State v. Irons

Montana Supreme Court
State v. Irons, 340 Mont. 136 (Mont. 2007)
Chairperson, Hon, Irigoin, Spaulding, Stadler

State v. Irons

Opinion of the Court

On July 13, 2007, the defendant was sentenced to the following: Count I: A commitment to the Department of Corrections for a term of thirteen (13) months, with a consecutive five (5) years suspended, with placement in an appropriate community based program, facility or a State Correctional Institution, for custody, care and treatment, for the offense of Driving a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, a felony; Count II: A commitment to the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, for a term of six (6) months, all suspended, to run concurrently to Count I.

On November 1,2007, the defendant’s application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court.

The defendant appeared via videoconference and was represented by Eric Olson. The state was represented by Mark Murphy.

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 *137Division. The defendant acknowledged that he understood this and stated that he wished to proceed.

Done in open Court this 1st day of November, 2007. DATED this 15th day of November, 2007.

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.

Chairperson, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding, Member, Hon. Katherine Irigoin and Member, Hon. Stewart Stadler.

Reference

Full Case Name
STATE OF MONTANA v. SEAN THREE IRONS
Status
Published