Nos 

Nos. 96-075 and 96-356

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

1999 MT 14 

STATE OF MONTANA, 

Plaintiff and Respondent, 

v.

DENNIS WAYNE STUCKER, 

Defendant and Appellant. 

APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Twenty-first Judicial District, 

In and for the County of Ravalli, 

Honorable John W. Larson, Judge Presiding.

COUNSEL OF RECORD: 

For Appellant:

David E. Stenerson, Attorney at Law, Hamilton, Montana

For Respondent:

Honorable Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General; Pamela P. Collins, 

Assistant Attorney General, Helena, Montana

George H. Corn, County Attorney, Hamilton, Montana 

John P. Connor, Jr., Assistant Attorney General and Special Deputy

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County Attorney, Helena, Montana 

Submitted on Briefs: December 17, 1998

Decided: January 28, 1999

Filed:

__________________________________________

Clerk

Chief Justice J. A. Turnage delivered the Opinion of the Court. 

¶1. Dennis Wayne Stucker (Stucker) appeals his conviction before the Twenty-first 

Judicial District Court, Ravalli County, of obstructing justice by accountability. 

Stucker also appeals that court's revocation of his deferred sentence upon a finding 

of probation violations. We affirm. 

ISSUES

¶2. 1. Was there sufficient evidence presented at trial to support the jury's verdict 

that Stucker was guilty of the offense of obstruction of justice by accountability?

¶3. 2. Was Stucker denied a fair trial as a result of the admission of the testimony of 

Calvin Greenup regarding the goals and beliefs of the members of the Ravalli 

County militia movement?

¶4. 3. Did the District Court err in denying Stucker's motion to suppress evidence 

discovered by Stucker's probation officers during a search of his home on the 

grounds that there was no reasonable basis for the search? 

BACKGROUND

¶5. Stucker was charged by Information before the Twenty-first Judicial District 

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Court, Ravalli County, with the offense of obstruction of justice by accountability, a 

felony, pursuant to § 45-7-303(2)(c) and § 45-2-302, MCA. The Information alleged 

that Stucker knowingly aided and abetted in the commission of the offense of 

obstruction of justice by participating in the efforts of Scott Greenup, Pete Miller 

and Ben Schneider to provide means of avoiding discovery or apprehension to Calvin 

Greenup (Calvin), a known offender. A jury trial was held, and Stucker was found 

guilty as charged. 

¶6. The events which culminated in Stucker's conviction for obstruction of justice by 

accountability occurred on the evening of April 12, 1995, at Calvin's ranch home 

near Darby, Montana. Stucker, who had become acquainted with the Greenup 

family in March 1995, arrived at the Greenup home on April 12th at the behest of 

Calvin's son, Scott Greenup (Scott). Sometime earlier that day, Scott had telephoned 

Stucker to request his assistance in transporting Calvin and the Greenup family from 

the ranch. Scott explained to Stucker that his family believed a raid by law 

enforcement officers was imminent and that they were in fear for their lives if they 

remained in the area. 

¶7. Stucker arrived at the Greenup home at approximately 10:30 p.m. in a fourwheel drive pick-up truck outfitted with a camper top. Scott met him at the foot of 

the driveway. Stucker backed his vehicle up to the door of the Greenups' house and 

several people, including Stucker, began loading camping gear, firearms and 

ammunition into the back of the vehicle. Scott had instructed the party to move 

quickly, as there were people waiting to meet them at the top of Lost Trail Pass near 

the Idaho border. 

¶8. Once the vehicle was loaded, Calvin, Calvin's wife Linda, Lynne and Pete Miller, 

and the Miller children positioned themselves in the back of Stucker's pick-up along 

with the loaded gear. Scott joined Stucker in the cab of the vehicle, and the party 

proceeded south down Highway 93 toward the Idaho border. Stucker's vehicle was 

accompanied en route by two or three other vehicles occupied by friends and 

supporters of the Greenup family. 

¶9. At the top of Lost Trail Pass, Stucker stopped his vehicle and his passengers 

alighted. Waiting at this point were two new vehicles into which the cargo from 

Stucker's truck was transferred. The Greenups and the Millers were also transferred 

to the waiting vehicles. The newly loaded vehicles then departed, thus successfully 

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transporting the Greenups and Millers over the border into Idaho. Scott, Stucker, 

and the rest of the escort party returned home.

¶10. Outstanding arrest warrants had been issued against several members of the 

departing party prior to their flight out of Montana: a warrant against Calvin had 

been issued for operation of a game farm without a license; a warrant against Lynne 

Miller had been issued for obstructing a peace officer; and a warrant against Pete 

Miller had been issued for intimidation. There was also an outstanding arrest 

warrant against Scott for bail jumping, although Scott did not depart the State with 

the rest of his family on April 12th. The jury found that Stucker had been aware of 

the existence of the warrant against Calvin and subsequently convicted him of 

obstruction of justice by accountability for assisting with the removal of Calvin and 

the rest of the party into a neighboring jurisdiction. 

¶11. At the sentencing hearing before the District Court, Stucker was sentenced to a 

deferred sentence of six years imprisonment. His probationary period was made 

subject to a number of conditions, including the prohibition of possession of firearms 

or other deadly weapons. On April 16, 1996, the Adult Probation and Parole Division 

of the Department of Corrections and Human Services filed a report of probation 

violation alleging that a catalog of various firearms and ammunition had been found 

at Stucker's residence during a search by probation officers. 

¶12. A hearing was held before the District Court at which Stucker appeared 

represented by counsel. Stucker filed a motion to suppress the evidence produced 

during the probationary search on the grounds that the search was unreasonable. 

The District Court denied Stucker's motion and found Stucker in violation of the 

conditions of his probation. The District Court entered a judgment revoking 

Stucker's deferred sentence, imposing a ten-year suspended sentence, and modifying 

the terms of Stucker's probation. 

¶13. Stucker appeals both his conviction and the ruling of the District Court denying 

his motion to suppress evidence at the revocation hearing. At the direction of this 

Court, the appeals were consolidated for briefing, and both will be addressed here. 

DISCUSSION

¶14. Was there sufficient evidence presented at trial to support the jury's verdict that Stucker was guilty 

of the offense of obstruction of justice by accountability?

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¶15. We review a District Court's conclusions of law to determine if they are correct. 

State v. Ahmed (1994), 278 Mont. 200, 207, 924 P.2d 679, 683. We review the 

sufficiency of the evidence to support a jury verdict in a criminal case to determine 

whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, 

any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond 

a reasonable doubt. State v. Lantis, 1998 MT 172, ¶ 32, 966 P.2d 147, ¶ 32, 55 St. Rep. 

694, ¶ 32. 

¶16. Stucker was convicted of obstruction of justice by accountability pursuant to § 

45-7-303(2)(c) and § 45-2-302(3), MCA. The relevant portions of § 45-7-303(2)(c), 

MCA, read as follows: 

(1) For the purpose of this section "an offender" means a person who has been or is liable 

to be arrested, charged, convicted, or punished for a public offense.

(2) A person commits the offense of obstructing justice if, knowing a person is an 

offender, he purposely:

. . . 

(c) provides an offender with money, transportation, weapon, disguise, or other means of 

avoiding discovery or apprehension . . . . 

Section 45-2-302(3), MCA, states, in relevant part, that legal accountability for the 

conduct of another exists when "either before or during the commission of an offense with 

the purpose to promote or facilitate such commission, he solicits, aids, abets, agrees, or 

attempts to aid such other person in the planning or commission of the offense."

¶17. Stucker contends that insufficient evidence was presented at trial to allow a 

rational trier of fact to find him guilty of obstruction of justice by accountability 

because there was no evidence showing that members of the Greenup party fled 

Montana on the night of April 12th in an effort to avoid apprehension by law 

enforcement. In support of this contention, Stucker relies on the testimony of the 

Ravalli County Sheriff that although arrest warrants had been issued, he had made 

no attempt to arrest any member of the Greenup party because of the possibility that 

such a confrontation could lead to an armed engagement and subsequent loss of life. 

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It is Stucker's position that because no arrest attempt had been made, the State failed 

to demonstrate that the aid given to the Greenup party constituted a means of 

avoiding either apprehension or discovery. 

¶18. We find Stucker's argument contrary to law. As pointed out by the State, § 45-7-

303(2), MCA, does not require direct interference with an arrest attempt before 

obstruction can occur. Stucker cites no precedent supporting his position that this 

kind of action is required, and we decline to inject such a prerequisite into the clear 

language of the statute. So long as the offender is liable to be arrested and the aid 

received constitutes money, transportation, weapon, disguise or other means of 

avoiding discovery or apprehension, obstruction of justice can occur, 

notwithstanding the lack of any attempt by law enforcement officials to exercise an 

existing warrant.

¶19. The evidence at trial clearly demonstrated that a warrant for Greenup's arrest 

was outstanding on the evening of April 12. Furthermore, the assistance provided to 

Calvin and the other members of the party was that of transportation, a form of 

assistance expressly defined by the statute as a possible means of avoiding discovery 

or apprehension. Because there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict of a 

rational trier of fact that the events of April 12th were in violation of § 45-7-303, 

MCA, we will not disturb this finding on appeal. 

¶20. Stucker also argues that there was no evidence presented at trial refuting 

Stucker's testimony that he did not know of the existence of the warrant against 

Calvin at the time he participated in the events in question. Having no knowledge of 

the existence of the warrants, he argues, he could not have acted with the purpose of 

promoting or facilitating the obstruction of justice. 

¶21. Because of the difficulties inherent in the State's burden of proving criminal 

intent, § 45-2-103(3), MCA, provides that "[t]he existence of a mental state may be 

inferred from the acts of the accused and the facts and circumstances connected with 

the offense." In this case, a plethora of circumstantial evidence was produced by the 

State to demonstrate that Stucker knew of the existence of the arrest warrant issued 

against Calvin prior to Stucker's involvement in the events of April 12th. Among 

such evidence was an April 11, 1995 article in a newspaper to which Stucker held a 

subscription reporting that an arrest warrant had been issued against Calvin and 

other members of the Greenup party; the testimony of one of the militia members 

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who participated in the April 12th departure that the existence of the warrants was 

common knowledge within the militia community, especially among friends who 

visited the Greenup home; Scott's testimony that Stucker knew on the evening of the 

12th that Calvin could be arrested at any time and that the family was anticipating a 

raid by law enforcement that very night; and the testimony of the two undercover 

officers from the Montana Department of Justice who were present on the evening of 

April 12th that the existence of the warrants and the fact that various members of 

the departing party were wanted by law enforcement officers was openly discussed 

among the members of the removal operation. 

¶22. Although there was evidence at trial, including Stucker's own testimony, that he 

was ignorant of the existence of the pending warrants against Calvin and the others, 

the fact that there is conflicting evidence before the jury does not make the 

prosecution's evidence supporting the commission of the charged offense insufficient 

to support a guilty verdict. State v. Gladue, 1999 MT 1, ¶ 40, ___ P.2d. ___, 56 St.Rep. 

1. It was within the province of the jury to weigh the evidence based on the 

credibility of the witnesses and determine which version of events should prevail. 

State v. Bower (1992), 254 Mont. 1, 8, 833 P.2d 1106, 1111. Viewing the evidence in 

the light most favorable to the prosecution, we hold that sufficient evidence existed 

from which a rational finder of fact could find that Stucker knew of the arrest 

warrant issued against Calvin, and that he acted on the night of April 12th with the 

purpose of promoting or facilitating the offense of obstruction of justice. 

¶23. Was Stucker denied a fair trial as a result of the admission of the testimony of Calvin Greenup 

regarding the goals and beliefs of the members of the Ravalli County militia movement?

¶24. Our standard of review on the admissibility of evidence is whether the District 

Court abused its discretion in admitting or refusing to admit the disputed evidence. 

Ahmed, 278 Mont. at 206-07, 924 P.2d at 683. 

¶25. The testimony of which Stucker complains was elicited from Calvin, who 

testified at Stucker's trial under a grant of immunity by the State. The substance of 

the testimony included Calvin's description of the militia's goal of "cleaning up" the 

State by arresting and trying government officials deemed to be in violation of their 

oaths of office and the constitution; a description of the system of "common law 

courts" administered by leading members of the militia in which government 

officials could be tried for acts deemed treasonous by militia members; and 

statements expressing a perceived need by members of the militia to arm and defend 

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themselves against the government. 

¶26. It is Stucker's position that this evidence was irrelevant, inflammatory and 

prejudicial, inappropriately causing the jury to associate his conduct with the 

unpopular views and reputations of the members of the county's militia movement. 

Stucker also asserts as error the prosecution's summation and characterization of 

Calvin's testimony during closing argument for reasons similar to those given above. 

¶27. Our review of the trial transcript reveals that, despite Stucker's repeated 

assertions in his appellate brief that this testimony was admitted over his objection, 

Stucker made no objection to the admission of this evidence during the presentation 

of Calvin's testimony at trial. Section 46-20-104(2), MCA, and Rule 103(a)(1), M.R.

Evid., establish the general rule that a timely objection must be made at trial in order 

to preserve an issue for appeal. Failure to lodge a timely objection to the introduction 

of this testimony constitutes a waiver of the objection and precludes raising the issue 

on appeal. Section 46-20-104(2), MCA; State v. Schmalz, 1998 MT 210, ¶ 13, ___ P.2d 

___, 55 St.Rep. 889, ¶ 13. 

¶28. Exceptions to the usual requirement that a timely objection be lodged are 

codified at § 46-20-701(2), MCA (1995), which reads: 

Any error, defect, irregularity, or variance which does not affect substantial rights must be 

disregarded. No claim alleging an error affecting jurisdictional or constitutional rights may 

be noticed on appeal, if the alleged error was not objected to as provided in 46-20-104, 

unless the defendant establishes that the error was prejudicial as to his guilt or punishment 

and that:

(a) the right asserted in the claim did not exist at the time of the trial and has been 

determined to be retroactive in its application;

(b) the prosecutor, the judge, or a law enforcement agency suppressed evidence from the 

defendant or his attorney that prevented the claim from being raised and disposed of; or

(c) material and controlling facts upon which the claim is predicated were not known to 

the defendant or his attorney and could not have been ascertained by the exercise of 

reasonable diligence.

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¶29. None of the grounds set forth in § 46-20-701(2), MCA (1995), apply in this case 

to excuse Stucker's failure to object to Calvin's testimony at the time of trial. 

Additionally, neither party has advanced an argument compelling us to consider the 

admission of this evidence under the "plain error" doctrine of appellate review. See 

State v. Finley (1996), 276 Mont. 126, 137, 915 P.2d 208, 215 (discussing the standards 

for and application of the doctrine of "plain error"). Therefore, we hold that the 

issue of the admissibility of Calvin's testimony regarding the goals and beliefs of the 

Ravalli County militia movement was waived by Stucker at the trial court level, and 

we decline to address it for that reason. 

¶30. Did the District Court err in denying Stucker's motion to suppress evidence discovered by Stucker's 

probation officers during a search of his home on the grounds that there was no reasonable basis for the 

search? 

¶31. We review a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress evidence to determine 

whether the court's findings of fact are clearly erroneous and whether those findings 

were correctly applied as a matter of law. State v. Roberts (1997), 284 Mont. 54, 56, 

943 P.2d 1249, 1250.

¶32. A probation officer may search a probationer's residence without a warrant as 

long as the officer has reasonable cause for the search. Rule 20.7.1101(7), ARM; State 

v. Burke (1988), 235 Mont. 165, 169, 766 P.2d 254, 256, citing Griffin v. Wisconsin

(1987), 483 U.S. 868, 107 S.Ct. 3164, 97 L.Ed.2d 709. The reasonable cause standard 

requires substantially less than the probable cause standard under the Fourth 

Amendment because of the probationer's diminished expectation of privacy and the 

superior position of the probation officer to determine what level of supervision is 

necessary to provide rehabilitation and community safety. Burke, 235 Mont. at 169, 

171, 766 P.2d at 256, 257. Whether reasonable grounds exist to conduct a 

probationary search is a factual inquiry which should be determined based on the 

totality of the circumstances. State v. Beaudry (1997), 282 Mont. 225, 230, 937 P.2d 

459, 462.

¶33. Stucker contends that the probationary search of his residence was 

unreasonable because it was premised upon the observation by one of the officers of 

an empty ammunition box sitting on a table in Stucker's living room during a visit 

the previous day. Since the possession of ammunition was not forbidden under the 

conditions of his probation, Stucker argues that the presence of this empty box did 

not justify a search in which a number of weapons were discovered. 

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¶34. We disagree with Stucker's argument that the search was unreasonable, 

primarily because our review of the record demonstrates that the search was 

premised on more than the existence of the empty ammunition box. According to the 

testimony of the two probation officers who conducted the search, the observation of 

the empty ammunition box prompted a return visit on the following day, but did not 

immediately result in a search of Stucker's home. Rather, the officers requested that 

Stucker show them around the interior of the house. The officers testified that such a 

request is commonly made by probation supervisors for the purpose of obtaining a 

familiarity with the layout of the probationer's residence, to verify that the 

probationer lives there, to observe any contraband in plain view, and as a way of 

connecting socially with the probationer. 

¶35. It was during the course of the voluntary tour by Stucker that the officers 

discovered two weapons cases in plain sight in the master bedroom. The officers 

requested Stucker to open the first case, and he complied. The case contained a bow, 

the possession of which was not prohibited under the terms of Stucker's probation. 

The second case, however, contained a semi-automatic shotgun, which did constitute 

contraband under the terms of Stucker's probation. 

¶36. As a result of the discovery of the shotgun, the officers asked Stucker if any 

other weapons were located in the home and Stucker indicated that there were. A 

search of the closet in one of the spare rooms revealed the presence of a large number 

of firearms, knives, and ammunition, which were seized by the probation officers. 

¶37. Based on the officers' discovery of a shotgun case in plain view in Stucker's 

bedroom, we hold that there were reasonable grounds for the officers to conduct the 

warrantless search of Stucker's residence to determine if additional weapons were 

located on the premises and that the District Court did not err in denying Stucker's 

motion to suppress the fruits of this search. 

¶38. Affirmed. 

/S/ J. A. TURNAGE

We concur:

/S/ JAMES C. NELSON

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/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART

/S/ WILLIAM E. HUNT, SR.

/S/ JIM REGNIER 

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