Opinion ID: 890092
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sartain’s Sentence

Text: ¶34 Sartain claims his forty year sentence is in excess of the maximum penalty allowed under the statute and that Moore failed to challenge it. Under § 45-6-204(3), MCA, the maximum penalty for burglary is incarceration for a period of twenty years. However, Sartain was sentenced as persistent felony offender. Under § 46-18-501, MCA, an individual may be designated as a persistent felony offender by the sentencing court under certain criteria, which Sartain satisfied. Under § 46-18-502, MCA, “a persistent felony offender shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 5 years or more than 100 years.” When one is sentenced as a persistent felony offender, this sentence replaces the underlying felony sentence that one would otherwise receive. See State v. Johnson, 2010 MT 288, ¶¶ 16-17, 359 Mont. 15, 245 P.3d 1113 (quoting State v. DeWitt, 2006 MT 302, ¶ 11, 334 Mont. 474, 149 P.3d 549; State v. Gunderson, 2010 MT 166, ¶ 54, 357 Mont. 142, 237 P.3d 74). It was well within the District Court’s discretion to sentence Sartain to forty years at the Montana State Prison because of his designation as a persistent felony offender. 17 ¶35 2. Did the District Court err in dismissing Sartain’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims against his appellate counsel? ¶36 When evaluating claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, we again look to the Stickland test. Rogers, ¶ 37. The defendant must show that appellate counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the defendant would have prevailed on appeal. DuBray v. State, 2008 MT 121, ¶ 31, 342 Mont. 520, 182 P.3d 753 (citing Dawson, ¶ 147). ¶37 Sartain argues Schwartz should have raised the alleged Brady violation and requested a new trial based on the prejudice caused by the prosecution’s failure to provide the defense with information on the missing bracelet. In an affidavit obtained by the State in response to Sartain’s petition, Schwartz stated that she respectfully disagreed that this constituted a Brady violation because there was no evidence that the failure to inform the defense was an intentional omission on the part of the prosecution, and in any event, the omission did not rise to the level of a Brady violation. The District Court held: “Raising this issue would have been frivolous because evidence of the victim’s ‘missing bracelet:’ (1) was effectively used to impeach the victim’s testimony; (2) was not material to the State’s case; (3) was not ‘exculpatory;’ and (4) was not intentionally withheld by the State.” Sartain has failed to prove that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the petitioner would have prevailed on appeal.” DuBray, ¶ 31 (citing Dawson, ¶ 147). 18 ¶38 Sartain also argues that Schwartz was ineffective for failing to raise the pry bar evidence tampering issue. As stated above, there was simply no evidence of “evidence tampering.” Both trial counsel and appellate counsel chose not to raise the issue because, as the District Court correctly found, “[r]aising this issue would have been frivolous.” ¶39 Finally, Sartain challenges Schwartz’s failure to challenge the admissibility of the pry bar, a shoe print, and K-9 tracking evidence. Prior to trial, Moore filed a motion in limine, and the court conducted a hearing. Schwartz stated she reviewed the transcript and case law cited by the parties and also completed independent research on the admissibility of these items. After her review, she concluded that, although the issue had been preserved for appeal, she “did not believe that the admission of this evidence, limited as it had been by the trial court, would result in reversible error.” Schwartz further stated that “[i]n my opinion, Sartain had more viable issues . . . I made the tactical decision to focus on what I believed were the stronger issues . . . .” Schwartz’s approach fell within the range of reasonable profession assistance and did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Whitlow, ¶ 15, Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065. ¶40 3. Did the District Court abuse its discretion by failing to hold an evidentiary hearing on Sartain’s petition? ¶41 Sartain asserts the District Court erred by failing to conduct an evidentiary hearing “to develop a full and accurate record of [Sartain’s] ineffective assistance of counsel claims, speedy trial violation and the prosecutorial misconduct, as these claims raise clear violations of Sartain’s Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.” 19 ¶42 Section 46-21-201, MCA, grants discretion in the manner district courts are to review petitions for postconviction relief. If a court determines that “the petition and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the petitioner is not entitled to relief,” it can dismiss the proceedings without requiring a response by the State. If a court orders a response, it can, after reviewing the State’s pleading, “dismiss the petition as a matter of law for failure to state a claim for relief or it may proceed to determine the issue.” Section 46-21-201(1)(a); Hamilton, ¶ 10 (citations omitted). Here, the District Court dismissed the petition for failure to state a claim for relief. ¶43 “We review discretionary rulings in post-conviction relief proceedings, including rulings related to whether to hold an evidentiary hearing, for an abuse of discretion.” Hamilton, ¶ 7 (citing Beach v. State, 2009 MT 398, ¶ 14, 353 Mont. 411, 220 P.3d 667). We have determined that none of Sartain’s claims against either his trial or appellate counsel satisfied the standards for establishing ineffective assistance, and we further conclude that he has not demonstrated that resolution of any of his claims necessitated an evidentiary hearing. The District Court did not abuse its discretion. ¶44 Sartain “bore the burden to overcome the presumption that his counsel acted in a reasonable, professional manner.” Sellner v. State, 2004 MT 205, ¶ 48, 322 Mont. 310, 95 P.3d 708. Sartain has failed to do so. ¶45 Affirmed. /S/ JIM RICE 20 We concur: /S/ MIKE McGRATH /S/ PATRICIA COTTER /S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT /S/ BETH BAKER 21