Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA Plaintiff, -vs- MATTHEW LUCAS JONES, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2014-03-31
Citations: 377 Mont. 14
Docket Number: CAUSE NO. DC-2013-59
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA Plaintiff, -vs-MATTHEW LUCAS JONES, Defendant.
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. Brad Newman, Member Hon. Kathy Seeley and Member Hon. Brenda Gilbert.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 377
Pages: 14–15

Head Matter:
STATE OF MONTANA Plaintiff, -vs-MATTHEW LUCAS JONES, Defendant.
CAUSE NO. DC-2013-59
DECISION

Opinion:
On July 11, 2013, the Defendant was sentenced for Count I: Burglary, a felony, in violation of Section 45-6-204(1), MCA to Fifteen (15) years to the Montana State Prison with Five (5) years suspended; the Court recommends that the Defendant be considered for the Nexus Program once he is paroled; Defendant received credit for time served of 102 days; and other terms and conditions given in the Judgment on July 11, 2013.
DATED this 31st day of March, 2014.
On February 27, 2014, the Defendant's Application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court (hereafter "the Division").
The Defendant was present by Vision Net from the Dawson County Correctional Facility. The Defendant was represented by Ed Sheehy, Jr., Montana Office of Public Defender. The State was not represented.
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 12, Rules of the Sentence Review Division of the Supreme Court of Montana, provides that, "The sentence imposed by the District Court is presumed correct. The sentence shall not be reduced or increased unless it is clearly inadequate or clearly 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 clearly inadequate or clearly excessive.
Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the Division that the sentence shall be AFFIRMED.
Done in open Court this 27th day of February, 2014.
Chairperson, Hon. Brad Newman, Member Hon. Kathy Seeley and Member Hon. Brenda Gilbert.