Opinion ID: 2653520
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Arauza Case

Text: On June 28, 1978, Maryann was arrested while driving Arauza’s vehicle. William subsequently turned himself in on July 1, 1978. On July 20, 1978, Maryann and William were charged in California with the murder of Arauza. The charge alleged that in the commission of the offense, William and Maryann “personally used a firearm, to wit a 38 caliber revolver[.]” Maryann and William were also charged with committing two unrelated -5-  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  robberies. Maryann was charged with an additional unrelated robbery. The cases against William and Maryann were severed for trial. William pleaded nolo contendere to the murder of Arauza, which included the use of a firearm allegation. William also pleaded nolo contendere to the two charged robberies. William was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. After a bench trial, Maryann was found guilty of Arauza’s murder, but the court found the use of a firearm allegation to be “not true and order[ed] [it] stricken.” Maryann also was convicted of the three charged robberies, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.