State v. Hollen

Montana Supreme Court
State v. Hollen, 319 Mont. 44 (Mont. 2003)
Buyske, Chairperson, Curtis, Day, Hon

State v. Hollen

Opinion of the Court

On May 22, 2003, the defendant was sentenced to the following: Count I: Fifteen (15) years in the Montana State Prison, with six (6) years suspended for the offense of Negligent Homicide, a felony; and Count II: Five (5) years commitment to the Department of Corrections, with two (2) years suspended for the offense of Negligent Vehicular Assault, a felony, to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in Count I.

On August 21, 2003, the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court heard the defendant’s application for review of that sentence.

The defendant was present and was represented by Larry Nistler. 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 *45increased unless it is deemed clearly inadequate or excessive." (§46-18-904(3), MCA).

DATED this 8th day of September, 2003.

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 21st day of August, 2003.

Chairperson, Hon. Katherine R. Curtis, Member, Hon. Marc G. Buyske and Member, Hon. Gary L. Day.

Reference

Full Case Name
STATE OF MONTANA v. NATHAN A. HOLLEN
Status
Published