State v. Cleaves

[¶ 1] William R. Cleaves Jr. appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court (Washington County, Gorman J.) finding him guilty, after a jury trial, of reckless conduct with a firearm (Class C), 17-A M.R.S.A. §§ 211(1), 1252(4), (5) (1983 & Supp.2004). Cleaves asserts that the court committed obvious error in failing to instruct the jury on the justifications of competing harms, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 103 (1983), and self-defense, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 108(1) (1983). Because trial counsel did not request the instructions at issue and no obvious error is demonstrated in the court not giving the instructions…