STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. BILLIE JOE NEWTON, Defendant, 313 Mont. 42

On May 8, 2002, the defendant was sentenced to a four (4) year commitment to the Department of Corrections, with two (2) years suspended, for violations of the conditions of a suspended sentence for the offense of DUI, a felony. On July 18, 2002, 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 Lawrence LaFountain. 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 18th day of July, 2002.

DATED this 13th day of August, 2002. Chairman, Hon. David Cybulski; Member, Hon. Katherine R. Curtis and Member, Hon. Marc Buyske.