Opinion ID: 887159
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶ 11 When a probation violation has occurred, a district court must exercise its discretion in determining an appropriate action in response to the violation. State v. Pedersen, 2003 MT 315, ¶ 17, 318 Mont. 262, ¶ 17, 80 P.3d 79, ¶ 17. Barring an abuse of that discretion, this Court will not intervene. Pedersen, ¶ 17. We also review a district court's determination of the existence of mental disease or defect under § 46-14-311, MCA, to determine whether the court has abused its discretion. State v. Collier (1996), 277 Mont. 46, 60, 919 P.2d 376, 385. A district court abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily without employment of conscientious judgment or exceeds the bounds of reason, resulting in substantial injustice. State v. Weldele, 2003 MT 117, ¶ 72, 315 Mont. 452, ¶ 72, 69 P.3d 1162, ¶ 72.