Court Opinion

ID: 4543491
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-23 22:07:10.814162+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:13.169075
License: Public Domain

URIGINAL                                                                                     06/23/2020

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                       Case Number: OP 20-0317

                                       OP 20-0317

 GREGORY L. WALLACE,                                                          FILED
              Petitioner,
                                                                              JUN 2 3 2020
                                                                          Bowen Greenwood
                                                                        Clerk of Supreme Court
                                                                           State of Montana
       v.
                                                                    ORDER
 LYNN GUYER, Warden, Montana State Prison
 and CAPTAIN JASON KOWALSKI,D.O.C.,
 Missoula Assessment & Sanction Center,

              Respondents.

      Representing himself, Gregory L. Wallace has filed a petition for a writ of habeas
corpus, asserting that his sentence is illegal because it violates his right to be free from
double jeopardy. Wallace also claims that he is due more credit for time served.
      This Court is familiar with Wallace's history. On June 4, 2012, Wallace entered a
plea of no contest in the Yellowstone County District Court to felony driving under the
influence. The District Court sentenced Wallace to a ten-year term as a persistent felony
offender and suspended two years. On October 9, 2015, the Butte-Silver Bow County
District Court accepted Wallace's no-contest plea to felony escape in exchange for a
suspended two-year sentence to the Department of Corrections. The District Court ran this
suspended sentence consecutively to his sentence from Yellowstone County. Since then,
the Yellowstone County District Court revoked Wallace's suspended sentence in 2020 and
sentenced him to a two-year term.
      In his petition, Wallace claims that he was violated for absconding. Wallace
requests independent pro bono or appointed counsel and raises various claims ofineffective
assistance ofcounsel concerning the recent imposition of his sentence upon revocation. He
states that his "rights were violated by Yellowstone County attorney's double jeopardy fact
in process." He also states that he was not given a fair shot on probation.
       Upon review of Wallace's petition, it is difficult to discern his arguments or
requested relief. This Court gives self-represented litigants a "fair shot" at access, but
Wallace's instant petition precludes any relief. As a petitioner, Wallace carries the "burden
of proof or the burden of persuasion." In Re Hart, 178 Mont. 235, 249, 583 P.2d 411,
419(1978). Wallace must prove "the violation, deprivation, infringement, or denial of his
constitutional, statutory, or legal rights generally, or denial of due process of law[1"
In re Hart, 178 Mont. at 250, 583 P.2d at 419; see also Miller v. Eleventh Judicial Dist.
Ct., 2007 MT 58,¶ 14, 336 Mont. 207, 154 P.3d(a petitioner "has the burden of presenting
to this Court a record that is sufficient to make a prima facie showing[1").
       Wallace has not carried his burden or presented a record sufficient to make a
prima facie showing about any illegalities in his sentence upon revocation from
Yellowstone County. Section 46-22-101(1), MCA. He has not clearly articulated any
argument about credit for time served or while on probation. We point out that a
District Court has statutory authority to revoke a suspended sentence pursuant to
§ 46-18-203(7)(a)(iii), MCA, and that a sentence upon revocation does not violate
double jeopardy. State v. Dewitt, 2006 MT 302,¶ 10, 334 Mont. 474, 149 P.3d 549. We
further point out that Wallace may raise any claims about ineffective assistance of counsel
in a petition for postconviction relief, filed in the Yellowstone County District Court,
before January 2021. Sections 46-21-101 and -102, MCA. Aside from that, this Court
does not conduct research for litigants, and we cannot provide any remedy for his instant
petition as presented.
      IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Wallace's request for appointed counsel is
DENIED and his Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED and DISMISSED.
      The Clerk ofthe Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy ofthis Order to counsel
of record and to Gregory L. Wallace personally.
      DATED this ca        day of June, 2020.

                                                                Chief Justice

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  Justices