Court Opinion

ID: 9387784
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-18 22:05:46.661848+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:15.451755
License: Public Domain

ORIGINAL                                          04/18/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                         Case Number: OP 23-0214

                                        OP 23-0214

RANDY CHRISTOPHER ARCHIBALD, SR.,                                        t 'IR 18 2n23
                                                                                     ,-d
                                                                                     Court
             Petitioner,                                                        oontana

       v.
                                                                     ORDER
PETER BLUDWORTH, Warden,
Crossroads Correctional Center,

             Respondent.

      Randy Christopher Archibald, Sr. petitions this Court for habeas corpus relief,
because "[t]he State breached the Plea-agreement by misleading the courts with false
information." He argues that his sentence and incarceration are both illegal because of
violations of his due process and other constitutional rights. He puts forth that he "was
never charged with a crime[,]" but that "this revolves around two County Jail[] infractions."
Archibald requests his immediate release from prison, an evidentiary hearing, and a
reduction of his sentence.
       This Court has heard Archibald's arguments previously.           In 2019, Archibald
appealed the Cascade County District Court Judgment of Conviction and Sentencing
Order. State v. Archibald, No. DA 19-0545, 2021 MT 174N, ¶ 2, 2021 Mont. LEXIS 609
(Jul. 13, 2021). Through counsel, Archibald argued that "the State should not have been
allowed to alter its sentencing recommendations because he did not violate the conditions
of pretrial release." Archibald, ¶ 2. This Court affirmed his convictions pursuant to his
nolo contendere plea to three felonies and two misdemeanors in a nonbinding plea
agreement. Section 46-12-211(1)(c), MCA. Archibald, III 2-3. We pointed out that
Archibald signed an acknowledgment of waiver of rights and that he "admitted to being
cited for disciplinary infractions while in custody." Archibald, lig 4,6. We determined that
Itlhe language in the plea agreement requiring Archibald to refrain from committing
additional crimes is clear and unambiguous." Archibald, ¶ 11. We found no error in the
court's decision that his "pretrial disciplinary incidents violated the agreement which
warranted the State's new sentencing recommendations." Archibald, ¶ 11.
      Archibald has not demonstrated an illegal sentence or illegal incarceration. Section
46-22-101(1), MCA. He appealed his convictions and sentence, and this Court concluded
that Archibald's conduct violated the plea agreement. Archibald, ¶ 7. Archibald's
constitutional claims have no footing because we have addressed them in his prior appeal.
Section 46-22-101(2), MCA; Archibald, ¶ 11. He is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing
or his immediate release. Therefore,
      IT IS ORDERED that Archibald's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED
and DISMISSED.
      The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record and to
Randy Archibald, Sr. personally.
      DATED this      ?' My of April, 2023.

                                                              Chief Justice

                                                                Justices