Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. GARY P. POWDERFACE, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2003-09-08
Citations: 319 Mont. 55
Docket Number: No. CDC-01-436
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. GARY P. POWDERFACE, Defendant.
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. Katherine R. Curtis, Member, Hon. Marc G. Buyske and Member, Hon. Gary Day.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 319
Pages: 55–56

Head Matter:
From: The District Court of the 8th Judicial District. County of Cascade.
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. GARY P. POWDERFACE, Defendant.
No. CDC-01-436
DATED this 8th day of September, 2003.
Decision

Opinion:
On July 1, 2003, the defendant was sentenced to a five (5) year commitment to the Department of Corrections, with one (1) year suspended, for violations of the conditions of a suspended sentence for the offense of DUI, a felony.
On August 21, 2003, 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 Meghan Lulf. 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 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. However, the Sentence Review Division recommends that the defendant be screened and considered for placement at a pre-release center or the intensive supervision program. The treatment and structure that the defendant needs would be readily available in those community placements.
Done in open Court this 21st day of August, 2003.
Chairperson, Hon. Katherine R. Curtis, Member, Hon. Marc G. Buyske and Member, Hon. Gary Day.