Court Opinion

ID: 890253
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 06:32:25.871522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:17.232552
License: Public Domain

January 17 2012
                                           DA 11-0130

              IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                           2012 MT 7N

STATE OF MONTANA,

              Plaintiff and Appellee,

         v.

JAKEB JARON DON SMITH,

              Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM:            District Court of the Twenty-First Judicial District,
                        In and For the County of Ravalli, Cause No. DC 07-74
                        Honorable Jeffrey H. Langton, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

                For Appellant:

                        Joslyn Hunt, Chief Appellate Defender; Jennifer A. Hurley,
                        Assistant Appellate Defender; Helena, Montana

                For Appellee:

                        Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General; C. Mark Fowler,
                        Assistant Attorney General; Helena, Montana

                        William E. Fulbright, Ravalli County Attorney; Hamilton, Montana

                                                  Submitted on Briefs: December 21, 2011

                                                              Decided: January 17, 2012

Filed:

                        __________________________________________
                                          Clerk
Justice Beth Baker delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating Rules,

this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not serve as

precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this Court’s quarterly

list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana Reports.

¶2     On August 29, 2007, Jakeb Jaron Don Smith pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief

and two misdemeanor offenses. On October 17, 2007, the District Court sentenced Smith to

serve five days in jail for the misdemeanors and entered a three-year deferred sentence on the

felony conviction. In 2010, the State filed two petitions for revocation of the deferred sentence.

Smith ultimately admitted to the State’s allegations stemming from two separate infractions:

failing to report to his probation officer and felony charges in Idaho for eluding a police officer.

¶3     At the time of the disposition hearing on December 22, 2010, Smith had served a

combined total of 320 days in jail on the revocation petition and the Idaho charges. The defense

recommended two years’ imprisonment with credit for time served. Counsel for the State

recommended a five-year commitment to the Department of Corrections with two years

suspended. Both defense counsel and counsel for the State noted Smith’s past issues with

chemical dependency and the need for time in a pre-release center. During the hearing, the State

recommended a sentence with sufficient time (after the court applied credit for time served), to

accommodate Smith’s participation in chemical dependency treatment and pre-release, in order

to fulfill “the intent of the judgment.”

¶4     The court imposed a commitment of five years with two years suspended “on the same

conditions as the existing Judgment.” The court further recommended Smith be screened for

placement in chemical dependency treatment and/or a pre-release center. During its oral

                                              2
imposition of sentence, the court stated no reasons for the sentence. The court’s written

judgment provided, “[t]he reasons for the sentence imposed are the Court has heard the

recommendations of counsel.”

¶5     Smith argues his sentence was illegally based on his indigence, since the court increased

the term to give credit for the lengthy jail time while imposing sufficient time for completion of

chemical dependency treatment and pre-release. Smith claims this is fundamentally unfair

because an individual who could afford bail would not face such an extension.

¶6     Smith’s argument is unavailing. Section 46-18-101(3)(c), MCA, provides that

“sentencing practices must be neutral with respect to . . . economic status.” A district court

cannot use poverty “as a touchstone for imposing the maximum allowable punishment.” State v.

Farrell, 207 Mont. 483, 499, 676 P.2d 168, 177 (1984). However, we presume the district court

is correct in its sentencing decisions and we “will not strain at worst-case assumptions in order to

find a mistake.” State v. Petroff, 232 Mont. 20, 23, 757 P.2d 759, 761 (1988). We find no

impermissible link between the sentence and Smith’s indigence. The sentence here falls well

below the statutory maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and up to 10 years’ imprisonment or

both. Section 45-6-101(3), MCA. The fact the court considered the length of time it would take

for Smith to complete rehabilitative programs does not support Smith’s assertions his alleged

indigence was a factor in determining the sentence. Smith’s inability to comply with the

conditions of his first suspended sentence, not his economic status, led to his current sentence.

¶7     We agree, however, with Smith’s contention that remand is required for a sufficient

statement of reasons for the sentence. Section 46-18-102(3)(b), MCA, requires that “[w]hen the

sentence is pronounced, the judge shall clearly state for the record the reasons for imposing the

sentence.” In State v. Anderson, 2002 MT 92, ¶ 20, 309 Mont. 352, 46 P.3d 625, we concluded

                                             3
the district court’s sole reason for imposing the sentence—that the State recommended it—was

insufficient because it failed to inform Anderson of the reasons underlying the sentence and did

not provide guidance for review.

¶8     The District Court’s statement of reasons in Smith’s written judgment is indistinguishable

from that rejected in Anderson. Although this Court has upheld minimal statements of

sentencing reasons, we have done so when the statements at least inform the defendant of the

reasons for the sentence. State v. Branham, 2012 MT 1, ¶ 27, ___ Mont. ___, ___ P.3d ___;

State v. Krantz, 241 Mont. 501, 505, 788 P.2d 298, 301 (1990).

¶9     We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d) of our

Internal Operating Rules, which provides for noncitable memorandum opinions. Having

reviewed the briefs and the record on appeal, we conclude the appellant has not met his burden

of persuasion that his sentence was illegally based on his indigence. On the basis of Anderson,

we remand to the District Court to provide a statement of the reasons for imposing its sentence in

accordance with § 46-18-102(3)(b), MCA.

                                                    /S/ BETH BAKER

We concur:

/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON

                                            4