[¶ 1] Steven J. Montplaisir appeals from a criminal judgment entered after a jury found him guilty of criminal vehicular injury. Montplaisir argues the criminal information was.deficient, the criminal ve
I
[¶ 2] On September 20, 2013, a motorcycle stopped at an intersection in Fargo was struck from behind by a pickup driven by Montplaisir. A Fargo police officer was also stopped at the intersection and observed the victim jumping around and screaming. The officer noticed Montplai-sir had the strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech. Another officer arrived at the scene to investigate Montplaisir for driving under the influence. Montplaisir failed field sobriety tests and laboratory results indicated he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.217 percent. Montplai-sir was arrested and charged with criminal vehicular injury, a class C felony. The criminal information alleged Montplaisir drove a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and, as a result, he caused substantial bodily or serious bodily injury to another individual.
[¶ 3] The victim was initially treated at Essentia Hospital for pain to his leg and ankles, and a cut to his leg requiring stitches. Following the accident, the victim made additional visits to the emergency room reporting continued severe pain in his leg. One of his leg wounds became infected and he also complained of having neck and back discomfort.
[¶4] Before the preliminary hearing, Montplaisir submitted a brief arguing the criminal information was deficient. Specifically, he argued he did not cause a substantial or serious bodily injury to the victim, one of the essential elements of criminal vehicular injury. The State responded with a brief providing a more detailed factual background of the accident. The State’s brief also described some of the victim’s injuries to his leg and stated it would provide more details at the preliminary hearing. After hearing testimony at the preliminary hearing from the victim and one of the police officers responding to the accident, the district court found probable cause existed to bind Montplaisir over for trial on the charge of criminal vehicular injury.
[¶ 5] After the preliminary hearing, Montplaisir moved to dismiss the information arguing, as a matter of law, the victim’s injury was not serious or substantial, and the criminal vehicular injury statute is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. The court • denied his motions, concluding the statute was not unconstitutionally vague or overbroad, and whether the victim’s injury was serious or substantial was a question for the jury.
[¶6] At trial in November 2Q14, the State’s witnesses included the victim and two doctors who treated him following the accident. The victim’s medical records were also admitted into evidence. Mont-plaisir moved for a judgment of acquittal under N.D.R,Crim.P. 29 at the conclusion of the State’s case, arguing there was no evidence the victim suffered a substantial or serious bodily injury. The court denied the motion. After the conclusion of Mont-plaisir’s case, he requested a jury instruction on culpability and an instruction on the legal definitions of “serious bodily injury” and “substantial bodily injury.” The district court denied Montplaisir’s requests, and a jury found him guilty. The court sentenced Montplaisir to one year in
II
[¶ 7] Montplaisir argues the district court made numerous errors in the pretrial and trial stages of the proceedings. Much of Montplaisir’s argument centers around the phrase “substantial bodily or serious bodily injury” as it is used in N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2). Montplaisir' first argues the court erred in not dismissing a deficient information, and the State presented insufficient evidence at the preliminary hearing.
A
[¶ 8] Montplaisir argues the district court erred in failing to dismiss the criminal information because the information did not describe the nature of the victim’s injuries; it only states the victim suffered substantial or serious bodily injury. He argues the information asserts only legal conclusions of substantial or serious bodily injury to the victim, without describing the nature of any injury.
[¶ 9] Under N.D.R.Crim.P. 7(c)(1), an information must contain “a plain, concise, and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the elements of the offense charged.” An information is adequate if it is “sufficiently specific to provide the defendant with notice of the pending charges to enable the defendant to prepare a defense.”
State v. Bertram,
[¶ 10] Nearly 40 years ago, this Court addressed an argument regarding an insufficient information:
In these days of broadening pretrial discovery in criminal cases, open or almost completely open prosecutorial files, and availability of omnibus hearings and pretrial conferences, it would be almost anachronistic to reverse a conviction because the language of the information or indictment is insufficiently detailed.
When the prosecutor’s files are generally open to the defense, when motions for discovery and for bills of particulars may be made, it would be most surprising if the defendant and his attorney were unaware prior to trial of the claims of the prosecution ... and the facts upon which the prosecution relies.
State v. Motsko,
[¶ 11] Here, the information charging Montplaisir with criminal vehicular injury under N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) stated:
[On] September 20, 2013: [t]he Defendant operated a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and as a result he caused substantial bodily or serious bodily injury to another individual to-wit: that on or about the above-stated date, the defendant ... drove a vehicle in Fargo, ... when at the time the defendant was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or had an alcohol concentration of at least .08% by weight at the time of the performance of a chemical test within two hours after driving and as a result caused substantial or serious bodily injury to [the victim],
[¶ 12] The criminal vehicular injury statute, N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2), provides in relevant part:
An individual is guilty of criminal vehicular injury if the individual violates section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance and as a result that individual causes substantial bodily or serious bodily injury to another individual.
B
[¶ 14] Montplaisir argues the district court erred in finding probable cause to bind him over for trial because the State presented insufficient evidence of “serious bodily injury” or “substantial bodily inju-. ry” at the preliminary hearing. It is unnecessary to decide whether the district court erred when it found probable cause existed to bind Montplaisir over for trial, because that issue became moot when Montplaisir was found guilty at trial.
[¶ 15] In
Kartes v. Kartes,
[¶ 16] / Although we discussed and noted that “courts in other jurisdictions have held that any question whether probable cause was established at the preliminary hearing is rendered moot if the defendant is convicted after a trial,” our holding in Kartes has not been specifically applied to a preliminary hearing in a criminal case.. Id. at ¶ 14. Here, we extend our holding in Kartes to criminal cases and conclude that a district court’s decision at a preliminary hearing that probable cause, existed to bind a defendant over for trial is rendered moot once the trial is held. A defendant who is found guilty at trial may not, on appeal, challenge the district court’s decision on probable cause at the preliminary hearing. Therefore, we need not address Montplaisir’s argument alleging the district court erred in finding probable cause existed to bind him over for trial.
Ill
[¶ 17] Montplaisir argues N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Montplaisir argues the word “bodily” as used in the statute refers to a person’s trunk and does not include the head or limbs. He also argues the phrase “substantial bodily or serious bodily injury” as used in the statute is vague. We are not persuaded by Montplaisir’s arguments.
A
[¶ 18] Montplaisir argues the victim injured his leg and, therefore, did not suffer a- bodily injury. Montplaisir quotes the definitions of “bodily” and “body” from
The New Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary of
bodily — “pertaining to the body” body — “the physical substance of a man or animal” or “a corpse” or “the trunk”
Montplaisir argues “body” means “the trunk” and does not include the head or limbs. In addressing his argument, the district court stated:
Montplaisir first argues that “bodily” is too broad since the common knowledge definition would include only the trunk of the body and no appendages. Since the injury in this case occurred on the victim’s leg, Montplaisir argues that injury does not fall under the statute. This argument does not follow common sense and logic and if followed would have absurd consequences. For instance, a victim would be able to have an entire appendage cut off and, under Montplaisir’s reasoning, that injury would not qualify as a serious bodily injury under North Dakota law. This argument is without merit.
[¶ 19] This Court construes terms of a statute to avoid an illogical or absurd result.
Keller v. N.D. Dep’t of Transp.,
B
[¶ 20] Montplaisir argues the phrase “substantial bodily or serious .bodily injury” as used in N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) is unconstitutionally vague, because the phrase does not have a common meaning. This Court has summarized the vagueness doctrine:
“All laws must meet two requirements to survive a void-for-vagueness challenge: (1) the law must create minimum guidelines for the reasonable police officer, judge, or jury charged with enforcement of the statute; and (2) the law must provide a reasonable person with adequate and fair warning of the proscribed conduct.”
State v. Brown,
[IT 21] Before July 1, 2013, N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) stated:
If an individual is convicted of violating section 39-08-01, or section 39-08-03 based in part on the evidence of the individual’s operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the violation caused serious bodily injury, as defined in section 12.1-01-01, to another individual, that individual is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and the sentence must include at least ninety days’ imprisonment if the individual was an adult at the time of the. offense.
(emphasis added). The current version of N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) states in relevant part:
An individual is guilty of criminal vehicular injury if the individual violates section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance and as a result that individual causes substantial bodily or serious bodily injury to another individual.
[¶ 22] As part of his constitutional argument, Montplaisir argues “substantial bodily or serious bodily injury” is not defined in N.D.C.C. Title 39, and the district court erred in using the definitions of “substantial bodily injury” and “serious bodily injury” under N.D.C.C. § 12.1-01-04 in its order denying Montplaisir’s motions to dismiss. Montplaisir argues removal of the phrase “serious bodily injury, as defined in section 12.1-01-04” from N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) meant the Legislature intended to prohibit the use of N.D.C.C. Title 12.1 definitions in the criminal vehicular injury statute.
[¶ 23] “Serious bodily injury” and “substantial bodily injury” are not defined in N.D.C.C. Title 39. “Serious bodily injury” and “substantial bodily injury” are defined in N.D.C.C. §§ 12.1-01-04(29) and 12.1-01-04(31):
“Serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious permanent disfigurement, unconsciousness, extreme pain, permanent loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ, a bone fracture, or impediment of air flow or blood flow to the brain or lungs.
“Substantial bodily injury” means a substantial temporary disfigurement, loss, or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
[¶ 24] Under N.D.C.C. § 1-01-09, “[w]henever the meaning of a word or phrase is defined in any statute, such definition is applicable to the same word or phrase wherever it occurs in the same or subsequent statutes, except when a contrary intention plainly appears.”
See also State v. Glaser,
[¶ 26] In addressing Montplaisir’s vagueness argument, the district court stated:
Given these definitions [of “substantial bodily injury” and “serious bodily injury”], and the plain ordinary meaning of the two phrases, there is no reason to believe that the statute is overbroad or that a jury would be unable to adequately understand the phrases and terms in the Criminal Vehicular Injury statute.
[¶ 27] Other courts have also held the phrases “serious bodily injury” and “substantial bodily injury” are not unconstitutionally vague.
See United States v. Fitzgerald,
[¶ 28] Given the established definitions of “serious bodily injury” and “substantial bodily injury,” along with other courts’ holdings regarding the phrases, we conclude N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2) is not unconstitutionally vague. The legislature has defined “substantial bodily injury” and “serious bodily injury.” The phrases and their definitions are understandable to a reasonable person, and provide adequate warning of the conduct prohibited under the criminal vehicular injury statute.
IV
[¶ 29] Montplaisir argues the district court erred in denying his jury instruction requests. This Court reviews jury instructions as a whole and considers whether they correctly and adequately advise the jury of the law.
State v. Brossart,
[¶ 30] Montplaisir argues the instructions should have included his requested definitions of “substantial bodily injury” and “serious bodily injury,” instead of the definitions found in N.D.C.C. § 12.1-01-04. This argument is rejected on
[¶ 31] Montplaisir also argues the district court erred in failing to instruct the jury on culpability. He asserts the State had to prove he acted willfully to be guilty of criminal vehicular injury, and argues there was no evidence he had any intent to injure.
[¶ 32] Under N.D.C.C. § 12.1-02-02(2), “[i]f a statute ... defining a crime does not specify any culpability and does not provide explicitly that a person may be guilty without culpability, the culpability that is required is willfully.” Section 39-08-01.2(2), N.D.C.C., does not specify a culpability level. Although N.D.C.C. § 12.1-02-02(2) requires a willful culpability if a statute is silent on culpability, “this Court has held N.D.C.C. § 12.1-02-02(2) applies only to Title 12.1, and the willful culpability level will not be read into other chapters unless the Legislature has specifically so stated.”
State v. Holte,
[¶ 33] We have held driving under the influence of alcohol, a violation of N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01, is a strict liability offense.
State v. Glass,
V
[¶34] Montplaisir argues the district court erred in denying his motion for acquittal under N.D.R.Crim.P. 29 because there was no credible evidence the victim suffered a “serious bodily injury” or “substantial bodily injury.” He also argues because there was insufficient evidence, the court erred in imposing a one-year prison sentence.
A
[¶35] “To grant a judgment of acquittal, the district court must find the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction.”
Brossart,
[W]e look only to the evidence and reasonable inferences most favorable to the verdict to ascertain if there is substantial evidence to warrant the conviction. A conviction rests upon insufficient evidence only when, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable, to the prosecution and giving the prosecution the benefit of all inferences reasonably to be drawn in its favor, no rational fact finder could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In considering a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we do not weigh conflicting evidence, or judge the credibility of witnesses.
State v. O’Toole,
[¶ 36] “Typically, the fact-finder must decide in any given case whether the injury [is serious].”
State v. Romero,
[¶ 37] At trial, the State submitted evidence showing Montplaisir was driving under the influence. The victim and two doctors testified about the victim’s injuries. The doctors testified the victim reported ongoing severe pain in his left leg where his worst injuries occurred. The doctors stated the victim also complained of mild neck and back pain, and his injuries were preventing him from doing some of his normal activities. The victim testified he could hardly walk after the accident because his legs and back were in a lot of pain. He testified he does physical therapy and still experiences very uncomfortable pain in his leg and back since the accident in September 2013. He showed the jury his scar on his leg and his medical records were admitted. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude a rational fact finder could have found Montplaisir guilty of criminal vehicular injury.
B
[¶ 38] Montplaisir argues the district court failed to sentence according to, the discretion allowed by law by imposing a one-year prison sentence. He further argues the sentence is a manifest injustice because there was no evidence of substantial or serious bodily injury.
[¶ 39] A district court has ■wide discretion in sentencing.
State v. Berg,
[¶ 40] Under N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(2), “[i]f an individual violates this subsection, the court shall impose at least one year’s imprisonment.” Under N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01.2(3), the sentence may be suspended if “the court finds that manifest injustice would result from the imposition of the sentence.” “‘Manifest injustice’ means a specific finding by the court that the imposition of sentence is unreasonably harsh or shocking to the conscience of a reasonable person, with due consideration of the totality of circumstances.” N.D.C.C. § 39-01-01(40).
[¶ 41] At the sentencing hearing, the district court indicated it had considered the discretionary sentencing factors under N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-04. Montplaisir was sentenced to imprisonment for 30 months, with 18 months suspended. He received the mandatory minimum sentence required by the criminal vehicular injury statute. Having already concluded there was sufficient evidence to support a guilty verdict, we conclude the district court did hot err by imposing the mandatory mini
VI
[¶42] We have considered Montplai-sir’s remaining arguments and conclude they are either unnecessary to our decision or without merit. The judgment is affirmed.