Title: Barnett v. State
Citation: 979 P.2d 1046
Docket Number: 19913, 21051
State: Hawaii
Issuer: Hawaii Supreme Court
Date: June 23, 1999

979 P.2d 1046 (1999) 91 Hawai`i 20 Gregory BARNETT, Petitioner/Cross-Respondent-Appellant, v. STATE of Hawai`i, Respondent/Cross-Petitioner-Appellee. Nos. 19913, 21051. Supreme Court of Hawai`i. June 23, 1999. Reconsideration Denied July 15, 1999. *1047 Anthony L. Ranken, Wailuku, for petitioner/cross-respondent-appellant Gregory Barnett on the writ. Aileen Y. Watanabe, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, for respondent/cross-petitioner-appellee State of Hawai`i on the writ. MOON, C.J., and KLEIN, LEVINSON, NAKAYAMA, and RAMIL, JJ. Opinion of the Court by RAMIL, J. Petitioner/cross-respondent-appellant Gregory Barnett appealed the circuit court's April 24, 1996 order denying his Hawai`i Rules of Penal Procedure (HRPP) Rule 40 petition without a hearing. Barnett argued, inter alia, that the circuit court erred in denying his HRPP Rule 40 petition without a hearing because: (1) the plea agreement was ambiguous and unfulfillable; (2) the minimum term of imprisonment set by the Hawai`i Paroling Authority (HPA) was illegal; and (3) his counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel. We assigned Barnett's appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA). In Barnett v. State, Nos. 19913 and 21051 (Haw.Ct.App. *1048 Mar. 9, 1999) (mem.op.),[1] the ICA vacated the circuit court's order denying Barnett's HRPP Rule 40 petition because Barnett was not aware that the plea agreement contemplated concurrent multiple life terms. We granted certiorari to review the ICA's opinion. For the reasons discussed below, we reverse the ICA's decision and affirm the circuit court's order denying Barnett's HRPP Rule 40 petition. On April 24, 1992, Barnett was indicted for a total of forty criminal charges in Cr. No. 92-0196 for: The prosecution made an initial plea offer to Barnett in January 1994, proposing to dismiss twenty-five of the forty-one charges in exchange for Barnett's guilty plea to fourteen class A felonies and two class C felonies. The prosecution offered to seek a combination of concurrent and consecutive sentences on these charges that would result in a fifty-year indeterminate sentence. Barnett rejected this plea offer and countered through his attorney by way of a letter dated August 1, 1994. The letter stated in relevant part: (Emphasis added.) The prosecution responded to Barnett's counter-proposal as follows: (Emphases omitted.) A letter dated August 8, 1994 from the prosecutor to Barnett's counsel was attached to Barnett's guilty plea form and stated in relevant part: (Emphases omitted.) At the August 12, 1994 change of plea hearing, the circuit court first reviewed Barnett's guilty plea form and then conducted the following colloquy with Barnett: Barnett then signed the guilty plea form in open court. After the guilty plea, Barnett submitted a presentence letter to the Adult Probation Division illustrating his alleged understanding that he would be sentenced to a single life term with the possibility of parole in Cr. No. 92-0196 and with all other sentences running concurrently. The letter stated in relevant part: On November 30, 1994, the circuit court conducted Barnett's sentencing hearing. After confirming that it had "already agreed to the plea bargain[,]" the circuit court proceeded to sentence Barnett as follows: The circuit court entered a judgment in both Cr. No. 92-0196 and Cr. No. 92-0259 on November 30, 1994. An amended judgment was entered in both cases on December 16, 1994. The amended judgment in Cr. No. 92-0196 stated, in relevant part, that Barnett was to be incarcerated to: Similarly, the amended judgment in Cr. No. 92-0259 sentenced Barnett to a term of incarceration for five years running concurrent to all other terms. Pursuant to the circuit court's sentence, the HPA held a hearing on March 10, 1995 to determine Barnett's minimum term of imprisonment (the minimum term hearing). The mothers of two minor victims of Barnett's offenses made oral comments at the hearing. Although the prosecution attempted to present various photographs from the criminal case, Barnett's counsel objected to the presentation. As a result of the objection, the HPA did not view the photographs. After the hearing, the HPA fixed Barnett's minimum term of imprisonment at twenty-five (25) years. On January 3, 1996, Barnett filed a HRPP Rule 40 petition, alleging that: (1) when entering his guilty plea, he did not realize he would receive ten life terms for all class A felonies rather than just one life term; (2) the plea agreement was ambiguous, illegal, and/or did not conform to statute; (3) the sentence was illegal because there was no hearing and no findings by the court to support the extended terms imposed; (4) his counsel was ineffective; (5) the prosecutor and the HPA committed misconduct at the minimum term hearing by their actions regarding the oral comments of the two victim witnesses and the photographic evidence proffered by the State; and (6) the HPA's setting of a twenty-five year minimum term on the life term imposed for each class A felony violated the due process clause and the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution. In denying Barnett's Rule 40 Petition, the circuit court summarized Barnett's grounds for relief as follows: (1) extended sentencing (Barnett's claims regarding the plea agreement and sentence); (2) ineffective assistance of counsel; and (3) minimum term fixed by the Hawaii Paroling Authority (HPA) (prosecutorial and HPA misconduct). The circuit court concluded that all of Barnett's claims were patently frivolous and without a trace of support in the record or from other evidence. Additionally, the circuit court concluded that HRPP Rule 40 relief was not available to Barnett because he had waived the issues regarding extended sentencing and ineffective assistance of counsel. Thereafter, Barnett filed a timely notice appeal from the circuit court's denial of his HRPP Rule 40 motion without a hearing. On appeal, the ICA determined that the circuit court erred in deciding that "at all relevant times, [Barnett] had verbal and written notices of, and was aware that, as to the class A felonies, he would be sentenced to concurrent multiple extended terms pursuant to Chapter 706." Id., slip op. at 13. In reaching this conclusion, the ICA reasoned that Barnett never agreed nor was he aware that he would be sentenced to concurrent multiple life terms for the class A felonies. On this basis, the ICA vacated the circuit court's order denying Barnett's HRPP Rule 40 petition without a hearing and remanded the case to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. From the ICA's opinion, Barnett and the prosecution each filed a petition for writ of certiorari. In his petition for certiorari, Barnett argues that: (1) the ICA erred in failing to direct the circuit court to sentence him to ordinary, non-extended terms of imprisonment (i.e., twenty-years for each count); and (2) the ICA incorrectly concluded that nothing in HRS § 706-669(7) (1993) prohibits the *1052 HPA from allowing the parents of victims to make oral comments. By contrast, the prosecution argues in its petition for certiorari that the ICA erred in concluding that Barnett did not have notice and was not aware that he would be sentenced to concurrent multiple extended terms. With regard to the denial of a HRPP Rule 40 petition without an evidentiary hearing, HRPP Rule 40(f) provides in relevant part: In addition, we have previously stated: Dan v. State, 76 Hawai`i 423, 427, 879 P.2d 528, 532 (1994). State v. Davia, 87 Hawai`i 249, 253-54, 953 P.2d 1347, 1351-52 (1998). In reviewing an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, this court must determine whether the assistance, "[w]hen viewed as a whole, was ... provided to the defendant within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases[.]" State v. Richie, 88 Hawai`i 19, 39, 960 P.2d 1227, 1247 *1053 (1998) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). In addition, State v. Fukusaku, 85 Hawai`i 462, 479-80, 946 P.2d 32, 49-50 (1997) (ellipsis in original). In its memorandum opinion, the ICA agreed with Barnett's contention that the circuit court erred in determining that the sentence of concurrent multiple extended terms did not violate the plea agreement. As a result, Barnett maintains that he did not have notice and was not aware that he would be sentenced to multiple life terms. We disagree. In the instant case, the circuit court's sentence gave Barnett the benefit of the bargain of the plea agreement. In effect, the circuit court fashioned a sentence that gave Barnett what amounted to a single life sentence. In other words, Barnett effectively received the sentence that he bargained fora single life term. Although the circuit court sentenced Barnett to multiple life sentences, the court ran the sentences concurrently. When run concurrently, the multiple life terms amounted to exactly one life term. Because the circuit court bound itself to the agreement under HRPP Rule 11 (1993),[8] the circuit court had no other alternative but to sentence Defendant to multiple life terms running concurrently. Although Barnett argues that the circuit court erred by not imposing one life term for all of his class A sexual assault offenses, such a sentence would have been illegal. HRS § 706-600 (1993) provides, in relevant part, that "[n]o sentence shall be imposed otherwise than in accordance with this chapter." Moreover, HRS § 706-661 (1993) provides, in relevant part, that "a person who has been convicted of a felony may be sentenced to an extended indeterminate term of imprisonment." (Emphasis added.) In other words, the circuit court must sentence a person for each charge of which the person is convicted. As the ICA correctly observed: Barnett, slip op. at 17 (footnote added) (some emphases in original and some added) (brackets in original). Given that HRS § 706-600 does not authorize a court to impose a single sentence on a defendant who has been convicted of multiple charges, the circuit court in this case could not legally have sentenced Barnett to only one term of life imprisonment for the aggregate of the ten class A felonies. Because a sentence of one life term for multiple offenses would have been illegal, the only *1054 way the circuit court could have given Barnett what he bargained for was to impose a life term for each class A offense he was convicted of and then run each life term concurrently. Therefore, we disagree with Barnett's contention that the circuit court's sentence violated the plea agreement. Moreover, Barnett failed to present a colorable claim for relief, even assuming, arguendo, that: (1) the plea agreement was for a single life term, as opposed to multiple life terms running concurrently; and (2) a single life term were materially distinguishable, for purposes of the HPA's determination of minimum terms, from multiple life terms running concurrently. Given Barnett's contention that he was not fully aware of the consequences of his plea, Barnett's proper recourse in this case is a withdrawal of his plea. Instead, he seeks an order to the circuit court to sentence him to concurrent twenty-year terms. This remedy is not available to him. With regard to the withdrawal of a guilty plea, we have previously stated that a defendant is entitled to withdraw his or her guilty plea after imposition of sentence only upon a showing of manifest injustice. State v. Nguyen, 81 Hawai`i 279, 292, 916 P.2d 689, 702 (1996) (citing State v. Cornelio, 68 Haw. 644, 646, 727 P.2d 1125, 1126-27 (1986)); see also State v. Merino, 81 Hawai`i 198, 223, 915 P.2d 672, 697 (1996). Nguyen, 81 Hawai`i at 292, 916 P.2d at 702 (some brackets in original and some added). In addition, "[c]ourts need not inform defendants prior to accepting their guilty or nolo contendere pleas about every conceivable collateral effect that a conviction might have." Id. at 287, 916 P.2d at 697 (citing Reponte v. State, 57 Haw. 354, 364, 556 P.2d 577, 584 (1976)). In this case, it is undisputed that Barnett knew that he was pleading guilty to fifteen separate felonies involving sexual assault. Before accepting Barnett's guilty plea, the circuit court conducted a lengthy colloquy on the record to examine the voluntariness of Barnett's plea. The circuit court asked Barnett various questions regarding any outside influence that may have been affecting his decision to plead guilty. The court then asked the prosecution read aloud in open court each charge and their respective factual bases to which Barnett would be pleading. In addition, the circuit court stated: Based upon the circuit court's colloquy with Barnett, it is difficult to imagine that Barnett did not have knowledge of the direct consequences of his guilty plea. At the very least, Barnett knew that he was pleading guilty to fifteen separate sexual assault felonies and, given that all sentences were run concurrently, that he would be sentenced to what effectively would amount to a life term of imprisonment. In addition, a letter attached to Barnett's guilty plea form stated in relevant part: Barnett stated before his guilty plea was accepted that he had read the forms, had reviewed it with his attorney, and understood what the form contained and what it meant. The fact that Barnett expected a legally impossible certain sentence and did not receive it in precisely the expected form does not render the guilty plea involuntary. Cf. Eli v. State, 63 Haw. 474, 477, 630 P.2d 113, 116 (1981) (citing Masciola v. United States, 469 F.2d 1057 (3d Cir.1972)). In fact, the record suggests that Barnett received a minimum term of imprisonment (twenty-five years), which was much shorter than originally expected (thirty-five years). Under these circumstances, and given that Barnett received the benefit of his plea bargain, Barnett has not met his burden of demonstrating manifest injustice so as to entitle him to withdraw his plea. Therefore, Barnett has failed to present a colorable claim under HRPP Rule 40. Interestingly, however, Barnett is not seeking to withdraw his plea. In his opening brief, Barnett requests that "the case be remanded with instructions to ... sentence [Barnett] ... to a maximum of 20 years." However, Barnett has not cited any authority or any basis that would allow this court to substitute a sentence of concurrent twenty-year terms in this case. The prosecution has not agreed to Barnett's proposed sentence of concurrent twenty-year terms. Indeed, if given the opportunity to renegotiate the plea, the prosecution would be free to bargain for a longer term of imprisonment than the multiple concurrent terms currently in effect or, arguably, even to refuse to bargain at all, thus forcing Barnett to trial.[9] In such a case, Barnett would face the possibility of a maximum sentence of 610 years of imprisonment, or twenty-seven life sentences, with the possibility of parole in 140 years. In addition, it is the sentencing court that is required to consider the various factors set forth in HRS § 706-606 (1993), including the presentence report and the defendant's presentation to the court at the sentencing hearing. See HRS §§ 706-606, 706-601 (1993), 706-602 (1993), and 706-604 (1993). Accordingly, this court is without power to fashion a sentence in the first instance on appeal. That being the case, we hold that the remedy being sought by Barnett is not available in this case. Barnett's next ground for post-conviction relief alleges ineffective assistance of counsel. In support of his claim, Barnett argues that his trial counsel was ineffective by: (1) entering into an unfulfillable plea agreement; and (2) failing to request a hearing to establish *1056 the grounds for the extended terms (i.e., the life terms) imposed at sentencing.[10] Barnett first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective by advising him to agree to an illegal sentence that was unfulfillable. As discussed above, however, Barnett received what he bargained for a "single life term." In other words, the plea agreement was effectively fulfilled because all of Barnett's sentences for each respective offense were run concurrently to each other. In addition, the exhibits appended to Barnett's HRPP Rule 40 petition show that, before entering his guilty plea, Barnett was informed of the correct maximum term. Given that Barnett was charged with forty-one counts of sex abuse, Barnett was faced with the possibility of a sentence of up to 610 years. As the ICA observed, Barnett's trial counsel was able to negotiable a plea agreement that amounted to what effectively was a single life term with the possibility of parole. Even though his trial counsel initially predicted that it was "unlikely that Mr. Barnett [would] ... receive a term of less than 35 years as his minimum mandatory term[,]" Barnett himself acknowledged that he was extremely happy with the plea agreement obtained by his trial counsel. The HPA eventually imposed a minimum prison term of twenty-five years, ten years less than what was anticipated during the plea negotiations. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the assistance provided to Barnett fell below the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Barnett next contends that his trial counsel's performance at sentencing was not within the range of competence demanded in criminal cases because his trial counsel failed to request a hearing to establish the grounds for the extended terms. Barnett's contention is without merit. HRS § 706-662 provides in relevant part: (Emphasis added.) Based upon this language, a defendant is eligible for extended terms of imprisonment under HRS § 706-661 if he or she is "being sentenced for two or more felonies." In this case, Barnett was sentenced for ten class A felonies and six class C felonies. Given that Barnett was clearly eligible for extended sentencing and that the plea agreement called for extended sentences (i.e., life terms), Barnett through his trial counsel stipulated to the circuit court's finding that Barnett was eligible for the extended terms of imprisonment (i.e., the life terms). Under these circumstances, there was no need to have a hearing to establish the grounds to support the imposition of the life terms. As a tactical matter, Barnett needed to stipulate to the circuit court's finding that sufficient grounds existed to support the extended terms in order to fulfill and obtain the benefit of the plea agreement. Without this finding to support the imposition of the life terms, Barnett could not have received the sentence he bargained fora life term. Therefore, Barnett has not demonstrated any specific error reflecting the lack of skill on *1057 the part of his trial counsel and has not alleged any prejudice as a result of his trial counsel's failure to request a hearing to establish the grounds supporting the imposition of life terms. Accordingly, we reject Barnett's contention that his trial counsel was ineffective at sentencing. Barnett contends that the HPA erred by allowing the mothers of two victims the opportunity to comment at the minimum term hearing. We disagree. Gray v. Administrative Dir. of the Court, 84 Hawai`i 138, 144, 931 P.2d 580, 586 (1997) (some brackets added and some in original). See also State v. Soto, 84 Hawai`i 229, 236, 933 P.2d 66, 73 (1997). Furthermore, our statutory construction is guided by established rules: State v. Davia, 87 Hawai`i 249, 254, 953 P.2d 1347, 1352 (1998) (quoting Korean Buddhist Dae Won Sa Temple of Hawaii v. Sullivan, 87 Hawai`i 217, 229-230, 953 P.2d 1315, 1327 (1998) (citation omitted)). HRS § 706-669 (1993) provides in relevant part: Subsection (7) of HRS § 706-669 was added in 1988 as part of Act 282. 1988 Haw. Sess. L. Act 282, § 1 at 527. The committee report recommending the adoption of subsection (7) states in relevant part: Sen. Conf. Comm. Rep. No. 270, in 1988 Senate Journal, at 709 (emphases added). Considering the language of HRS § 706-669(7) together with its legislative history, it is apparent that the legislature intended to allow witnesses to make oral comments as part of the prosecution's oral presentation. Given that the bill enacting HRS 706-669(7) "codifies the procedure permitting the prosecuting attorney to ... present oral ... testimony," the committee report's statement that "oral presentation by the prosecuting attorney shall not include testimony from witnesses but instead shall take the form of only oral comments" is evidence that the legislature intended to allow interested parties to make oral comments as part of the prosecution's oral presentation. Although the legislature intended to bar interested parties from giving "oral testimony" in the interest of preserving the non-adversarial nature of the hearing, the legislature intended to allow interested parties to attend the hearing and make "oral comments." Indeed, "testimony" as used by the conference committee in the language of its report could not have meant testimony from the deputy prosecuting attorney. Instead, the "testimony" being referred to in the conference committee's report refers to testimony by victims, witnesses, and other interested parties. Therefore, inasmuch as the bill enacting HRS 706-669(7) "codifies the procedure permitting the prosecuting attorney to... present oral and written testimony," we see no reason to prohibit victims or their representatives from making oral comments at the minimum term hearings before the HPA. Our construction of HRS § 706-669 is confirmed by subsequent legislative history. See Macabio v. TIG Ins. Co., 87 Hawai`i 307, 317, 955 P.2d 100, 110 (1998) (recognizing that this court can employ subsequent legislative history "to confirm its interpretation of an earlier statutory provision"). In 1996, HRS § 706-669(7) (Supp.1996) was amended, in relevant part, as follows: (Emphasis added.) The Supplemental Commentary to this section explains the purpose of the 1996 amendment and states in relevant part: Supplemental Commentary to HRS § 706-669 (Supp.1998). Given that the legislature amended HRS § 706-669 after Barnett's minimum term hearing to expressly clarify that victims or their representatives can make oral comments, we are further convinced that HRS § 706-669 allows victims or their representatives to present oral comments at minimum term hearings before the HPA. Because we hold that HRS § 706-669 allows victims or their representatives the opportunity to make oral comments at minimum prison term hearings before the HPA, Barnett's contention in his HRPP Rule 40 petition that the HPA erred by allowing the mothers of two victims the opportunity to comment at the minimum term hearing was patently without merit and did not establish a colorable claim for purposes of HRPP Rule 40. Therefore, the circuit court correctly denied Barnett's HRPP Rule 40 motion without a hearing. For the reasons discussed above, we reverse the ICA's decision and affirm the circuit court's order denying Barnett's HRPP Rule 40 petition filed April 24, 1996. [1] In No. 19913, Barnett appealed the circuit court's April 24, 1996 order denying his HRPP petition. In No. 21051, Barnett appealed the circuit court's orders denying his motions for relief from judgment, for stay of proceedings, and for a reserved question to this court. Nos. 19913 and 21051 were consolidated on December 9, 1997 before briefs were submitted. [2] HRS § 707-750(1) provides: Promoting child abuse in the first degree. (1) A person commits the offense of promoting child abuse in the first degree if, knowing or having reason to know its character and content, the person produces, directs, or participates in the preparation of pornographic material or engages in a pornographic performance which employs, uses, or otherwise contains a minor engaging in or assisting others to engage in sexual conduct. [3] HRS § 707-730(1)(b) provides in relevant part: Sexual assault in the first degree. (1) A person commits the offense of sexual assault in the first degree if ... [t]he person knowingly subjects to sexual penetration another person who is less than fourteen years old; provided this paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit practitioners licensed under chapter 453, 455, or 460, from performing any act within their respective practices. [4] HRS § 705-500 provides: Criminal attempt. (1) A person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if he: (a) Intentionally engages in conduct which would constitute the crime if the attendant circumstances were as he believes them to be; or (b) Intentionally engages in conduct which, under the circumstances as he believes them to be, constitutes a substantial step in a course of conduct intended to culminate in his commission of the crime. (2) When causing a particular result is an element of the crime, a person is guilty of an attempt to commit the crime if, acting with the state of mind required to establish liability with respect to the attendant circumstances specified in the definition of the crime, he intentionally engages in conduct which is a substantial step in a course of conduct intended or known to cause such a result. (3) Conduct shall not be considered a substantial step under this section unless it is strongly corroborative of the defendant's criminal intent. [5] See supra note 3. [6] HRS § 707-732(1)(b) provides in relevant part: Sexual assault in the third degree. (1) A person commits the offense of sexual assault in the third degree if ... [t]he person knowingly subjects to sexual contact another person who is less than fourteen years old or causes such a person to have sexual contact with the person[.] [7] HRS 712-1215(1)(a) provides in relevant part: Promoting pornography for minors. (1) A person commits the offense of promoting pornography for minors if ... [k]nowing its character and content, the person disseminates to a minor material which is pornographic for minors[.] [8] HRPP Rule 11(e)(1) provides in relevant part: The prosecutor and counsel for the defendant, or the defendant when acting pro se, may enter into plea agreements that, upon the entering of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a charged offense or to an included or related offense, the prosecutor will take certain actions or adopt certain positions, including the dismissal of other charges and the recommending or not opposing of specific sentences or dispositions on the charge to which a plea was entered. The court may participate in discussions leading to such plea agreements and may agree to be bound thereby. (Emphasis added.) [9] Given these possibilities in the event Barnett's plea were withdrawn, a withdrawal of Barnett's plea could arguably result in a longer sentence than the one he is currently serving. [10] Barnett also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective at the HPA hearing by failing to object to oral hearsay testimony presented to the HPA. As discussed infra in section III.C., however, HRS § 706-669 allows for victims or their representatives to make oral comments at HPA minimum term hearings. In light of this holding, Barnett's claim that his counsel provided ineffective assistance at the HPA hearing is without merit.