DA 13-0285

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

2015 MT 200

STATE OF MONTANA,

 Plaintiff and Appellee,

 v.

MICHELLE COLLER GABLE,

 Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM: District Court of the First Judicial District,

In and For the County of Lewis and Clark, Cause No. CDC 2011-289

Honorable Kathy Seeley, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

For Appellant:

Wade Zolynski, Chief Appellate Defender, Helena, Montana 

For Appellee:

Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General, Brenda K. Elias, Assistant 

Attorney General, Helena, Montana

Leo G. Gallagher, Lewis and Clark County Attorney, Melissa C. Broch, 

Deputy County Attorney, Helena, Montana 

Submitted on Briefs: June 17, 2015

 Decided: July 14, 2015

Filed:

__________________________________________

Clerk

July 14 2015

Case Number: DA 13-0285
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Justice Laurie McKinnon delivered the Opinion of the Court. 

¶1 Michelle Coller Gable (Gable) appeals from the Montana First Judicial District Court, 

Lewis and Clark County, judgment ordering her to pay the $36,920 cost of her appointed 

Public Defender. We affirm.

¶2 Gable presents the following issues for review: 

1. Did the District Court fail to question Gable regarding her ability to pay the 

costs of appointed counsel?

2. Did the District Court fail to determine that Gable had or would have the 

ability to pay the costs of appointed counsel?

3. Was Gable’s constitutional right to a jury trial undermined by requiring her to 

pay costs of appointed counsel? 

4. Was Gable’s objection sufficient to preserve for appeal the failure of the Office 

of State Public Defender (OPD) to file with the court its hours and expenses as 

required by the statute?

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶3 After a jury trial, Gable was found guilty of two counts of Deliberate Homicide for 

the murder of her husband Joseph Gable (Joe) and Sunday Cooley Bennett. The presentence 

investigation report (PSI) recommended that Gable be given two consecutive 100-year 

sentences, and that the $36,920 cost of appointed counsel be assigned to Gable, as well as 

juror and witness fees. The State also submitted a sentencing memorandum, detailing 

Gable’s assets. Gable’s assets included vehicles held jointly with Joe, $10,000 in cash held 

in evidence, and a possible interest in a bank account at Andrews Federal Credit Union 

(AFCU). At sentencing Gable read a prepared statement to the District Court which did not 

address her means or ability to pay cost of appointed counsel. 
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¶4 Gina Rasmussen (Rasmussen), the PSI author, testified at sentencing that the 

likelihood of Gable finding a paying job in prison was low considering she was wheelchair 

bound; that Gable’s current age was 49; and that Gable would likely be in prison for 50 or 60 

years before she would be eligible for parole. 

¶5 The District Court accepted the PSI recommendations and sentenced Gable to the 

Montana Women’s Prison for two consecutive 100-year sentences. The District Court 

concluded, based on the evidence presented, that Gable had or would have the ability to pay 

certain costs associated with her prosecution, and ordered Gable to pay: $36,920 to the OPD 

for the cost of her appointed counsel; $5,650.48 for juror fees; and $1,917.63 for witness 

fees. Gable did not object to juror or witness fees at the hearing, but she did object to the 

cost of appointed counsel, arguing that she was indigent. 

STANDARDS OF REVIEW

¶6 This Court reviews criminal sentences of more than one year of incarceration for 

legality only. State v. Moore, 2012 MT 95, ¶ 10, 365 Mont. 13, 277 P.3d 1212. This Court 

reviews de novo whether a district court adhered to the applicable sentencing provisions. 

Moore, ¶ 10. A sentence is legal if it falls within the statutory parameters. State v. 

Hernandez, 2009 MT 341, ¶ 3, 353 Mont. 111, 220 P.3d 25. Generally, we will not review 

issues when the defendant has failed to make a contemporaneous objection to the alleged 

error in the trial court. Section 46-20-104(2), MCA. Gable concedes she has not preserved 

for our review issues related to juror or witness fees and, consequently, we will only review 

Gable’s objection to the application of the cost of appointed counsel. 
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¶7 The Court permits a party to bolster arguments as long as the underlying legal theory 

remains the same. State v. Montgomery, 2010 MT 193, ¶ 12, 357 Mont. 348, 239 P.3d 929. 

Gable has objected because she believed herself to be indigent. Additional arguments that 

follow that legal theory were preserved for appeal. Montgomery, ¶ 12. 

DISCUSSION

¶8 1. Did the District Court fail to question Gable as to her ability to pay the costs of 

appointed counsel?

¶9 Section 46-8-113(1), MCA, authorizes courts to order costs of appointed counsel 

assigned to represent a defendant. Pursuant to § 46-8-113(3), MCA, the court must question 

the defendant as to his or her ability to pay the costs. Gable argues, based on Moore, that the 

District Court failed to question her pursuant to § 46-8-113(3), MCA. We disagree. 

¶10 In Moore we found that the requirements of § 46-8-113(3), MCA, had not been met 

when the District Court failed to directly question Moore regarding his ability to pay and 

appeared to rely solely on the PSI, which did not explore Moore’s ability to pay. Moore, 

¶ 14. However, the fees that Moore appealed were not specifically suggested in the PSI; the 

PSI at hand recommended that Gable pay the cost of her attorney. Moore, ¶ 6. Further, 

Rasmussen testified to Gable’s potential future earnings and the State and Defense discussed 

Gable’s ability to pay with the court. Gable also read a prepared statement and had the 

opportunity to address her ability to pay the court ordered costs recommended in the PSI. 

Instead, Gable chose not to address, in any way, her ability to pay. The record of Gable’s 

sentencing hearing is thus distinguishable from Moore and depicts an adequate examination 

by the District Court of Gable’s ability to pay costs.
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¶11 2. Did the District Court fail to determine that Gable had or would have the ability to 

pay the costs of appointed counsel?

¶12 A review of the record convinces us that the District Court also complied with 

§ 46-8-113(4), MCA, which directs that “[t]he court may not sentence a defendant to pay the 

costs for assigned counsel unless the defendant is or will be able to pay . . . .” Again, in 

contrast to Moore, the District Court did not rely only on the PSI report when determining 

Gable’s ability to pay, but rather questioned both the State and Defense about Gable’s ability 

to pay. The State’s sentencing memorandum noted the following assets: a 2006 Ford 

Econoline Van; a 2005 Saturn Ion; a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle; a 1997 Honda 4SA;

$10,000 in cash held in evidence; and a possible checking account with AFCU. Gable had 

two checks mailed to her from an AFCU account while she was in pretrial detention which 

totaled $37,582.11. However, as the checks were held for more than 180 days, they became 

void. AFCU would not disclose who owned the account without a warrant and Gable did not 

voluntarily provide any information to the court regarding these accounts.

¶13 The basis of Gable’s appeal is premised on her status as an indigent defendant 

determined by the OPD. Gable argues that because she is indigent she does not have the 

ability to pay the costs assigned to her. Gable’s status as an indigent defendant, determined 

only by the OPD in its decision regarding representation, does not bind a court in its 

statutory obligation to consider a defendant’s ability to pay. The fact that the OPD has 

determined Gable to be indigent is not binding on a court. Christ v. Larson, 374 Mont. 540

(table), 346 P.3d 363 (table), 2014 Mont. Lexis 203 (2014); Rios v. Justice Court, 2006 MT

256, 334 Mont. 111, 148 P.3d 602; § 7-1-111(1)(d), MCA, (“[a]ny determination [of 
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indigency] pursuant to this section is subject to the review and approval of the court. The 

propriety of an assignment of counsel by the office is subject to inquiry by the court, and the 

court may deny the assignment”).

¶14 Gable argued to the District Court during the sentencing hearing that, pursuant to the 

provisions of § 72-2-813, MCA, Gable would forfeit any ability to profit from Joe’s estate. 

Section 72-2-813, MCA, provides, in relevant part:

(2) An individual who feloniously and intentionally kills the decedent forfeits 

all benefits under this chapter with respect to the decedent’s estate, including 

an intestate share, an elective share, an omitted spouse’s or child’s share, a 

homestead allowance, exempt property, and a family allowance. If the 

decedent died intestate, the decedent’s intestate estate passes as if the killer 

disclaimed the killer’s intestate share.

(3) The felonious and intentional killing of the decedent:

. . .

(b) severs the interests of the decedent and killer in property held by them at 

the time of the killing as joint tenants with the right of survivorship and 

transforms the interests of the decedent and killer into tenancies in common.

. . .

(10) for the purposes of this section, a felonious and intentional killing 

includes deliberate homicide as defined in 45-5-102 and mitigated deliberated 

homicide as defined in 45-5-103. 

Section 72-2-813(2),(3),(3)(b),(10), MCA.

¶15 This Court first interpreted the provisions of § 72-2-813, MCA, in In re Estate of

Garland, 279 Mont. 269, 275-6, 928 P.2d 928, 932 (1996). There, we considered a claim 

that the decedent had contributed more to the maintenance of marital property than her 

husband, who had killed her. We observed that the plain language of § 72-2-813(3)(b), 

MCA, effectuates a severance of both the decedent’s and the killer’s interests and transforms 
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those interests into tenancies in common as a matter of law. Garland, 279 Mont. at 275-6, 

928 P.2d at 931. Therefore, in determining the killer’s and decedent’s interests under 

§ 72-2-813(3)(b), MCA, district courts must apply the legal rules applicable to tenancies in 

common. Garland, 279 Mont. at 275-6, 928 P.2d at 931. While tenants in common 

presumptively own undivided equal interests in property, the presumption is subject to 

rebuttal and the surviving co-tenant and the decedent’s estate may not be entitled to equal 

shares. Garland, 279 Mont. at 276, 928 P. 2d at 932. The acquisition and maintenance of 

the property can affect the shares of the decedent and surviving co-tenant. Garland, 279 

Mont. at 275, 928 P.2d at 932. However, “[a]bsent proof of disparate contributions . . . the 

presumption that the co-tenants are entitled to undivided equal interests stands.” Garland, 

279 Mont. at 276, 928 P.2d at 932.

¶16 When a district court must make a determination during criminal sentencing regarding 

a defendant’s ability to pay costs, the court is required to take into account the provisions of 

§ 72-2-813, MCA, and its effects on the availability of defendant’s assets to pay those costs. 

Here, Gable and Joe’s jointly held property interests were severed and transformed into 

tenancies in common upon Joe’s death. Presumptively those interests became undivided 

equal interests in property, subject to rebuttal that there were disparate individual 

contributions to the acquisition and maintenance of the property. The District Court 

correctly concluded that Gable had available to her for payment of costs of appointed 

counsel at least some portion of the assets previously held jointly with Joe. Absent proof of 

disparate contributions, the District Court was entitled to rely on the presumption that Gable, 
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as a tenant in common, owned an undivided equal interest in the property. Garland, 279 

Mont. at 276, 928 p.2d at 932. 

¶17 The District Court had evidence before it that Gable had assets consisting of three 

vehicles and a motorcycle, $10,000 in cash held in evidence, and a possible account with 

AFCU where checks totaling $37,582.11 had been issued. Gable had the opportunity to 

disclose information regarding the AFCU account, but failed to provide Rasmussen any 

explanation stating only that “It’s all been taken from me now.” The District Court 

questioned Rasmussen and counsel about Gable’s prospects of future earnings and ability to 

pay costs and considered the provisions of § 72-2-813, MCA. Finally, in contrast to Moore, 

the District Court did find the evidence presented demonstrated Gable had the ability to pay 

costs. Our review of the record convinces us that the requirements of § 46-8-113(3), (4), 

MCA, were met. 

¶18 Finally, to the extent that the District Court did not make specific findings regarding 

which asset Gable could utilize to pay costs, those findings are implicit in the court’s 

determination that assets were available. This Court has adopted the doctrine of implied 

findings for purposes of reviewing findings of fact. Hughes v. Hughes, 2013 MT 176, ¶ 30,

370 Mont. 499, 305 P.3d 772; Interstate Brands Corp. v. Cannon, 218 Mont. 380, 384, 708 

P.2d 573, 576 (1985). That doctrine provides that where “findings are general in terms, any 

findings not specifically made, but necessary to the [determination], are deemed to have been 

implied, if supported by the evidence.” Interstate Brands, 218 Mont. at 384, 708 P.2d at 

576. Here, the record clearly supported a finding that the District Court considered 

numerous assets that were available to Gable for payment of costs of appointed counsel and 
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extensively considered Gable’s ability to pay. The District Court’s failure to identify 

specific assets does not demonstrate a less “scrupulous” or “meticulous” inquiry.

¶19 3. Was Gable’s constitutional right to a jury trial undermined by requiring her to pay 

costs of appointed counsel? 

¶20 Gable argues she should not have been assigned the cost of her appointed counsel 

because it had a “chilling effect” on her constitutional right to a jury trial. Gable maintains, 

presumably in part because the costs of appointed counsel will be higher if a case proceeds to 

jury trial, that requiring an indigent to pay costs of appointed counsel undermines Gable’s 

right to a jury trial.

¶21 Each person has the right to a jury trial and that right “shall remain inviolate.” Mont. 

Const. art. II, § 26. In accord with this principle, we recognized in Moore that to require a 

defendant to pay costs of a jury trial poses a potential “chilling effect” on an indigent 

defendant’s right to a jury trial. A defendant who cannot afford to pay the costs of a jury 

trial may forego a jury trial, even if her best interests require the matter be resolved by a jury. 

Moore, ¶ 18. As a result, courts, prior to the imposition of costs of jury service, must “first 

scrupulously and meticulously determine[ ] the defendant’s ability to pay those costs.” 

Moore, ¶ 18. 

¶22 Gable claims attorney fees should be considered a trial-related fee like jury and 

witness fees and therefore courts should consider the chilling effect of assigning cost of 

appointed counsel. The statute in Moore, § 46-18-232(2), MCA, and the statute here, 

§ 46-8-113(4), MCA, are very similar, with the exception § 46-18-232(2), MCA, has the 

additional requirement that the court take into account “the future ability of the defendant to 
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pay costs.” We agree that the same concern for chilling the right to a jury trial when 

assigning witness and jury fees are present when assigning the cost of appointed attorney 

fees. We therefore impose the same burden on the court to scrupulously and meticulously 

examine the defendant’s ability to pay before costs of appointed counsel may be imposed.

¶23 As discussed above, the District Court here spent a significant amount of time 

considering whether Gable had the assets available to pay costs of appointed counsel and, in 

fact, considered Gable’s future ability to pay. In finding that Gable had the ability to pay the 

costs of appointed counsel, the District Court considered Rasmussen’s testimony, the PSI, 

the State’s sentencing memorandum setting forth specifically Gable’s assets, arguments from 

both the State and Gable, and relevant statutes and case law. It is therefore clear that the 

court’s inquiry satisfied the requirement that the ability to pay be scrupulously and 

meticulously determined, and consequently, no chilling of Gable’s constitutional rights to a 

jury trial occurred. 
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¶24 4. Was Gable’s objection sufficient to preserve for appeal the failure of the OPD to 

file with the court its hours and expenses as required by the statute?

¶25 Finally, § 46-8-113(1)(b), MCA, requires that when a court assigns the cost of an 

appointed attorney the “office of state public defender shall file with the court a statement of 

the hours spent on the case and the costs and expenses incurred for trial.” Here, although the 

PSI contained the total amount for counsel fees, it did not itemize the hours spent or the costs 

and expenses associated with Gable’s representation. However, despite a party being 

allowed some latitude to bolster arguments on appeal, Gable’s general objection that she was 

indigent cannot reasonably be construed as including an objection to the itemization of costs 

sufficient to preserve this issue for appeal. If Gable had concerns regarding the amount, or if 

she did not believe it was accurate, she had the opportunity to cross Rasmussen about the 

amount and to make any appropriate objection. Gable did neither. We therefore will not 

address this issue on appeal. We nevertheless observe the requirement that hours, costs, and 

expenses of representation be adequately itemized and set forth by the OPD should not be 

disregarded.

CONCLUSION

¶26 The District Court complied with the provisions of § 46-8-113(3), MCA, and 

§ 46-8-113(4), MCA. The District Court considered evidence of Gable’s assets; discussed 

Gable’s ability to pay with both parties; and questioned the PSI author about Gable’s assets 

and likelihood of future earnings. The record establishes extensive consideration of the 

provisions of § 72-2-813, MCA, and its effects on Gable’s assets. The inquiry by the court 

was sufficient and protected against the potential chilling effect of awarding costs on Gable’s 
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constitutional right to a jury trial. The absence of an itemization of costs of appointed 

counsel was not properly preserved for appeal.

¶27 The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.

/S/ LAURIE McKINNON

We Concur:

/S/ MIKE McGRATH

/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT

/S/ BETH BAKER

/S/ JIM RICE