Court Opinion

ID: 9954998
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-27 15:11:38.496366+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:11.862960
License: Public Domain

03/26/2024
                                                      (iaiiIN AL

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                              Case Number: DA 24-0159

                                       DA 24-0159                     FLED
                                                                      MAR 2 6 2024
 STA IE OF MONTANA,                                                 Bowen   Greenwood
                                                                  Clerk of Supremo Court
                                                                     State of Montana
             Plaintiff and Appellee,

       v.                                                            ORDER

 CHAD EVERETT BALL,

              Defendant and Appellant.

       Representing himself, Chad Everett Ball has filed a verified Petition for an Out-of-
Time Appeal, indicating that he discussed filing a timely appeal with his attorney and that
his attorney failed to file an appeal for him. Ball includes the first page of the sentencing
judgment with his Petition.
       On August 11, 2023, the Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Yellowstone County,
issued an Amended Judgment sentencing Ball after a jury found him guilty of three
felonies. We secured a complete copy. The District Court imposed three, concurrent
prison sentences of 100 years with seventy-five years suspended for sexual abuse of
children.
       M. R. App. P. 4(6) allows this Court to grant an out-of-time appeal "Mn the
infrequent harsh case and under extraordinary circumstances amounting to a gross
miscarriage of justiceM"
       Ball has recent convictions and sentences. This Court concludes that Ball is entitled
to an appeal. He may be entitled to representation of counsel in this appeal. Section 46-8-
104, MCA. Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that Ball's Petition for an Out-of-Time Appeal is GRANTED.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Appellate Defender Division is APPOINTED
to represent Chad Everett Ball. The Appellate Defender Division shall have thirty days
from the date of this Order within which either to file alNotice of Appeal or a Motion to
Rescind this Order Appointing Counsel. When Ball qualifies for appointed counsel, the
Appellate Defender Division shall immediately order the appropriate transcripts, if they
have not been already ordered.
      The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy of this Order to the
Appellate Defender Division, to counsel of record, and to Chad Everett Ball personally.
      DATED this          day of March, 2024.

                                                        tal m J.J1
                                                   fen,           pc-tairm

                                                               Justices

                                            2