Opinion ID: 889300
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Arrest to Arraignment (May 17 to Sept. 9, 2004; 115 days)

Text: ¶ 4 As noted, Couture was arrested on May 17, 2004. He made his initial appearance in Lake County Justice Court on May 18, and Larry Nistler was appointed to represent him on May 19. The court declined to set bail due to the nature of the charge (deliberate homicide), and Couture never filed a motion to set bail during the pretrial period. On May 27, the date set for arraignment in District Court, Nistler informed the court that he wanted to obtain a mental health evaluation of Couture before Couture entered his pleas. See § 46-14-202, MCA. The court agreed to order an evaluation through the Montana State Hospital, but noted that it did not want the case to slip off the calendar. Nistler suggested a continuance of two weeks, and the court reset the arraignment for June 10. ¶ 5 A number of continuances followed June 10 to July 1 to July 15 to August 12 to August 26 to September 9all at Couture's request, and all related to his efforts to schedule and obtain the mental health evaluation and then discuss the report with counsel, review his rights, and decide on a plea. Ultimately, Couture was found fit to proceed, and on September 9, 2004, he entered pleas of not guilty to all charges. The court then proposed to set an accelerated omnibus hearing for September 23; however, due to the court's policy on plea agreements (described below), Nistler stated that he would not be ready on that date. The court thus set the omnibus hearing for October 7.