State v. Barth

354 Mont. 28

• Court: Montana Supreme Court
• Decided: May 7, 2009
• Docket: CAUSE NO. DC-08-48
• Status: Published

Opinion

On November 20, 2008, the defendant was sentenced to a commitment to the Department of Corrections for a term of five (5) years. The Court sentenced the defendant to the maximum sentence because the Defendant has previously completed a residential alcohol treatment facility and the large number of DUI convictions (13). Additionally, the Defendant committed the present offense while on parole for a felony DUI.

On May 7, 2009, the defendant’s application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court.

The defendant was present and was represented by Deirdre Caughlan. The state was not represented.

Before hearing the application, the defendant was advised that the Sentence Review Division has the authority not only to reduce the sentence or affirm it, but also increase it. The defendant was further advised that there is no appeal from a decision of the Sentence Review Division. The defendant acknowledged that he understood this and stated that he wished to proceed.

Rule 17 of the Rules of the Sentence Review Division of the Supreme Court of Montana provides that “the sentence imposed by the District Court is presumed correct, and the sentence will not be reduced or increased unless it is deemed clearly inadequate or excessive.” (§46-18-904(3), MCA).

The Division finds that the reasons advanced for modification are insufficient to hold that the sentence imposed by the District Court is inadequate or excessive.

Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the Sentence Review Division that the sentence shall be affirmed.

Done in open Court this 7th day of May, 2009.

DATED this 21st day of May, 2009.

Chairperson, Hon. Stewart Stadler, Member, Hon. Blair Jones and Member, Richard Simonton.