Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. BEAU A. DONALDSON, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2013-06-24
Citations: 373 Mont. 29
Docket Number: CAUSE NO. DC-12-34
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. BEAU A. DONALDSON, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 373
Pages: 29–30

Head Matter:
The District Court of the 4th Judicial District. County of Missoula.
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. BEAU A. DONALDSON, Defendant.
CAUSE NO. DC-12-34
DECISION

Opinion:
On January 11, 2012, the Defendant was sentenced to Thirty (30) years in the Montana State Prison, with Twenty (20) years suspended, for the offense of sexual intercourse without consent, a felony. The Defendant shall be designated a Level 1 sexual offender.
On May 2, 2013, the Defendant's Application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court (hereafter "the Division").
DATED this 24th day of June, 2013.
The Defendant was present and was represented by Attorney Milton Datsopoulos. The State was represented by Fred VanValkenburg, Missoula County Attorney.
Before hearing the Application, the Defendant was advised that the 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 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." (Section 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 Division that the sentence shall be AFFIRMED.
Done in open Court this 2 nd day of May, 2013.
Chairperson, Hon. Loren Tucker, Member Hon. Brad Newman and Member Hon. Kathy Seeley.