Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. RICHARD BAXTER, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2010-02-04
Citations: 359 Mont. 2
Docket Number: CAUSE NO. DC-07-635
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. RICHARD BAXTER, Defendant.
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. Blair Jones, Member, Hon. Richard Simonton and Member, Hon. Ray Dayton.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 359
Pages: 2–3

Head Matter:
The District Court of the 13th Judicial District. County of Yellowstone.
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. RICHARD BAXTER, Defendant.
CAUSE NO. DC-07-635 DECISION

Opinion:
On October 6, 2008, the defendant was sentenced as follows: Count I: Thirty (30) years in the Montana State Prison, with ten (10) years suspended, for the offense of Sexual Assault, a felony. The defendant shall not be eligible for parole until he completes Phases I and II of the Sexual Offender Treatment Program.
On February 4, 2010, 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 Sandy Selvey. The state was represented by Ann-Marie McKittrick, who appeared via videoconference.
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 4 th day of February, 2010.
DATED this 23rd day of February, 2010.
Chairperson, Hon. Blair Jones, Member, Hon. Richard Simonton and Member, Hon. Ray Dayton.