Opinion ID: 888658
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Did the District Court properly impose restitution for the victim's funeral expenses?

Text: ¶ 73 Schmidt challenges the District Court's order that he pay restitution based on the failure of Correia's family to submit an affidavit substantiating the amount of their pecuniary loss. Section 46-18-242(1)(b), MCA, requires a victim to submit an affidavit describing and assigning a dollar amount to the victim's pecuniary loss. The trial court imposed restitution in the amount recommended by the probation officer in the pre-sentence investigation (PSI) report. The probation officer calculated restitution based on a written statement provided by Correia's family. ¶ 74 The restitution included Correia's funeral expenses and his family's travel expenses during trial and sentencing. Schmidt did not specifically contest the amount of restitution. Schmidt did object to the lack of an affidavit in his sentencing memorandum. Schmidt offered no evidence or argument refuting the amount of restitution at the sentencing hearing. Schmidt did not claim that the restitution figure was unreasonable. Schmidt did not question the probation officer extensively. Schmidt did not insist on the need for an affidavit at the hearing. Schmidt also did not make use of the hearing to question the members of Correia's family who were present. ¶ 75 We recently upheld the affidavit requirement of § 46-18-242, MCA, in State v. Hunt, 2009 MT 265, 352 Mont. 70, 214 P.3d 1234. The State's failure to include an affidavit in the PSI report required remand to the district court for compliance with the statutory provisions. Hunt, ¶ 22. The defendant in Hunt objected at the sentencing hearing, however, to the lack of a sworn affidavit. Schmidt did not. Schmidt did not object to the amount, or calculation, of restitution at the sentencing hearing. Schmidt admitted in his sentencing memorandum and at the sentencing hearing that restitution was appropriate. Schmidt initially supported the PSI's recommendation that he pay restitution in exchange for suspension of the weapons enhancement sentence. Schmidt objected only after he received an unfavorable sentence. The District Court's imposition of restitution satisfies § 46-18-242, MCA. ¶ 76 Affirmed. We Concur: MIKE McGRATH, C.J., JOHN WARNER, W. WILLIAM LEAPHART and JIM RICE, JJ.