WILLIE JONES v. STATE OF HAWAI (2026)

SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER

Petitioner-Appellant Willie J. Jones (Jones), self-represented, appeals from the April 4, 2024 Order Denying [Jones's] Petition for Post-Conviction Relief, Filed November 17, 2022, Without a Hearing (Order Denying Sixth Rule 40 Petition) entered by the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Circuit Court).¹

Jones's opening brief does not comply with Hawai‘i Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 28(b)(4) in numerous ways, including a failure to include a statement of points of error on appeal. Nonetheless, we address the argument raised in Jones's appeal to the extent discernible. See State v. Croke, CAAP-23-0000105, 2024 WL 304009 *2 n.6 (Haw. App. Jan. 26, 2024) (SDO). It appears that Jones contends that his extended term sentence was unconstitutional pursuant to Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), because a judge, not a jury, found the facts necessary to support the imposition of an extended term.

Upon careful review of the record and the briefs submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to the arguments advanced and the issues raised, we resolve Jones's appeal as follows:

First, we note that this argument appears to have been raised and ruled on in conjunction with Jones's prior Hawai‘i Rules of Penal Procedure Rule 40 petitions.

Moreover, this argument has no merit. The Hawai‘i Supreme Court has held that Apprendi does not apply retroactively to cases that became final before the United States Supreme Court announced its rule in Apprendi in 2000. See State v. Gomes, 107 Hawai‘i 308, 314, 113 P.3d 184, 190 (2005) (“In the present matter, Gomes was sentenced and his direct appeal became final years before the announcement of the Supreme Court's rule in Apprendi. Therefore, by any construction of Apprendi, Gomes's sentence could not have been illegal at the time the circuit court imposed it.”).

Here, Jones was sentenced and his direct appeal became final in 1997, years before the announcement of the rule in Apprendi.

Accordingly, the Circuit Court's April 4, 2024 Order Denying Sixth Rule 40 Petition is affirmed.

DATED: Honolulu, Hawai‘i, April 27, 2026.

Katherine G. Leonard Presiding Judge

Clyde J. Wadsworth Associate Judge

Kimberly T. Guidry Associate Judge

FOOTNOTES

1.   The Honorable Rowena A. Somerville presided.