State v. Mahoe
Mahoe
Court
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
46%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAII REPORTS OR THE PACIFIC REPORTER Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 18-JUN-2025 07:58 AM Dkt. 65 SO NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I STATE OF HAWAI#I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CHARLESTON MAHOE, Defendant-Appellant (CASE NO. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX) AND STATE OF HAWAI#I, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CHARLESTON MAHOE, SR., Defendant-Appellant (CASE NO. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX) APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting C.J., and Hiraoka and Wadsworth, JJ.) Defendant-Appellant Charleston Mahoe, also known as Charleston Mahoe, Sr. (Mahoe), appeals from the following orders (together, the Denial Orders) entered by the Circuit Court of the First Circuit: (1) the February 28, 2023 "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Denying [Mahoe's] Motion to Dismiss Proceedings" in case no. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX (Case 823); and (2) the February 28, 2023 "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Denying [Mahoe's] Motion to Dismiss Proceedings," in case no. 1CPC-XX-XXXXXXX (Case 829).1/ On June 22, 2017, Plaintiff-Appellee State of Hawai#i (State) charged Mahoe in Case 823 with Count 1, Assault in the Second Degree, and Count 2, Violation of a Temporary Restraining Order. On June 23, 2017, the State charged Mahoe in the 829 Case 1/ The Honorable Shirley M. Kawamura presided in both cases. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAII REPORTS OR THE PACIFIC REPORTER with Counts 1 through 3, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, and Counts 4 through 9, Violation of a Temporary Restraining Order. Mahoe pleaded no contest to all counts in both cases, and on December 19, 2017, the circuit court sentenced him to HOPE probation. On June 24, 2022, the State moved in both cases to revoke Mahoe's probation and resentence him. On December 22, 2022, Mahoe filed a Motion to Dismiss Proceedings (Motion to Dismiss) in each case. Mahoe argued that the Hawai#i Supreme Court's decision in State v. Obrero, 151 Hawai#i 472, 517 P.3d 755 (2022), required dismissal due to the State's failure to comply with HRS § 801-1's indictment-or- information requirement. On February 28, 2023, the circuit court entered the Denial Orders, which denied the respective Motions to Dismiss. On May, 11, 2023, the circuit court filed Orders of Resentencing Revocation of Probation. On appeal, Mahoe contends that the circuit court erred in applying "the Motta/Wells standard" to his "Obrero claim" and denying his Motions to Dismiss on that basis. After reviewing the record on appeal and the relevant legal authorities, and giving due consideration to the issues raised and the arguments advanced by the parties, we resolve Mahoe's appeal as follows: The Hawaii Supreme Court has held that "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." State v. Bautista, 153 Hawai#i 284, 289, 535 P.3d 1029, 1034 (2023). The supreme court further held that "defendants awaiting sentencing . . . are foreclosed from having their pleas nullified or their trial convictions overturned" pursuant to Obrero. Id. Here, Mahoe pled out, was convicted, and was sentenced to probation with special conditions before Obrero was decided. He was awaiting resentencing when he first raised his argument based on Obrero. Pursuant to Bautista, Obrero did not apply to 2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAII REPORTS OR THE PACIFIC REPORTER his cases. Accordingly, the circuit court did not err in denying the Motions to Dismiss. Therefore, the respective February 28, 2023 Denial Orders entered by the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in Case 823 and Case 829 are affirmed. DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, June 18, 2025. On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Taryn R. Tomasa, Acting Chief Judge Deputy Public Defender, for Defendant-Appellant. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka Brian Vincent, Associate Judge Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu, for Plaintiff-Appellee. /s/ Cly
Case Details
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
In State v. Mahoe, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals addressed the appeal of Charleston Mahoe, who contested the denial of his motions to dismiss in two separate criminal cases. The court's decision, rendered on June 18, 2025, affirmed the lower court's ruling, emphasizing the implications of the Hawaii Supreme Court's previous decisions regarding plea agreements and retroactive application of legal standards.
Key Legal Issues
- Motion to Dismiss: Mahoe argued that the State's failure to comply with HRS § 801-1 warranted dismissal of the charges against him.
- Application of Obrero: The pivotal question was whether the Hawaii Supreme Court's ruling in State v. Obrero applied retroactively to Mahoe's case, which involved a plea agreement.
Court's Decision
The court affirmed the Denial Orders from the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, which had denied Mahoe's motions to dismiss based on the Obrero decision. The court ruled that Mahoe's plea and subsequent sentencing occurred before the Obrero ruling, thus the standard set forth in Obrero did not apply to his situation.
Legal Reasoning
The court's reasoning was grounded in the interpretation of Obrero and its applicability:
- The Hawaii Supreme Court clarified that Obrero applies only to cases pending trial at the time of its decision.
- Defendants who have already pled guilty or been convicted are not entitled to have their pleas nullified based on Obrero.
- Mahoe had entered a plea agreement and was sentenced before the Obrero decision, placing him outside the scope of its retroactive application.
Key Holdings
- The court held that Obrero does not apply retroactively to defendants who have already pled guilty or been convicted.
- The denial of Mahoe's motions to dismiss was upheld, affirming the circuit court's application of the Motta/Wells standard in evaluating his claims.
Precedents and Citations
- State v. Obrero, 151 Hawai#i 472, 517 P.3d 755 (2022)
- State v. Bautista, 153 Hawai#i 284, 289, 535 P.3d 1029, 1034 (2023)
These cases provide critical context for understanding the limitations on retroactive application of legal standards in Hawaii.
Practical Implications
The ruling in State v. Mahoe reinforces the principle that plea agreements and convictions are generally final and not subject to retroactive challenges based on subsequent legal interpretations. This case serves as a precedent for future defendants considering similar motions to dismiss based on changes in the law. Legal practitioners should be aware of the implications of plea agreements and the timing of legal decisions when advising clients on potential appeals or motions.
Overall, the State v. Mahoe case underscores the importance of understanding the nuances of legal standards and their applicability in criminal proceedings within Hawaii's judicial system.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools