Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. WADE SAWYER, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2007-08-14
Citations: 340 Mont. 104
Docket Number: CAUSE NO. ADC-2001-96
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. WADE SAWYER, Defendant,
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. Randal Spaulding, Member, Hon. Katherine Irigoin and Member, Hon. Stewart Stadler.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 340
Pages: 104–105

Head Matter:
Done in open Court this 2nd day of August, 2007.
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. WADE SAWYER, Defendant,
CAUSE NO. ADC-2001-96
DECISION

Opinion:
On December 6, 2006, the defendant was sentenced to a commitment to the Department of Corrections for a term of ten (10) years, with five (5) years suspended, for violation of the conditions of a suspended sentence, for the offense of Criminal Endangerment, a felony.
On August 2, 2007, 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 Eric Olson. 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.
DATED this 14th day of August, 2007.
Chairperson, Hon. Randal Spaulding, Member, Hon. Katherine Irigoin and Member, Hon. Stewart Stadler.