State v. Papillon

Paulson Papillon (defendant), Adrien Stillwell, Nathaniel Smith, and Michael Younge sold drugs. On October 21, 2015, a confidential informant and M.P., a regular buyer, each purchased drugs from Papillon. Arrested that day, Papillon erroneously believed M.P. was the informant. Papillon, released on bail, began urging Stillwell, Smith, and Younge to kill M.P. in advance of Papillon’s court hearing. On Halloween, Papillon, providing a gun and costumes, urged his conspirators to kill M.P. that night. Papillon went to a Connecticut casino to establish an alibi. Stillwell, Smith, and Younge decided against killing M.P. that night. Cellphone records showed increased contact between the conspirators. On November 3, Stillwell, Smith, and Younge found M.P. outside his apartment building. Stillwell fatally shot M.P. Within minutes, Stillwell called and texted Papillon, who was intentionally in Massachusetts. Papillon told A.D. to try calling M.P., seeking to confirm his death. Papillon returned, heard from his conspirators about M.P’s death, and distributed drugs and money to them. The next day, Papillon took Stillwell and Younge to Connecticut. After a few days, Papillon returned to New Hampshire and told an associate, “There’s where I killed my f**king rat.” Papillon, Stillwell, and Smith were all soon arrested on unrelated charges, and Younge turned himself in. While in jail, Papillon coordinated with his sister to deliver drugs to Younge and money to Stillwell to keep them quiet and planned to bail out and kill his coconspirators before they could talk to the police. Papillon told L.M. in jail that he had to have M.P. killed. A jury convicted Papillon of conspiracy. Papillon appealed, arguing the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction.