State v. Mejia, 919 N.W.2d 914 (2018)

Dec. 6, 2018 · North Dakota Supreme Court · No. 20180178
919 N.W.2d 914
STATE of North Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee v. Joel MEJIA, Defendant and Appellant

STATE of North Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee
v.
Joel MEJIA, Defendant and Appellant

No. 20180178

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

Filed December 6, 2018

Wade G. Enget, Mountrail County State's Attorney, Stanley, ND, for plaintiff and appellee.

Caitlyn A. Pierson, Minot, ND, for defendant and appellant.

Per Curiam.

[¶1] Joel Mejia appeals from a criminal judgment entered after he was found guilty of simple assault following a bench trial. Mejia argues there was insufficient evidence to sustain his conviction for simple assault and that the district court was required to make a finding on his claim of self-defense. We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3), concluding there was sufficient evidence to support the guilty verdict. We also affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7), concluding in a case tried without a jury, the court need only find the defendant guilty or not guilty. State v. Berger , 235 N.W.2d 254, 263 (N.D. 1975).

[¶2] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.

Jon J. Jensen

Jerod E. Tufte

Daniel J. Crothers

Lisa Fair McEvers