State of New Hampshire v. Joseph Mills

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

SUPREME COURT

In Case No. 2023-0031, State of New Hampshire v. Joseph
Mills, the court on May 6, 2024, 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, Joseph Mills, appeals an order of the Superior Court
(Messer, J.) denying his motion to dismiss a charge of kidnapping, see RSA
633:1, I(d) (2016), pursuant to the merger doctrine, see State v. Brooks, 164 N.H.
272, 292-96 (2012); State v. Casanova, 164 N.H. 563, 566-69 (2013). He argues
that the kidnapping charge was not sufficiently independent of the second-degree
assault and simple assault charges against him, and, therefore, should have
been dismissed. 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 decision, the defendant’s challenges to it, the
relevant law, and the record submitted on appeal, we conclude that the
defendant has not demonstrated reversible error and affirm the court’s decision.
See id.; Sup. Ct. R. 25(8).

Affirmed.

MacDonald, C.J., and Bassett, Donovan, and Countway, JJ., concurred.

Timothy A. Gudas,
Clerk