Opinion ID: 879881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Issue 4Defendant's detention in St. Patrick's Hospital.

Text: When Pease was admitted to St. Patrick's Hospital on September 15, 1987, he was informed that he would be taken into custody upon his release. Pease contends that as of that day, he was not free to leave the hospital, was in custody and would remain so from then on, and that the hospital staff were instructed to contact the Missoula County Sheriff's office should Pease attempt to leave. Pease was actually arrested September 18, 1987. That day he appeared before a Justice of the Peace in Ravalli County where bail was set at $100,000. Pease alleges that he was unlawfully detained and in custody with an unreasonable delay before his hearing on September 18, 1987. This contention is contrary to the probation officer's testimony and to Pease's own admission. During Pease's questioning of the probation officer, while appearing pro se, Pease said ... on the 18th [of September] I was arrested ... Because Pease had already been convicted and was on probation, any presumption of innocence was gone. On September 14, 1987, the day before Pease was told he would be arrested, he admitted to his probation officer that he had seen and spoken with the victim on several occasions. Because Pease had admitted to violating his probation there was clearly probable cause to detain him. Pease was not taken into custody until September 18, 1987, and a hearing was held the same day. Pease was not unlawfully detained at St. Patrick's Hospital.