Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DONITA HERRERA, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2006-10-25
Citations: 335 Mont. 92
Docket Number: Cause No. DC-05-485
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DONITA HERRERA, Defendant,
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. John Whelan, Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding and Member, Hon. Katherine Irigoin.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 335
Pages: 92–93

Head Matter:
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DONITA HERRERA, Defendant,
Cause No. DC-05-485
Decision

Opinion:
On January 17, 2006, the defendant was sentenced to a commitment to the Department of Corrections for a term of three (3) years, for the offense of Escape, a Felony. This sentence shall run consecutively with the sentence received in Criminal Cause No. DC-02-0425
DATED this 25th day of October, 2006.
On October 6, 2006, 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 Moira D'Alton. 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 she understood this and stated that she 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 6th day of October, 2006.
Chairperson, Hon. John Whelan, Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding and Member, Hon. Katherine Irigoin.