Case Title: State v. Merino

Citation: 915 P.2d 672

Docket Number: 

State: hawaii

Court: Hawaii Supreme Court

Date: 1996-04-11T00:00:00Z

Document:
915 P.2d 672 (1996) 81 Hawai`i 198 STATE of Hawai`i, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. William MERINO, Defendant-Appellant. No. 15995. Supreme Court of Hawaii. April 11, 1996. Dana S. Ishibashi, on the briefs, Honolulu, for defendant-appellant William Merino. Charlotte J. Duarte, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, on the briefs, Honolulu, for plaintiff-appellee State of Hawai`i. Before MOON, C.J., and KLEIN, LEVINSON, NAKAYAMA and RAMIL, JJ. *675 LEVINSON, Justice. The defendant-appellant William Merino appeals the March 12, 1992 judgment of the first circuit court convicting him, following the entry of a plea of no contest,[1] of criminal conspiracy in violation of Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 705-520 (1993). In substance, Merino raises two points of error on appeal, namely, that the circuit court: (1) erred in allowing him to plead no contest in the first place because (a) the complaint charging him with criminal conspiracy was fatally defective, giving rise to plain error, because it "fail[ed] to sufficiently allege the elements of conspiracy," (b) the factual basis proffered by the prosecution prior to the entry of his no contest plea was insufficient to support the complaint, and (c) he had not validly waived his right to counsel, likewise giving rise to plain error; and (2) committed an abuse of discretion in denying his motion to withdraw his no contest plea. We disagree and affirm Merino's conviction. On August 25, 1988, Merino appeared pro se before Judge Donald K. Tsukiyama of the first circuit court in Cr. No. 86-0990, in *676 which Merino was charged with extortion in the first degree, a class B felony, in violation of HRS § 707-765 (1985).[2] Also present was deputy prosecuting attorney Peter Carlisle. After obtaining confirmation from Merino that he was the defendant in the pending matter, Judge Tsukiyama noted Merino's pro se status and elicited Merino's acknowledgment that, in an earlier appearance in the matter, another circuit court judge, Judge Daniel Heely, had explained to Merino his right to the assistance of counselincluding court-appointed counselin his defense. Judge Tsukiyama further established that Merino had decided not to apply for court-appointed counsel, but rather to represent himself. In an obvious abundance of caution, however, Judge Tsukiyama engaged in the following colloquy with Merino after determining that Merino was fifty-five years of age, had an eleventh grade education, and could read, write, and understand the English language: Subsequent to the colloquy set forth above, Judge Tsukiyama set the matter for a jury-waived trial to commence on August 29, 1988.[3] Judge Tsukiyama noted for the record that he understood that plea negotiations were ongoing between Merino and the prosecution and concluded the hearing with the following prophylactic exchange: On August 29, 1988, Merino appeared as scheduled before Judge Tsukiyama in Cr. No. 86-0990. At that time, Carlisle, on behalf of the prosecution, advised the court that the matter presently pending before it was to be resolved by a negotiated plea to the charge of criminal conspiracy, a class C felony in violation of HRS § 705-520 (1985),[4] in a *678 new matterCr. No. 88-1485in connection with which the prosecution had prepared a complaint [hereinafter, the new complaint] to be filed in open court. Before allowing the new complaint to be filed, Judge Tsukiyama again advised Merino that he was entitled to be represented by counsel in relation to Cr. No. 88-1485 and elicited from Merino his assurances that he did not want to be represented by counsel and that he was willing to proceed without any legal consultation. Judge Tsukiyama then permitted the new complaint to be filed in open court and directed Carlisle to read it into the record. The new complaint, as read, charged that: In response to Judge Tsukiyama's queries, Merino represented that he (1) had received a copy of the new complaint, (2) had had an opportunity to read it, (3) understood that he was being charged with criminal conspiracy, a class C felony, (4) did not need additional time to consider the new complaint, (5) did not want to consult with a attorney regarding it, (6) was prepared to enter a plea to the new charge, and (7) "would plead no contest." Before accepting Merino's plea, Judge Tsukiyama reviewed with Merino his right to be charged by indictment and his waiver of that right. Judge Tsukiyama admonished Merino that if he had some doubt as to what the court was asking, or if he did not understand a question, he should request repetition or clarification. Merino assured Judge Tsukiyama that he "underst[ood] clearly." Merino then represented that (1) he had taken no pills, drugs, alcohol, or medication during the preceding forty-eight hours, (2) his mind was clear, and (3) he did not wish to consult with an attorney regarding the waiver of his right to be charged by a grand jury. Judge Tsukiyama explained the grand jury process, including Merino's rights associated with it. Merino repeatedly represented that he understood what was being explained to him, in particular, the rights that he would be giving up by waiving indictment, and that he was waiving his right of indictment of his own free will and was not being pressured, forced, or threatened in any way to do so. Merino thereafter signed and dated a waiver of indictment form, which was filed with the court. The following colloquy ensued: At the conclusion of the prosecution's offer of proof, Merino confirmed that he was not being forced, threatened, or pressured by anyone or anything to plead no contest to the criminal conspiracy charge and that he wished to enter his plea of his own free will. Judge Tsukiyama then inquired of Carlisle as to whether the parties had entered into a plea agreement. Carlisle represented that the prosecution and Merino had agreed that, in exchange for Merino's no contest plea to the new complaint, the prosecution had agreed to nolle prosequi Cr. No. 86-0990 as it applied to Merino and to take no position before the Hawai`i Paroling Authority regarding further disposition of the present matter in the event that the court sentenced Merino to a five-year indeterminate term of imprisonment. In response to Judge Tsukiyama's questions, Merino confirmed that (1) the plea agreement as characterized was accurately reflected on the no contest plea form, (2) he had reviewed it, (3) the written description included the entire plea agreement, (4) no promises or offers of leniency had been made in return for his no contest plea, (5) he understood that the court was not a party to the agreement, was not bound thereby, and was making no commitments to him in return for his plea, (6) he ratified the statement, appearing in the no contest plea form, that he was "satisfied that [he was] competent to represent [him]self without the services of an attorney and [had] previously waived [his] right to counsel," (7) the statement was correct, (8) he had signed and dated the form, (9) he had read the contents of the form before he signed it, (10) he had no questions regarding anything appearing on the form, (11) he understood the form and *683 its contents,[7] and (12) he was willing to sign the written statement at the end of the form reflecting that the court had questioned him personally in open court to insure that he understood what he was doing in pleading no contest and that he further understood the form and its contents. Merino signed and dated the acknowledgment, advised Judge Tsukiyama that he had no questions about anything that had transpired in court, that he did not wish to discuss anything further with the prosecution, that there was nothing that he wished to ask an attorney before the court proceeded, and that he was prepared to enter his plea. Merino then formally entered his plea of no contest to the new complaint. Having done so, Judge Tsukiyama found that Merino had "voluntarily entered his no contest plea to the charge of Criminal Conspiracy as a Class C felony with a full and complete understanding of the nature of that charge ... and of the consequences of his no contest plea thereto." Accordingly, Judge Tsukiyama found and adjudged Merino guilty of criminal conspiracy as a class C felony, referred the matter to the Adult Probation Division for a presentence diagnosis and report, ordered Merino to appear before him for sentencing on November 14, 1988, and set bail in the aggregate amount of $2200.00 as to Cr. Nos. 86-0990 and 88-1485. Merino's case did not proceed smoothly subsequent to August 29, 1988. Instead, a halting and protracted series of events ensued, which we summarize as follows: In support of his written motion to withdraw no contest plea, Merino claimed in substance that (1) his capacity to exercise sound judgment had been impairedmedically and otherwiseat the time he entered his plea on August 29, 1988, (2) he had not knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel at all critical stages of the proceeding, as reflected by his failure "fully and clearly [to] understand the implications of his no contest plea or of the waiver of his right to counsel," and (3) he was innocent of the offense charged in the new complaint, (4) which, in any event, lacked any factual basis.[8] As noted, the circuit court orally denied Merino's motion at the conclusion of three days *685 of hearings and, following Merino's absconding and rearrest over a year later, entered written FOF, COL, and an order memorializing its oral decision. Merino was sentenced on March 12, 1992, almost three-and-a-half years after the entry of his no contest plea, inter alia, to an indeterminate five-year term of imprisonment. The next day, he filed his notice of appeal to this court. "The [trial] court is vested with wide discretion to accept or refuse a nolo contendere plea," State v. Medeiros, 8 Haw. App. 39, 43, 791 P.2d 730, 733, cert. denied, 71 Haw. 669, 833 P.2d 901 (1990) (emphasis deleted),[9] and the acceptance or refusal of a no contest plea is therefore reviewed for abuse of that discretion. The denial of an HRPP 32(d) motion to withdraw a plea of nolo contendere, or "no contest," prior to the imposition of sentence is likewise reviewed for abuse of discretion. State v. Gomes, 79 Hawai`i 32, 36, 897 P.2d 959, 963 (1995) (quoting State v. Adams, 76 Hawai`i 408, 411, 879 P.2d 513, 516 (1994) (citation omitted)); see also State v. Costa, 64 Haw. 564, 565, 644 P.2d 1329, 1331 (1982); State v. Smith, 61 Haw. 522, 523, 606 P.2d 86, 88 (1980); State v. Jim, 58 Haw. 574, 577, 574 P.2d 521, 523 (1978). "An abuse of discretion occurs if the trial court has clearly exceeded the bounds of reason or has disregarded rules or principles of law or practice to the substantial detriment of a party litigant." Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 36, 897 P.2d at 963 (quoting Adams, 76 Hawai`i at 411, 879 P.2d at 516 (citation omitted)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 33 n. 3, 897 P.2d at 960 n. 3 (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1048 (6th ed. 1990) (citation omitted)) (some emphasis added and some deleted). By contrast, a guilty plea is a "[f]ormal admission in court as to guilt of having committed [a] criminal act charged which a defendant may make if he or she does so intelligently and voluntarily[.]" Black's Law Dictionary at 708 (emphases added). Bearing in mind the "wide discretion" with which trial courts are vested in accepting or refusing no contest pleas, Medeiros, 8 Haw. App. at 43, 791 P.2d at 733, we now consider each of Merino's claims. Merino urges that the circuit court committed plain error by accepting his no contest plea to the offense of criminal conspiracy on the basis that the charging complaint was fatally defective in that it "fail[ed] to sufficiently allege the elements of conspiracy." Specifically, Merino submits that the complaint failed sufficiently to allege that he "agreed with anyone for any purpose," much less that, with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of theft in the first degree, he agreed with a co-conspirator or co-conspirators that one or more of them would engage in or solicit the conduct or cause or solicit the result specified by the definition of *686 theft in the first degree, as defined by HRS §§ 708-831(1)(b) and 708-830(2). See HRS § 705-520, supra note 4. Based on the following analysis, we disagree. It is well settled that an "accusation must sufficiently allege all of the essential elements of the offense charged," a requirement that "obtains whether an accusation is in the nature of an oral charge, information, indictment, or complaint[.]" State v. Jendrusch, 58 Haw. 279, 281, 567 P.2d 1242, 1244 (1977). Put differently, the sufficiency of the charging instrument is measured, inter alia, by "whether it contains the elements of the offense intended to be charged, and sufficiently apprises the defendant of what he [or she] must be prepared to meet[.]" State v. Wells, 78 Hawai`i 373, 379-80, 894 P.2d 70, 76-77 (1995) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted) (brackets in original). "A charge defective in this regard amounts to a failure to state an offense, and a conviction based upon it cannot be sustained, for that would constitute a denial of due process." Jendrusch, 58 Haw. at 281, 567 P.2d at 1244 (citations omitted). "Whether an indictment [or complaint] sets forth all the essential elements of [a charged] offense ... is a question of law," which we review under the de novo, or "right/wrong," standard. Wells, 78 Hawai`i at 379, 894 P.2d at 76 (citations omitted). The failure of an accusation to charge an offense may be raised "at any time during the pendency of the proceedings[.]" HRPP 12(b)(2) (1995); see also State v. Motta, 66 Haw. 89, 90, 657 P.2d 1019, 1019-20 (1983). However this court has Wells, 78 Hawai`i at 381, 894 P.2d at 78. On the record before us, Merino fails to meet his burden with respect to both prongs of the Motta/Wells post-conviction liberal construction rule. With respect to the first prong, and assuming, arguendo, the presence of a substantive defect in the new complaint charging him with criminal conspiracy, Merino has not even alleged, much less demonstrated, any prejudice resulting therefrom. If anything, he has benefitted from the new complaint. By negotiating the dismissal of the original charge of extortion in the first degree, a class B felony, see supra note 2, punishable by an indeterminate ten-year prison term, see HRS § 706-660(1) (1993), in exchange for his no contest plea to criminal conspiracy as a class C felony, see supra notes 4 and 5, punishable by an indeterminate five-year prison term, see HRS § 706-660(2) (1993), Merino has succeeded in eliminating the risk of an additional five years of incarceration. Moreover, Merino can hardly claim prejudicial surprise resulting from the consequences of his plea of no contest to the new complaint; the plea agreement placed him on actual notice that the prosecution would be seeking an indeterminate five-year prison term, and the sentencing court expressly advised him, prior to the entry and acceptance of his plea, that barring unforeseen facts and circumstances reflected in the impending presentence diagnosis and report from the Adult Probation Divisionit fully intended to sentence him accordingly. Finally, given Merino's exploitative manipulation and protraction of the sentencing process following the entry and acceptance of his no contest plea, described supra in section I.B. of this opinion, we believe that any such suggestion of prejudice would constitute the height of chutzpa.[10] *687 Regarding the second prong of the Motta/Wells post-conviction liberal construction rule, it is apparent that the new complaint can, "within reason," be construed to charge the offense of criminal conspiracy. In this respect, we look to the commentary to the Hawai`i Penal Code (HPC), HRS Title 37, as an aid in understanding the terms of HRS § 705-520. See State v. Holbron, 80 Hawai`i 27, 40 n. 20, 904 P.2d 912, 925 n. 20 (1995); State v. Gaylord, 78 Hawai`i 127, 139, 890 P.2d 1167, 1179 (1995).[11] The commentary on HRS § 705-520 states in relevant part: (Footnote and some internal quotation marks omitted.) The new complaint charged Merino with committing criminal conspiracy, in violation of HRS § 705-520, see supra note 4, to commit theft in the first degree, in violation of HRS §§ 708-831(1)(b) and 708-830(2), see supra notes 5 and 6. Specifically, the new complaint charged, in substance, that Merino, with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of theft in the first degree, agreed with one or more persons, including the enumerated co-conspirators, that they or one or more of them would obtain or exert control over the property of another, the value of which exceeded $200.00, by deception and with intent to deprive the other of the property and that, in "pursuance" of the conspiracy, Merino or one or more of the enumerated co-conspirators committed an overt act, including obtaining or exerting control over money, merchandise, and services of Peter Pea, Jr., the value of which exceeded $200.00, by deception and with intent to deprive Peter Pea, Jr. of them and attempting to establish contacts and relationships with government agencies in order to permit one or more of the co-conspirators to continue to pursue the conspiracy. Pertinent to the new complaint, HRS § 702-204 (1993) provides in relevant part that "a person is not guilty of an offense unless the person acted intentionally, knowingly, *688 recklessly, or negligently, as the law specifies, with respect to each element of the offense." HRS § 702-205 (1993) enumerates the elements of an offense to include "such (1) conduct, (2) attendant circumstances, and (3) results of conduct, as ... [a]re specified by the definition of the offense[.]" And "`HRS § 701-114(1)(a) and (b) (1993) requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt of each element of the offense, as well as the state of mind required to establish each element of the offense.'" State v. Wallace, 80 Hawai`i 382, 412, 910 P.2d 695, 725 (1996) (quoting Holbron, 80 Hawai`i at 39, 904 P.2d at 924). Accordingly, there were two material elements of the offense of criminal conspiracy in violation of HRS § 705-520 and as charged in the new complaint against Merino, each of which the prosecution would have been required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, had the matter proceeded to trial, in order to establish guilt. These two material elements were: (1) that Merino, (a) with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of theft in the first degree (i.e., the overarching requisite conspiratorial state of mind relating to the commission of an underlying predicate offensein this case, theft in the first degreesee HRS § 705-520, supra note 4), (b) agreed (i.e., part of the prohibited conduct requiring a conspiratorial agreement, see HRS § 705-520(1), supra note 4), (c) with one or more persons, including the enumerated co-conspirators (i.e., the specified attendant circumstance that the agreement be by "consensus," see id. and commentary on HRS § 705-520), (d) that they, or one or more of them, would obtain or exert control over the property of another (i.e., part of the prohibited conduct relating to the promotion or facilitation of the commission of an underlying predicate offensein this case, theft, see HRS §§ 705-520(1), supra note 4, and 708-830(2), supra note 6), (e) the value of which exceeded $200.00 (i.e., a specified circumstance attendant to the underlying predicate offensetheft in the first degreeregarding the value of the property in question, see HRS § 708-831(1)(b), supra note 5), (f) by deception (i.e., part of the prohibited conduct entailing the commission of the underlying predicate offensein this case, theft, see HRS § 708-830(2), supra note 6), and (g) with intent to deprive the other of the property (i.e., the requisite state of mind, as well as the specified result of conduct, with respect to the underlying predicate offensein this case, theft, see id.); and (2) that Merino and/or one or more of the enumerated co-conspirators, (a) with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of theft in the first degree (see element 1(a), supra), (b) committed an overt act or acts in pursuance of the conspiracy (i.e., part of the prohibited conduct, see HRS § 705-520(2), supra note 4) by (i) exerting control over money, merchandise, and services of Peter Pea, Jr. (see element 1(d), supra), the value of which exceeded $200.00 (see element 1(e), supra), by deception (see element 1(f), supra), and with intent to deprive Peter Pea, Jr. of them (see element 1(g), supra), and (ii) attempting to establish contacts and relationships with government agencies in order to permit one or more of the enumerated co-conspirators to continue to pursue the conspiracy (i.e., part of the prohibited conduct requiring the commission of an overt act "in pursuance of the conspiratorial purpose," see HRS § 705-520(2), supra note 4, and commentary on HRS § 705-520). Thus analyzed, it is apparent that the new complaint essentially tracked the language of the criminal conspiracy statute, HRS § 705-520, while at the same time specifically identifying theft in the first degree as the underlying predicate offense, the commission of which Merino allegedly intended to promote or facilitate, and describing with particularity the overt acts allegedly committed in pursuance of the conspiratorial purpose. State v. Israel, 78 Hawai`i 66, 73, 890 P.2d 303, 310 (1995). Although the Torres/Schroeder rule "does not apply in ... cases ... where the definition of an offense ... includes generic terms" and, rather than "stat[ing] the species ... [and] descend[ing] to particulars," the indictment or complaint merely "charge[s] the offense in the same generic terms as in the definition," Israel, 78 Hawai`i at 73, 890 P.2d at 310 (citations omitted) (some ellipsis points and brackets in original and some added), the rule clearly applies in the present case.[13] As demonstrated above, the new complaint alleged "with reasonable clarity" all of the material elements of criminal conspiracy "in unmistakable terms readily comprehensible to persons of common understanding." Moreover, Merino's claim that the new complaint failed sufficiently to allege that Merino agreed with others to cause the result specified by the relevant theft statutes is mistaken. The new complaint expressly charged, inter alia, that Merino, with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of theft in the first degree, agreed with the enumerated co-conspirators "that they or one or more of them ... would cause or solicit the result specified by ... [HRS §§ ] 708-831(1)(b) and 708-830(2)." Merino's apparent suggestion that the new complaint was required to couch the allegation of a conspiratorial agreement in terms of specific conduct or overt acts on his part is simply wrong. Once Merino's agreement"which [did not] need ... [to] be formal or, indeed, explicit in the sense that it [was] put into words," see commentary on HRS § 705-520was alleged, it was not necessary that there be any allegation that Merino, personally, committed "an overt act ... in pursuance [of the] conspiracy," so long as an overt act by some co-conspirator was alleged. See HRS § 705-520(2), supra note 4. In any event, the new complaint attributed both enumerated overt acts, at least in part, to Merino, and each of them was "in pursuance of the conspiratorial purpose." See commentary on HRS § 705-520. We hold that the new complaint sufficiently alleged all of the material elements of the offense of criminal conspiracy and, therefore, was not "fatally defective." Merino next contends that the circuit court erred in accepting his no contest plea "because the [prosecution's] offer of proof, i.e., the factual basis for the plea, did not specifically show that Merino engaged in criminal conspiracy to commit Theft in the First Degree." Merino's contention, of course, assumes that a "factual basis" is a necessary precondition to the acceptance of a no contest plea. As we will demonstrate below, it is not. We note at the outset that Merino tendered, and the circuit court accepted, his no contest plea pursuant to HRPP 11 (1988),[14] which provided in relevant part: (Underscoring added.) The organization of HRPP 11 is significant. HRPP 11(a), the general prefatory subsection, catalogs the three plea optionsnot guilty, guilty, and nolo contendereavailable to a defendant. HRPP 11(b), on its face, is limited in scope to nolo contendere (i.e., no contest) pleas and delineates the considerationsnamely, "the views of the parties and the interest of the public in the effective administration of justice"that the *691 court must address before consenting to and accepting such pleas. HRPP 11(c) and (d), relating on their face to pleas of guilty and nolo contendere, implement the "constitutional requirement that a trial judge ensure that a ... plea be voluntarily and knowingly entered." State v. Dicks, 57 Haw. 46, 49, 549 P.2d 727, 730 (1976) (citations omitted); see also State v. Vaitogi, 59 Haw. 592, 597-98, 585 P.2d 1259, 1262-63 (1978); Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242-43, 89 S. Ct. 1709, 1711-12, 23 L. Ed. 2d 274 (1969). In particular, HRPP 11(c), by its terms, is designed to insure that a defendant's guilty or nolo contendere plea is entered with knowledge and understanding of its consequences, while HRPP 11(d), by its terms, is similarly designed to ensure that a defendant's guilty or nolo contendere plea is entered voluntarily. HRPP 11(e) also relates on its face to guilty and nolo contendere pleas and prescribes the steps to be followed in disclosing to the court and memorializing for the record the terms of plea agreements between a defendant and the prosecution, as well as insuring, as appropriate, that the defendant understands that the court is not bound by the agreement. Pursuant to HRPP 11(f), which is key to Merino's appeal, State v. Teves, 4 Haw.App. 566, 569, 670 P.2d 834, 837 (1983) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted) (emphases added).[19] The absence of any reference to nolo contendere pleas in HRPP 11(f)in the face of the express incorporation of such pleas within the scope of HRPP 11(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e)gives rise to the question whether the circuit court was under any obligation to ascertain a "factual basis" for Merino's no contest plea to criminal conspiracy. A well settled canon of statutory construction,[20] the history underlying the promulgation of HRPP 11(f), and the appellate case law of this jurisdiction all suggest a negative answer. "[T]he canon of construction denominated noscitur a sociis ... may be freely translated as `words of a feather flock together,' that is, the meaning of a word is to be judged by the company it keeps." State v. Aluli, 78 Hawai`i 317, 321, 893 P.2d 168, 172 (1995) (quoting State v. Deleon, 72 Haw. 241, 244, 813 P.2d 1382, 1384 (1991)) (some internal quotation marks omitted). Application of this canon to HRPP 11 suggests that the various sections of the rule apply exclusively to the types of pleas expressly enumerated in them. Notwithstanding that "[i]n almost every respect the plea of nolo contendere resembles the plea of guilty," 1 C. Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure: Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure § 177, at 664 (2d ed. 1982) [hereinafter, 1 Wright], they are not identical; although each culminates in a criminal conviction, a defendant, by pleading guilty, admits to having unlawfully engaged in the charged criminal conduct, whereas, by pleading no contest, he or she neither admits to nor denies having done so, but rather chooses not to contest the charge to which the plea is entered. Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 33 n. 3, 897 P.2d at 960 n. 3; Medeiros, 8 Haw.App. at 42-44, 791 P.2d at *692 733-34; Teves, 4 Haw.App. at 569, 670 P.2d at 837. Accordingly, pursuant to the noscitur a sociis doctrine, if this court had intended HRPP 11(f) to apply to nolo contendere pleas, it would not have expressly limited the section's subject matter to guilty pleas. Moreover, HRPP 11(f) was patterned after Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (FRCP) Rule 11(f), Medeiros, 8 Haw.App. at 43, 791 P.2d at 733, which in turn substantially adopted the formulation recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules. 1 Wright § 177, at 670-71 (footnotes omitted) (emphasis added); see also North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 35-36 n. 8, 91 S. Ct. 160, 166-67, 27 L. Ed. 2d 162 (1970) ("Throughout its history, ... the plea of nolo contendere has been viewed not as an express admission of guilt but as a consent by the defendant that he [or she] may be punished as if he [or she] were guilty.... [FRCP] 11 preserves this distinction in its requirement that a court cannot accept a guilty plea `unless it is satisfied that there is a factual basis for the plea'; there is no similar requirement for pleas of nolo contendere, since it was thought desirable to permit defendants to plead nolo without making any inquiry into their actual guilt." (Citation omitted)). By implication, the appellate case law of Hawai`i has recognized that, as is true of FRCP 11(f), HRPP 11(f) does not require the court to satisfy itself that there is a "factual basis" for the entry and acceptance of a no contest plea. In Medeiros, after having initially pled not guilty to theft in the fourth degree, the defendant sought, in the midst of trial, to change her plea to no contest in exchange for the prosecution's agreement to recommend a fifty dollar fine by way of sentence. The trial court insisted on a factual basis for the plea and, dissatisfied with the offer, rejected it. The defendant was ultimately convicted of the charged offense, and the trial court sentenced her to a five-day jail term. On appeal, the defendant argued, inter alia, that the trial court's refusal to accept her no contest plea constituted an abuse of discretion. The Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) disagreed, taking note of the language of HRPP 11(b) and (f) and observing correctly that Medeiros, 8 Haw.App. at 42-44, 791 P.2d at 733-34 (citations and emphasis omitted). The ICA then held that the trial court's "refusal to accept the plea without requiring a factual basis therefor is not a basis for reversal, for acceptance of a nolo plea is solely a matter of grace, something to which defendants are by no means automatically entitled." Id. at 45, 791 P.2d at 734 (citation, emphasis, and internal quotation marks omitted). Implicit in the holding of the Medeiros court was the proposition that, pursuant to HRPP 11, a trial court has the discretion to insist upon a "factual basis" for a no contest plea, but is not required to do so. Although the validity of a no contest plea was not at issue in State v. Morin, 71 Haw. 159, 785 P.2d 1316 (1990), this court nevertheless provided a cogent description of the mischief that would often result, as the present matter exemplifies, from a defendant's capacity to challenge the sufficiency of the factual basis underlying a no contest plea entered as part of a plea agreement: Id. at 164, 785 P.2d at 1319. We hold that, by its plain language, HRPP 11(f) applies only to guilty pleas and that, with respect to pleas of nolo contendere (i.e., no contest), the trial court is not required to make "such inquiry as shall satisfy it that there is a factual basis for the plea." However, we recognize, as did the Medeiros court, that HRPP 11(b) accords the trial court the discretion, "after due consideration of the views of the parties," to refuse a no contest plea that it deems not to be in "the interest of the public in the effective administration of justice." Accordingly, we further hold that HRPP 11(b) likewise accords trial courts (such as, in this case, Judge Tsukiyama) the discretion to insist upon a "factual basis" (or, more accurately, an offer of proof) as a part of their deliberations regarding whether to accept a no contest plea. We emphasize, however, that the trial court's discretion in this regard derives from HRPP 11(b) and not HRPP 11(f). For that reason, it does not matter whether the parties' offer of proof as to the "factual basis" for a no contest plea would meet the standard mandated by HRPP 11(f) regarding guilty pleas. Therefore (although we believe that the prosecution's offer of proof in this case would have satisfied HRPP 11(f) had Merino tendered a guilty plea, see section I.A. of this opinion, supra at 13-16), we hold that it was immaterial whether the offer, which Judge Tsukiyama required in order to exercise his "wide discretion," see Medeiros, 8 Haw.App. at 43, 791 P.2d at 733, to accept or not to accept Merino's no contest plea pursuant to HRPP 11(b), was sufficient to satisfy HRPP 11(f). The sixth amendment to the United States Constitution provides in relevant part that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence." A criminal defendant's right to counsel, being "implicit in the concept of ordered liberty," see Palko v. Connecticut, 302 U.S. 319, 58 S. Ct. 149, 82 L. Ed. 288 (1937), is applicable to the states through the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment. State v. Hutch, 75 Haw. 307, 319 n. 3, 861 P.2d 11, 18 n. 3 (1993); Dicks, 57 Haw. at 47, 549 P.2d at 729; Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S. Ct. 792, 9 L. Ed. 2d 799 (1963). Analogously, article I, section 14 of the Hawai`i Constitution (1978) provides in relevant part that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the assistance of counsel for the accused's defense." "The right to counsel is waivable when it is voluntarily and intelligently undertaken." Dicks, 57 Haw. at 48, 549 P.2d at 729 (citing Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 58 S. Ct. 1019, 82 L. Ed. 1461 (1938)); see also Reponte v. State, 57 Haw. 354, 361, 556 P.2d 577, 582 (1976). In this connection, and as indicated in section I.B. of this opinion, supra, the circuit court entered written FOF, COL, and an order denying Merino's motion to withdraw his no contest plea. In its order, the circuit court denominated all of its entries as "findings of fact/conclusions of law" (FOF/COL). An FOF "`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.'" Tachibana v. State, 79 Hawai`i 226, 231, 900 P.2d 1293, 1298 (1995) (quoting Dan v. State, 76 Hawai`i 423, 428, 879 P.2d 528, 533 (1994)). By contrast, a COL Wallace, 80 Hawai`i at 391, 910 P.2d at 704 (citations omitted). State v. Hoey, 77 Hawai`i 17, 32, 881 P.2d 504, 519 (1994) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted) (some brackets and ellipsis points in original and some added) (emphases deleted). In its order, the circuit court found and concluded, inter alia, that: (1) "Merino ... was fully apprised of, and clearly understood his right to be represented by effective legal counsel, appointed or retained" (FOF/COL No. 1); (2) Merino "consciously, deliberately, knowingly, and intelligently waived his right to assistance of legal counsel. He chose to represent himself and[,] in so doing, was fully aware of the pitfalls of his decision" (FOF/COL No. 2); (3) "[u]nder the ... circumstances, if the Court had compelled [Merino] to accept legal counsel or denied [Merino] the right to appear without counsel, [Merino] would have been deprived of his constitutional right pursuant to Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 [95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562] (1975)" (FOF/COL No. 3);[21] (4) Merino "voluntarily waived his right to be represented by legal counsel, with a full and complete understanding of the nature of this right and the consequences of his waiver thereof" (FOF/COL No. 5); and (5) "[t]hus, there is no question that [Merino] was competent to *695 proceed pro se for purposes of the plea bargain and change of plea" (FOF/COL No. 13) (emphasis added). Merino challenges the aforementioned FOF/COL on appeal as being "clearly erroneous" on the ground that he was not "made aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, so that the record will establish that he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open" (quoting Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562 (1975), and citing State v. Vares, 71 Haw. 617, 801 P.2d 555 (1990)) (emphases added). Accordingly, quoting Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835, 95 S. Ct. at 2541, Merino urges that "there was no knowing and intelligent relinquishing of the `traditional benefits associated with the right to counsel.'" (Emphasis added.)[22] Merino, however, does not contestand therefore, for purposes of his appeal, leaves undisturbed, see Hawai`i Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule 28(b)(4)(C) (1995) the following FOF/COL: (6) "The record amply demonstrates [Merino's] capacity to proceed pro se. Without the benefit of legal counsel, [Merino] was capable of formulating and negotiating to successful fruition a plea bargain which achieved his intended objective. Said plea bargain worked distinctly to his benefit. [Merino] was able to conclude said agreement with a prosecutor who had a reputation for being a rather strict prosecutor" (FOF/COL No. 6); (7) "[Merino's] plan was to avoid publicity which could work to the disadvantage of his family members" (FOF/COL No. 7); (8) "[Merino] did express concerns for the members of his family. The Court does not question his concern or his sincerity in this regard" (FOF/COL No. 8); (9) "[Merino] wanted to maintain his membership on the Tribal Council" (FOF/COL No. 9); (10) "[Merino] effected a reduction in the charge from a possible ten-year prison term to a possible five-year prison term" (FOF/COL No. 10); (11) "[Merino] succeeded in negotiating the aforementioned even where seasoned[] legal counsel might not have succeeded under the circumstances" (FOF/COL No. 11); and "[Merino] was even able to obtain a letter of expungement from the Department of the Attorney General" (FOF/COL No. 12). (Emphases added.) For the reasons discussed below, we disagree with Merino's contention that he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his constitutional right to the assistance of counsel. "To determine whether a waiver" of the "fundamental right" to "adequate legal representation" was "voluntarily and intelligently undertaken, this court will look to the totality of [the] facts and circumstances of each particular case." Vares, 71 Haw. at 621, 801 P.2d at 557-58 (citing Dicks, 57 Haw. at 48-49, 549 P.2d at 729-30); see also Reponte, 57 Haw. at 361-62, 556 P.2d at 583 ("`A waiver is ordinarily an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege. The determination of whether there has been an intelligent waiver of the right to counsel must depend, in each case, upon the particular facts and circumstances surrounding that case, including the background, experience, and conduct of the accused.' In other words, the `totality of the circumstances' surrounding this problem must be considered." (Quoting Zerbst, 304 U.S. at 464, 58 S. Ct. at 1023, and citing Dicks)). "With a silent or minimal record, the burden is upon the prosecution to prove a knowing and voluntary waiver.[23] However, where it appears from the record that a defendant has waived a constitutional right, the defendant carries the burden of proof to show otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence." State v. Ibuos, 75 Haw. 118, 121, 857 P.2d 576, 578 (1993) (citations omitted). The record in the matter before us is far from "silent or minimal" on the subject of *696 whether Merino was "made aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation." As noted in section I.A. of this opinion, supra, on August 25, 1988, Judge Tsukiyama elicited Merino's acknowledgment that Judge Heely had previously apprised Merino of his right to retained or court-appointed counsel and that Merino had declined counsel and opted to proceed pro se; in the course of the same hearing, Judge Tsukiyama reminded Merino of his ongoing right to counsel at least twice and elaborated at length upon the reasons why "not having a lawyer ... could be very detrimental to [his] cause." Moreover, at the outset of the August 29, 1988 hearing, Judge Tsukiyama reminded Merino twice again that he continued to be entitled to seek and obtain legal counsel at any time; in response to Judge Tsukiyama's queries, Merino repeatedly represented that he did not want to consult with an attorney regarding the new complaint or any defenses to it and that he was satisfied that he was competent to represent himself and wished to proceed pro se with respect to the implementation of the plea agreement that he had successfully negotiated with the prosecution. Nevertheless, citing Von Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 68 S. Ct. 316, 92 L. Ed. 309 (1948), and Vares, 71 Haw. at 621-22, 801 P.2d at 558, Merino asserts that his waiver of counsel was not knowingly and intelligently undertaken because he was not made aware of "the nature of the charges [against him],... possible defenses [thereto,] and the circumstances in mitigation" thereof. (Ellipsis points in original.)[24] In this connection, we note that the Vares court cited Dicks as an example of voluntary and intelligent waivers of counsel. Vares, 71 Haw. at 622, 801 P.2d at 558. The colloquy between the trial court and the defendants quoted in Dicks reflects that the court instructed the defendants regarding neither the particulars of "possible defenses" to the charge nor potential "circumstances in mitigation." See Dicks, 57 Haw. at 50-51, 549 P.2d at 731. Even so, the Dicks court held that "the trial judge did not err in determining that the defendants understood the charge against them at the time they entered their guilty pleas." Id. at 54, 549 P.2d at 733. Although it is possible that there may be circumstances in which the trial court might be obligated to administer a criminal procedure course to a defendant on the substantive intricacies of all conceivable defenses to a charge and all conceivable "circumstances in mitigation" thereof for the purpose of ensuring that a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel has preceded a change of plea, we are satisfiedin light of (1) Merino's persistent refusal of legal assistance despite Judge Tsukiyama's repeated invitations to avail himself of it, see section I.A. of this opinion, supra, (2) Judge Tsukiyama's scrupulous adherence to the mandates of HRPP 11, see id. and section III.A.2. of this opinion, supra, which, on its face contemplates that pro se defendants may enter guilty and no contest pleas pursuant to plea agreements, see HRPP 11(e)(1), and (3) the facts that (a) the new complaint adequately charged the offense of criminal conspiracy to commit theft in the first degree, see sections I.A. and III.A.1. of this opinion, supra, (b) HRPP 11 did not require the prosecution to provide a factual basis for Merino's no contest plea, see section III.A.2., supra, and (c) Merino amply demonstrated his capacity to proceed pro se by "formulating and negotiating to successful fruition a plea bargain[,] which achieved his intended objective" even where "seasoned[] legal counsel might not have succeeded" and "which worked distinctly to his benefit," see FOF/COL Nos. 6 and 11, suprathat the matter before us does not present such a case. We hold, on the record before us, that Merino has failed to carry his burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that he did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his right to counsel through and including the entry of his no contest plea. Accordingly, looking to the totality of the facts and circumstances of the particular case, we hold that Merino's waiver of his right to the assistance of counsel was knowingly, *697 intelligently, and voluntarily undertaken. For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the circuit court did not commit an abuse of discretion when it accepted Merino's no contest plea to the new complaint. Merino filed his motion to withdraw his no contest plea on July 12, 1989 (ten-and-one-half months after Judge Tsukiyama accepted his tendered no contest plea), pursuant to HRPP 32(d) (1995),[25] which provides: (Emphasis added.) In Jim, supra, which we recently described as "the leading case in this jurisdiction regarding withdrawal of a defendant's guilty or no contest plea," see Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 36, 897 P.2d at 963, this court offered the following structural overview [hereinafter, "the Jim overview"] of Hawai`i Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 32(d), which was the predecessor ofand identical toHRPP 32(d): Jim, 58 Haw. at 575-76, 574 P.2d at 522-23 (citations and footnote omitted); see also Adams, 76 Hawai`i at 411, 879 P.2d at 516; Smith, 61 Haw. at 523, 606 P.2d at 88. Notwithstanding that actual "guilt or innocence is not the issue on a motion to withdraw a guilty [or no contest] plea," Jim, 58 Haw. at 576, 574 P.2d at 523, "the trial court may hold an evidentiary hearing to determine the plausibility and legitimacy of a defendant's reasons for requesting withdrawal of his or her plea," Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 36, 897 P.2d at 963 (citing Jim, 58 Haw. at 579, 574 P.2d at 524), and "[t]he defendant has the burden of establishing plausible and legitimate grounds for the withdrawal." Costa, 64 Haw. at 565, 644 P.2d at 1331. Because Merino filed his HRPP 32(d) motion in the present case before the circuit court imposed sentence, pursuant to the Jim overview and the two-pronged "liberal approach," we review for abuse of discretion, see section II. of this opinion, supra, Judge Tsukiyama's denial of the motion and inquire (1) whether Merino presented "fair and just reasons" for his request, and, if and only if he has, (2) whether the prosecution relied upon the no contest plea to its substantial detriment.[26] The second prong of the "liberal approach" is conditioned upon satisfaction of the first because "the absence of substantial prejudice [does] not support or resurrect a defendant's pre-sentence motion to withdraw a guilty or no contest plea where no fair and just reason for withdrawal has been presented." Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 40, 897 P.2d at 967. In the context of our review, we note that the three-day evidentiary hearing on Merino's HRPP 32(d) motionspanning almost four-and-one-half monthsfacilitated "the examination of two fundamental bases [hereinafter, *698 `the Gomes bases'] for demonstrating `fair and just reasons' for granting withdrawal of [Merino's] plea: (1) [Merino] did not knowingly, intelligently or voluntarily waive his ... rights; or (2) changed circumstances or new information justif[ied] withdrawal of [his] plea." Id. at 37, 897 P.2d at 964. Where the second of the Gomes baseschanged circumstances or new information justifying withdrawal of a no contest pleais the ground for an HRPP 32(d) motion to withdraw a no contest plea, the rule [hereinafter, "the Gomes rule"] is that Id. at 39, 897 P.2d at 966 (emphasis omitted).[27] The present appeal accords this court its first opportunity, in the wake of Gomes, to flesh out a comprehensive rule for reviewing the denial of a defendant's HRPP 32(d) motion to withdraw a no contest plea grounded in the first of the Gomes bases, namely, that the defendant, at the time the plea was entered, did not knowingly, intelligently, or voluntarily waive his or her rights. We have, however, ruled in the past that Dicks, 57 Haw. at 49-50, 549 P.2d at 730. Accordingly, harmonizing Dicks with the logic of Gomes, we now hold that a defendant is entitled to withdraw his or her no contest plea before imposition of sentence, premised upon the first of the Gomes bases, where: (1) the defendant has not entered the plea knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily; (2) there has been no undue delay in moving to withdraw the plea; and (3) the prosecution has not otherwise met its burden of establishing that it relied on the plea to its substantial prejudice. Absent any of these factors, the trial court may, without abusing its discretion, refuse to permit the defendant to withdraw the plea. On appeal, Merino advances four grounds in support of his claim that the circuit court committed an abuse of discretion in denying his HRPP 32(d) motion to withdraw his no contest plea: (1) his capacity to exercise sound judgment was allegedly impaired at the time he entered his plea; (2) his no contest plea constituted an implicit assertion of innocence, to which he consistently adhered thereafter; (3) he was deprived of the assistance of counsel at the time he entered his plea; and (4) the prosecution would have suffered no substantial prejudice had his motion been granted. In accordance with the rule set forth in the preceding paragraph, the second ground is immaterial, although we note that a no contest plea is not, without more, an assertion of *699 innocence, express or implied. See section III.A.2. of this opinion, supra. Moreover, our holding in section III.A.3. of this opinion, supra, that Merino knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to the assistance of counsel effectively disposes of the third ground. Finally, we need reach the fourth ground only if Merino carries his burden with respect to the first. Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 40, 897 P.2d at 967.[28] We therefore address the first ground. As we have indicated, Merino asserts that, at the time he entered his no contest plea, his ability to exercise sound judgment was impaired. In other words, he claims that his plea was not knowing and voluntary, thus constituting a fair and just reason for withdrawing the plea. See Jim, 58 Haw. at 576-77, 574 P.2d at 522-23. We review Merino's claim de novo, i.e., according to the right/wrong standard, based upon an examination of the entire record. Hoey, 77 Hawai`i at 32, 881 P.2d at 519. Merino first contends that his capacity to exercise sound judgment was impaired at the time he entered his plea because he was taking an assortment of medications that rendered him nervous, tired, and weak.[29] Merino further argues that, on the day he entered his plea, he had forgotten to take his insulin injection for his diabetes, which resulted in his experiencing "insulin shock." Richard A. Jorgensen, M.D., who had been treating Merino for medical and psychiatric purposes for approximately one month prior to the hearings on Merino's HRPP 32(d) motion, testified, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that a diabetic, taking the medications that Merino was prescribed and failing to take his insulin, would be adversely affected in his ability to reason and exercise sound judgment while under emotional stress. Moreover, the parties stipulated that Merino suffered from a serious heart condition. Dr. Jorgensen testified that Merino's heart condition could have exacerbated a state of confusion at the time. Second, Merino claims that his capacity to exercise sound judgment was impaired when he entered his no contest plea because of the potential negative consequences that a trial might have inflicted on his family. He testified that, at the time he entered his plea, his wife, three daughters, and a son were incarcerated. He further testified that he had believed that, if he could avoid trial publicity, the paroling authority might consider early release for his family members. Thus, he testified that "one of the main reasons" that he pled no contest was to avoid publicity that would reflect adversely on his imprisoned family members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the record contains substantial and credible evidence that would justify a reasonable person in concluding that Merino's plea was knowing and voluntary. First, as the record of his change of plea proceedings reflects, see section I.A. of this opinion, supra, Merino represented to Judge Tsukiyama that (1) he had consumed no pills, medication, or alcohol within the prior forty-eight hours, (2) his mind was clear, (3) he understood the charge against him, (4) he understood the rights that he was waiving by entering his no contest plea, (5) he was entering the plea of his own free will, and (6) he was not being "forced, threatened, or pressured by anyone or anything" to enter the plea. Moreover, prior to the commencement of his colloquy with Judge Tsukiyama, he was directed to ask Judge Tsukiyama to repeat or explain any question that he did not understand. Finally, at the conclusion of the proceedings, Merino clearly stated that *700 he understood everything that had transpired and that he had no questions. See id. Second, during the hearings on Merino's HRPP 32(d) motion to withdraw his plea, a former deputy prosecutor testified that she had been present at Merino's change of plea proceeding and that, from a lay perspective, Merino appeared to be calm and rational. She further testified that Merino answered Judge Tsukiyama's questions appropriately and that Merino "appeared to ... know what he was doing and to know where he was." Third, Dr. Jorgensen testified that he did not know whether Merino's representations that he had taken the aforementioned medications on the day he entered his no contest plea were true. Dr. Jorgensen also testified that, even if Merino had taken all of the indicated medications but had neglected to have his insulin injection, Merino would not necessarily have suffered any adverse side effects at all. On the basis of our examination of the entire record, including the foregoing, we are independently satisfied that Merino entered his no contest plea knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. Accordingly, in the absence of a fair and just reason for withdrawal of Merino's no contest plea, we hold that the circuit court did not commit an abuse of discretion in denying Merino's HRPP 32(d) motion. For the reasons set forth above, Merino's judgment of conviction is affirmed. [1] A "no contest" plea is the same as a plea of "nolo contendere," which is a "Latin phrase meaning `I will not contest it.'" Black's Law Dictionary 1048 (6th ed.1990). [2] In 1988, HRS § 707-765, which was enacted in 1979, 1979 Haw.Sess.L.Act 106, pt of § 1 at 252-53, provided in relevant part: Extortion in the first degree. (1) A person commits the offense of extortion in the first degree if he [or she] commits extortion: (a) Of property or services the value of which exceeds $200 in total during any twelve-month period[.] .... (2) Extortion in the first degree is a class B felony. HRS § 707-765 (1985). At the same time, HRS § 707-764, also enacted in 1979, 1979 Haw.Sess. L.Act 106, pt of § 1 at 252, provided in relevant part: Extortion. A person commits extortion if he [or she] does any of the following: (1) Obtains, or exerts control over, the property or services of another with intent to deprive him [or her] of the property or services by threatening by word or conduct to: (a) Cause bodily injury in the future to the person threatened or to any other person; or (b) Cause damage to property; or (c) Subject the person threatened or any other person to physical confinement or restraint; or .... (k) Do any other act which would not in itself substantially benefit the defendant but which is calculated to harm substantially some person with respect to his [or her] health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation, or personal relationships[.] HRS § 707-764 (1985) has never been amended. HRS § 707-765 has undergone only stylistic change, rendering it gender neutral. [3] In the course of the August 25, 1988 proceedings, and following an exhaustive colloquy with the court, Merino knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial. Merino does not challenge the validity of his waiver. In any event, it is apparent from the record that Merino's waiver of the right to trial by jury was knowingly and voluntarily entered. [4] HRS § 705-520 (1993), which is unchanged from its 1988 form, provides: Criminal conspiracy. A person is guilty of criminal conspiracy if, with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of a crime: (1) He [or she] agrees with one or more persons that they or one or more of them will engage in or solicit the conduct or will cause or solicit the result specified by the definition of the offense; and (2) He [or she] or another person with whom he [or she] conspired commits an overt act in pursuance of the conspiracy. HRS § 705-526 (1993), which is also unchanged from its 1988 form, provides: Grading of criminal conspiracy. (1) A conspiracy to commit a class A felony is a class B felony. (2) Except as provided in subsection (1), conspiracy to commit a crime is an offense of the same class and grade as the most serious offense which is an object of the conspiracy. [5] In 1978, HRS § 708-831 provided in relevant part: Theft in the first degree. (1) A person commits the offense of theft in the first degree if he [or she] commits theft: .... (b) Of property or services the value of which exceeds $200[.] .... (2) Theft in the first degree is a class C felony except in the event of extortion, in which case theft in the first degree is a class B felony. HRS § 708-831 (1976). The organization of HRS §§ 708-830 through 708-839, the provisions of the Hawai`i Penal Code pertaining to "theft and related offenses," has undergone substantial subsequent revision. Of particular relevance, and in conjunction with the enactment of the extortion statutes, see supra note 2, HRS § 708-831(2) was amended in 1979 to provide simply that "[t]heft in the first degree is a class C felony." 1979 Haw.Sess.L.Act 106, § 6 at 255. At the same time, HRS § 708-800(8) (1976), which defined "extortion" in essentially the same manner as HRS § 707-764, see supra note 2, was deleted. 1979 Haw.Sess.L.Act 106, § 4 at 254. [6] In 1978, HRS § 708-830 provided in relevant part: Theft. A person commits theft if he [or she] does any of the following: .... (2) Property obtained or control exerted through deception. He [or she] obtains, or exerts control over, the property of another by deception with intent to deprive him [or her] of the property. HRS § 708-830 (1976). These provisions have undergone stylistic amendments, but remain substantively the same. See HRS § 708-830 (1993). [7] Item 6 appearing on the no contest plea form contained the following preprinted statement: I know that I still have the right to plead not guilty and have a trial by jury or by the court in which the government will be required to prove me guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I know that in a trial, I can see, hear and question the witnesses who may testify against me, I can call my own witnesses to testify for me, and I do not have to take the stand and testify if I do not wish to do so. I know that I have a right to a speedy and public trial. I know that by pleading in this matter, I am giving up my right to a trial and may be found guilty and sentenced without a trial of any kind. I plead in this manner because (give brief factual statement of what defendant did): (Emphasis added.) Under the preprinted colon, the following statement was typed in the space provided: "I do not wish to contest the government's charges against me in this case." (Emphasis added.) [8] Merino also maintained that he should be allowed to withdraw his no contest plea because a felony record would preclude him from becoming a permanent delegate to a United Nations Holocaust Committee. It is clear from the record that the prosecution's characterization of this claim as "speculative, a wish or [a] dream" was persuasive and that the circuit court, as the finder of fact, was entitled to reject Merino's claim. Accordingly, we will not discuss it further. [9] In Schutter v. Soong, 76 Hawai`i 187, 208, 873 P.2d 66, 87 (1994), this court overruled Medeiros "insofar as it [held] that the denial of the right to pre-sentence allocution may be cured later at a hearing to reconsider the sentence." We left Medeiros otherwise intact, and the subject of presentence allocution is not at issue in the appeal before us. [10] "Chutzpa" is a Yiddish word that means "unmitigated effrontery or impudence." Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language 265 (1989). It has also been defined to mean "gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, incredible `guts'; presumption-plus-arrogance such as no other word, and no other language, can do justice to." L. Rosten, The Joys of Yiddish 92 (1968). "Chutzpa is that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan." Id. [11] See HRS § 701-105 (1993) ("The commentary accompanying [the HPC] ... may be used as an aid in understanding [its] provisions ..., but not as evidence of legislative intent."); cf. State v. Alo, 57 Haw. 418, 426-27, 558 P.2d 1012, 1017 (1976) (HPC commentary, while not evidence thereof, "is nevertheless expressive of ... legislative intent"), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 922, 97 S. Ct. 2193, 53 L. Ed. 2d 235 (1977). [12] Cf. State v. Senteno, 69 Haw. 363, 367, 742 P.2d 369, 372 (1987) (noting that "the conspiracy statute (HRS § 705-520) speaks in terms of agreements among co-conspirators") (emphasis deleted)). [13] Pursuant to Israel, the new complaint would have failed sufficiently to allege a criminal conspiracy, pursuant to HRS § 705-520, had it failed to identify theft in the first degree as the underlying predicate offense. If no overt acts had been described, the new complaint would, at the very least, have been vulnerable to a motion for a bill of particulars. [14] The quoted portions of HRPP 11 remain the same to this day, except as noted infra. [15] In 1993, this paragraph was redenominated as HRPP 11(a)(1), entitled "In General." A new subsection, HRPP 11(a)(2) was added to permit defendants, with the approval of the court and the consent of the prosecution, to enter conditional pleas of guilty or nolo contendere, "reserving in writing the right, on appeal from the judgment, to seek review of the adverse determination of any specified pretrial motion." The amendment allows "[a] defendant who prevails on appeal ... to withdraw the plea." [16] Effective September 2, 1988, subsection (5) was added to HRPP 11(c), which requires the trial court further to advise the defendant "that if he is not a citizen of the United States, a conviction of the offense for which he has been charged may have the consequences of deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States." [17] In 1993, the last sentence of HRPP 11(e)(1) was deleted and the following sentence substituted for it: "The court may participate in discussions leading to such plea agreements and may agree to be bound thereby." [18] In 1993, the phrase "unless the court agreed otherwise" was added to the end of HRPP 11(e)(3). [19] In instances "where a tendered plea of guilty is accompanied by a contemporaneous denial of the acts constituting the crime charged," this court has ruled that a searching inquiry addressed to the defendant personally, to ensure the defendant's complete understanding of the finality of his guilty plea if accepted, should be conducted by the trial court before accepting the plea. Only then, and only after satisfying itself that there is a strong factual basis for the plea, ought the trial court accept the plea. State v. Smith, 61 Haw. 522, 524-25, 606 P.2d 86, 89 (1980) (emphases added). [20] HRS § 602-11 (1993) provides in relevant part that "[t]he supreme court shall have power to promulgate rules in all civil and criminal cases for all courts relating to process, practices, procedure and appeals, which shall have the force and effect of law." (Emphasis added.) HRPP 11 is such a rule. Having the force and effect of law, it is analogous to a statute. [21] Merino argues that "[t]he issue at hand does not center on whether counsel should be forced upon a criminal defendant." To the extent that he implies that Judge Tsukiyama was not obligated to be sensitive to Merino's persistent renunciation of his right of legal representation, Merino is mistaken. In Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 [95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562] (1975), the United States Supreme Court recognized that defendants in criminal cases have a constitutional right of self-representation that is "necessarily implied by the structure of the [sixth] [a]mendment" to the United States Constitution. Id. at 819 [95 S. Ct. at 2533]. In so ruling, the Faretta Court reasoned as follows: The [s]ixth [a]mendment does not provide merely that a defense shall be made for the accused; it grants to the accused personally the right to make his defense. It is the accused, not counsel, who must be "informed of the nature and cause of the accusation," who must be "confronted with the witnesses against him," and who must be accorded "compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor." ... The right to defend is given directly to the accused; for it is he who suffers the consequences if the defense fails. The counsel provision supplements this design. It speaks of the "assistance" of counsel, and an assistant, however expert, is still an assistant. The language and spirit of the [s]ixth [a]mendment contemplate that counsel, like the other defense tools guaranteed by the [a]mendment, shall be an aid to a willing defendantnot an organ of the State interposed between an unwilling defendant and his right to defend himself personally. To thrust counsel upon the accused, against his considered wish, thus violates the logic of the [a]mendment. In such a case, counsel is not an assistant, but a master; and the right to make a defense is stripped of the personal character upon which the [a]mendment insists. Id. at 819-20 [95 S.Ct. at 2533-34] (footnotes omitted). .... Article I, section 14 of the [Hawai`i] Constitution parallels the sixth amendment's guarantee of a defendant's right to counsel in criminal cases.... Dicks, 57 Haw. [at] 47, 549 P.2d [at] 729.... [T]his court has always been mindful of its obligation to "afford defendants the minimum protection required by federal interpretations of the [f]ourteenth [a]mendment to the Federal Constitution...." State v. Texeira, 50 Haw. 138, 142 n. 2, 433 P.2d 593, 597 n. 2 (1967). Accordingly, inasmuch as the United States Supreme Court has deemed the right of selfrepresentation to be implicit in the sixth amendment to the United States Constitution and the sixth amendment is applicable to the states through the fourteenth amendment, it therefore follows, and we so hold, that the same right is guaranteed by article I, section 14 of the [Hawai`i] Constitution. Hutch, 75 Haw. at 318-22, 861 P.2d at 18-19 (footnotes omitted) (some brackets and ellipsis points in original and some added). However, we express no opinion regarding whether, in this case, the circuit court would have erred if it had appointed standby counsel for Merino, over his objection or otherwise. See generally id. at 320-23, 861 P.2d at 18-20; see also McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 174, 177-79, 184, 104 S. Ct. 944, 950-51, 954, 79 L. Ed. 2d 122 (1984). [22] Significantly, Merino does not suggest that his waiver of the right to counsel was involuntary. [23] Cf. State v. Vaitogi, 59 Haw. 592, 597, 585 P.2d 1259, 1262 (1978), in which this court quoted Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242, 89 S. Ct. 1709, 1712, 23 L. Ed. 2d 274 (1969), for the proposition that, with respect to the sixth amendment right to counsel, "`[p]resuming waiver from a silent record is impermissible. The record must show, or there must be an allegation and evidence which show, that an accused was offered counsel but intelligently and understandingly rejected the offer. Anything less is not a waiver.'" [24] We reemphasize that Merino is not claiming that his waiver of counsel was not voluntarily undertaken. See supra note 22. [25] HRPP 32(d) has never been amended from its original form, which became effective, along with the rest of the HRPP, on January 1, 1977. [26] In the matter before us, the prosecution does not claim that it relied on Merino's no contest plea to its substantial prejudice. [27] In Gomes, the defendant did not challenge the voluntariness of his no contest plea. Consequently, we deemed the prosecution's assertion that the plea was voluntarily and knowingly entered to be irrelevant. Rather, we construed the inquiry to be whether the defendant had "otherwise presented a `fair and just reason' for withdrawing the plea." Gomes, 79 Hawai`i at 36 n. 8, 897 P.2d at 963 n. 8. Had the knowing, intelligent, or voluntary character of the defendant's no contest plea (i.e., the first of the Gomes bases) been the unadorned basis for the challenge, then the first criterion of the Gomes ruleno express admission of guiltcould not have been interposed as a necessary precondition to withdrawal of the plea. See HRPP 11; Vaitogi, 59 Haw. at 597-98, 585 P.2d at 1262-63; Dicks, 57 Haw. at 49-50, 549 P.2d at 730; Boykin, 395 U.S. at 242-43, 89 S. Ct. at 1711-12. Moreover, the second criterion of the Gomes rulethe advancement of factual support for new information or changed circumstances that, if believed by a reasonable trier of fact, would exculpate the defendantwould have had no direct bearing on our HRPP 32(d) analysis. [28] See supra note 26. [29] Merino's medical records reflect that, during the period surrounding the entry of his plea, he was prescribed or otherwise in possession of Lasix, K-lor, Endurol, Halcion, and Xanax for a heart condition. Richard A. Jorgensen, M.D., a licensed psychiatrist, testified that: Lasix is a diuretic designed to rid the body of excess fluid; K-lor is a potassium supplement; Endurol regulates blood pressure and heart rate; Halcion is a sleeping medication; and Xanax is an anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication. Dr. Jorgensen also testified that these medications carried potential side effects. For example, Endurol could cause disorientation and memory lapse, and Halcion could cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, abnormal behavior, and amnesic episodes.