and
the record in this case is inadequate for this court to
meaningfully review whether the District Court properly exercised
its discretion.
Therefore, the District Court's September 25, 2020
Judgment is vacated, and this case is remanded to the District
Court to enter appropriate findings.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, June 9, 2022.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard
Presiding Judge
Richard L. Holcomb,
for Defendant-Appellant. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka
Associate Judge
Stephen K. Tsushima,
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, /s/ Karen T. Nakasone
City and County of Honolulu, Associate Judge
for Plaintiff-Appellee.
4
(...continued)
subsequent trial, if allowed; (5) the trial court's
own evaluation of relative case strength; and (6) the
professional conduct and diligence of respective
counsel, particularly that of the prosecuting
attorney.
Moriwake, 65 Haw. at 56, 647 P.2d at 712-13 (citation omitted).
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