Insua v. State
Insua v. State
Opinion
09/15/2020 /If • IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA Case Number: OP 20-0436
OP 20-0436
ALBERT E. INSUA, FILED Petitioner, SEP 1 5 2020 Bowen Greenwood v. O RITO Clerk of Sue-erne Court Efitiontena
STATE OF MONTANA, JIM SALMONSEN, Warden, Respondents.
We amend the caption to include the Warden's name of the Montana State Prison.
Representing himself, Albert E. Insua, has filed a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus and raises at least four issues concerning his conviction and sentence. He indicates his incarceration is illegal because of the State's errors, such as an illegal search and seizure, suppression of evidence, and constitutional and Brady violations. Insua requests his immediate release frorn prison.
In 1999, the State charged Insua with criminal production or rnanufacture of dangerous drugs and with sexual intercourse without consent in the Ravalli County District Court. The charging documents were amended three tirnes to include three counts ofsexual assault. The drug case was severed from the sexual offense case and two trials were held.
Juries found Insua guilty of all charges in both cases. This Court affirmed Insua's convictions on appeal. State v. Insua, 2004 MT 14, 319 Mont. 254, 84 P.3d 11 (Insua 1).
Later, Insua represented hirnself in three separate appeals ofthe District Court's denials of his various petitions for postconviction relief. We affirmed the District Court on all. See Insua v. State, No. DA 06-0177, 2006 MT 288N, 2006 Mont. LEXIS 599; Insua v. State, No. DA 08-0427, 2009 MT 157N, 2009 Mont. LEXIS 170; and Insua v. State, No. DA 12-0658, 2013 MT 181N, 2013 Mont. LEXIS 231.
Challenge now to any of his convictions comes two decades too late. While Insua represented himself during his criminal trial, he had full opportunity to consult with stand- by counsel. Insua 7. On appeal, he was represented by counsel, who raised three other issues and asked for reversal and a new trial. Insua I, ¶ 11. The challenges Insua now asserts should have been brought through a tirnely appeal. State v. Wright, 2001 MT 282, ¶ 13, 307 Mont. 349,42 P.3d 753. Insua exhausted the remedy ofappeal through his appeal in 2000. As such, Insua is precluded now from raising search and seizure, suppression of evidence, constitutional and Brady violation issues, which could have been presented on appeal, in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Section 46-22-101(2), MCA. He is not entitled to habeas corpus relief or his release. Therefore, IT IS ORDERED that Insua's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED.
The Clerk ofthe Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy ofthis Order to counsel of record and to Albert E. Insua personally. cr)-- DATED this 15— day of September, 2020.
Justices
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