STATE v. CHAMBERLAIN (2026)

[¶1] Jason Sam Chamberlain appeals from criminal judgments entered following a jury verdict finding him guilty of attempted murder, reckless endangerment, terrorizing, criminal mischief, and discharge of a firearm within city limits. On appeal, Chamberlain challenges the sufficiency of the evidence on the convictions for attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and terrorizing.

[¶2] “In reviewing challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, the defendant bears the burden of showing the evidence reveals no reasonable inference of guilt when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict.” State v. Pittsley, 2025 ND 158, ¶ 1, 25 N.W.3d 773 (quoting State v. Cahoon, 2023 ND 178, ¶ 1, 996 N.W.2d 313). This Court “merely reviews the record to determine if there is competent evidence allowing the jury to draw an inference reasonably tending to prove guilt and fairly warranting a conviction․ When considering insufficiency of the evidence, we will not reweigh conflicting evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses[.]” State v. Grensteiner, 2024 ND 218, ¶ 9, 14 N.W.3d 587 (quoting State v. Dahl, 2022 ND 212, ¶ 5, 982 N.W.2d 580).

[¶3] At trial, the State called three witnesses: the night manager of the hotel present when the incident occurred, the responding detective, and a special agent from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The district court admitted four exhibits: a pistol magazine found at the scene that contained live rounds; the 1911 pistol with a missing magazine found on the side of Chamberlain's bed, which the magazine found at the scene fit; a lodged spent shell casing from the pistol; and a video of the incident captured by the hotel's video system, which showed Chamberlain's actions in the hotel.

[¶4] Based on our review of the record, we conclude there was sufficient evidence to support the guilty verdicts of attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and terrorizing. We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Per Curiam.

[¶5] Lisa Fair McEvers, C.J. Jerod E. Tufte Jon J. Jensen Douglas A. Bahr Mark A. Friese