State of Maine v. Dana P. Lajoie

[¶ 1] Dana P. Lajoie appeals from a judgment of conviction for baiting deer (Class E), 12 M.R.S. § 11452(1)(A), (2) (2016), and hunting from an observation stand overlooking deer bait (Class E), 12 M.R.S. § 11452(1)(B), (2) (2016), entered by the trial court (Piscataquis County, Stitham, J.) following a one-day jury trial. 1 On appeal, Lajoie argues that (1) the trial court committed obvious error when it failed to expressly instruct the jury on the requisite mens rea required for each offense charged, and (2) statements by the prosecutor during his opening and closing — regarding the…