State of New Hampshire v. Russell Debreceni

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

SUPREME COURT

In Case No. 2021-0456, State of New Hampshire v. Russell
Debreceni, the court on February 24, 2023, issued the following
order:

The court has reviewed the written arguments and the record submitted on
appeal, and has determined to resolve the case by way of this order. See Sup. Ct.
R. 20(2). The defendant, Russell Debreceni, appeals an order of the Superior
Court (Delker, J.) denying his motion to modify the no-contact provision of his
sentence, which was part of a negotiated plea. We affirm.

On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erred by ruling on his
motion without first holding an evidentiary hearing. As the appealing party, the
defendant has the burden of demonstrating reversible error. Gallo v. Traina, 166
N.H. 737, 740 (2014). Based upon our review of the trial court’s order, the
defendant’s challenges to it, the relevant law, and the record submitted on
appeal, we conclude that the defendant failed to demonstrate that the trial court
committed reversible error by deciding his motion to modify without an
evidentiary hearing. See id.; see also State v. Perfetto, 160 N.H. 675, 680-81
(2010) (deciding that the trial court did not violate the defendant’s state due
process rights by not holding a hearing on his motion to amend a condition of his
suspended sentences); cf. Grote v. Powell, 132 N.H. 96, 99 (1989) (concluding in
a habeas corpus proceeding that “the court need not hold a hearing if the existing
record of the case clearly indicates that the petitioner is not entitled to the relief
requested on the grounds alleged”).

Affirmed.

MacDonald, C.J., and Hicks, Bassett, Hantz Marconi, and Donovan, JJ.,
concurred.

Timothy A. Gudas,
Clerk