Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DONALD OLMSTEAD, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2006-05-26
Citations: 335 Mont. 56
Docket Number: No. DC-98-14
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DONALD OLMSTEAD, Defendant,
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. John W. Whelan, Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding and Alt. Member, Hon. Kurt Krueger.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 335
Pages: 56–57

Head Matter:
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DONALD OLMSTEAD, Defendant,
No. DC-98-14
Decision

Opinion:
On January 10, 2006, the defendant was sentenced to three (3) years in the Montana State Prison, to run consecutive to the sentence imposed in Cause No. DC-98-15, for violation of the conditions of a suspended sentence, for the offense of Assault, a felony.
On May 5, 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 Lyle Panasuk. 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.
DATED this 26th day of May, 2006.
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 5 th day of May, 2006.
Chairperson, Hon. John W. Whelan, Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding and Alt. Member, Hon. Kurt Krueger.