Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. SUZANNE M. COOK, Defendant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2005-09
Citations: 330 Mont. 105
Docket Number: No. DC-99-13678
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. SUZANNE M. COOK, Defendant.
Judges: Chairperson, Hon. Gary L. Day, Member, Hon. John Whelan and Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 330
Pages: 105–105

Head Matter:
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. SUZANNE M. COOK, Defendant.
No. DC-99-13678
Decision

Opinion:
On June 21, 2005, the defendant was sentenced to two (2) years in the Montana Women's Prison, for violation of the conditions of a suspended sentence for the offense of Theft, a felony.
On September 23, 2005, 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 hy Victor Bunitsky. 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 farther advised that there is no appeal from a decision of the Sentence Review Division. The defendant acknowledged that she understood this and stated that she 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 23 rd day of September, 2005.
DATED this 4th day of October, 2005.
Chairperson, Hon. Gary L. Day, Member, Hon. John Whelan and Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding.