Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DALE HINKLEY, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2010-05-06
Citations: 359 Mont. 43
Docket Number: CAUSE NO. DC-07-405
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DALE HINKLEY, Defendant.
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. Blair Jones, Member, Hon. Richard Simonton and Member, Hon. Ray Dayton.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 359
Pages: 43–43

Head Matter:
The District Court of the 4th Judicial District. County of Missoula.
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DALE HINKLEY, Defendant.
CAUSE NO. DC-07-405 DECISION

Opinion:
On January 6, 2010, the defendant was sentenced to a commitment to the Department of Corrections for a term of five (5) years, for violation of the conditions of a suspended sentence, for the offense of Count I: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Fourth or Subsequent Offense, a felony.
On May 6,2010, 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 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.
Done in open Court this 6th day of May, 2010.
DATED this 26th day of May, 2010.
Chairperson, Hon. Blair Jones, Member, Hon. Richard Simonton and Member, Hon. Ray Dayton.