Opinion ID: 4531801
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: 3d 774; Poulin, 2016 ME 110, 144 A.3d 574.

Text: C. Probation Condition [¶23] In its appellee’s brief, the State asserts that it was unlawful for the court to impose a probation condition referring Mullen to an alcohol and drug treatment program without clearly defined and enforceable sentencing consequences based on his success or failure in the program. [¶24] In criminal matters, the State’s right to appeal is limited. 15 M.R.S. § 2115-A (2018); State v. Ouellette, 2019 ME 75, ¶ 16, 208 A.3d 399. “[S]ection 2115-A identifies the circumstances in which the State is and is not required to file a notice of appeal and when it is required to obtain the Attorney General’s authorization to commence an appeal.” Ouellette, 2019 ME 75, ¶ 16, 208 A.3d 399; see 15 M.R.S. § 2115-A(1)-(3), (5). Pursuant to section 2115-A(3), the State does not need to file an appeal or obtain authorization from the Attorney General when the defendant appeals from a judgment of conviction and the State alleges that an “error harmful to it was committed prior to trial or in the trial . . . .” (Emphasis added.) In order for the State to assert errors in post-trial proceedings, however, “the State must file a notice of appeal and secure written 12 approval from the Attorney General.” Ouellette, 2019 ME 75, ¶ 16, 208 A.3d 399; see 15 M.R.S. § 2115-A(5). [¶25] The State appeals from an alleged error that occurred during post-trial sentencing. Therefore, it was required to file an appeal and obtain the written approval of the Attorney General. See 15 M.R.S. § 2115-A(3), (5); Ouellette, 2019 ME 75, ¶ 17, 208 A.3d 399. Because the State did neither, we do not reach the State’s claim of error. See M.R. App. P. 21(a)-(c). The entry is: Judgment affirmed. Rory A. McNamara, Esq. (orally), Drake Law LLC, Berwick, for appellant David Mullen Jonathan Sahrbeck, District Attorney, and Carlos Diaz, Asst. Dist. Atty. (orally), Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, Portland, for appellee State of Maine Cumberland County Unified Criminal Docket docket number CR-2018-4808 FOR CLERK REFERENCE ONLY