Court Opinion

ID: 9889742
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-11 14:07:10.57707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:21.924267
License: Public Domain

j ORIGINAL                                  10/10/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                                Case Number: OP 23-0531

                                        OP 23-0531

 JOEL BROOKS THORNTON,
                                                                   filLED
                                                                   OCT 1 0 2023
              Petitioner,                                        Bowen Greenwood
                                                               Clerk cf Supreme Court
       v.                                                         State of Montana

                                                                    ORDER
 MARK JOHNSON, FACILITY
 ADMINISTRATOR, BUTTE-SILVER BOW
 COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY,

              Respondent.

       Joel Brooks Thornton has filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, indicating his
bail is excessive and his sentence is illegal, and requesting release on his own recognizance
to seek chemical dependency or mental health treatment.            Thornton attached and
supplemented his petition with various documents, including a "Petition for Speedy Trial"
previously filed in the Silver Bow Justice Court, but does not otherwise articulate an
argument connecting these documents to his petition.
       On February 8, 2023, the Silver Bow County Justice Court issued an arrest warrant
for Thornton to appear on the charged offense of aggravated animal cruelty, pursuant to
§ 45-8-217, MCA, and imposed a $20,000 bond. This offense has a maximum punishment
of two years. Section 45-8-211(2)(a), MCA. We secured a copy of the register of actions
from District Court for his pending case. The District Court granted the State leave to file
an Information, noted bail of $20,000, set arraignment, and appointed counsel on
March 30, 2023. His counsel filed an unopposed motion to set a bail or bond hearing in
May. Since then, Thornton had a change of plea hearing on September 6, 2023.
       Habeas corpus affords applicants an opportunity to collaterally challenge the
legality of their present incarceration. Lott v. State, 2006 MT 279, ¶ 9, 334 Mont. 270, 150
P.3d 337. Thornton does not present any other supporting documentation or argument
concerning the amount of his bail. Thornton has not demonstrated want of bail, pursuant
to § 46-22-103, MCA, because the Justice Court imposed an amount initially. This Court
has determined that a district court has the discretion to grant or deny release and bail as
well as to set conditions. Grafft v. Mont. Fourth Judicial Dist. Ct., 2021 MT 201, ¶ 11,
405 Mont. 192, 492 P.3d 1213. Thornton should relay his concerns to his appointed
counsel and not file writs on his own behalf while he is represented by counsel. M. R.
App. P. 10(1)(c). We conclude Thornton has not demonstrated entitlement to release or
habeas corpus relief on the claims he has presented here. Section 46-22-101(1), MCA.
Accordingly,
       IT IS ORDERED that Thorton's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED
and DISMISSED.
       The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to: the Honorable Robert J.
Whelan, Second Judicial District Court, Butte-Silver Bow County; Beth Parks, Clerk of
District Court, under Cause No. DC-23-84; Kaitlyn Lamb, Deputy County Attorney; Mark
Johnson, Defense Counsel; counsel of record, and Joel Brooks Thornton personally.
                     \-' 1^
      DATED this VC:: "'day of October, 2023.

                                                               Chief Justice

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