Case Name: STATE of North Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee v. Joel MEJIA, Defendant and Appellant
Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: North Dakota
Decision Date: 2018-12-06
Citations: 919 N.W.2d 914
Docket Number: No. 20180178
Parties: STATE of North Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee
v.
Joel MEJIA, Defendant and Appellant
Judges: 
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 919
Pages: 914–914

Head Matter:
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.

Opinion:
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