Court Opinion

ID: 9894349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-01 15:08:30.696745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:41.501157
License: Public Domain

ij 1ORIGINAL                         10/31/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                             Case Number: OP 23-0623

                                       OP 23-0623

 CHARLES JOSEPH CAPLETTE,

             Petitioner,
       v.
                                                                   ORDER
 CAPT. RAY VAUGHN, Warden,
 Butte-Silver Bow County Detention Center,                                   FLED
             Respondent.                                                      OCT 31 2023
                                                                            Bowen Greenwood
                                                                          Clerk of Supreme Court
                                                                             State of Montana

      By way of a petition for writ of habeas corpus, Charles Joseph Caplette petitions
this Court for appointment of an attorney or to have his underlying case dismissed. He
includes a copy of a criminal complaint alleging two felony counts of partner or family
member assault (PFMA), filed in the Justice Court for the City and County of Butte-Silver
Bow, Montana. Caplette contends the paperwork, counsel, and evidence will prove his
innocence.
       We secured copies of the register of actions and pertinent documents from the Butte-
Silver Bow County District Court. On September 19, 2023, the District Court granted the
State leave to file an Information charging Caplette with the two felony counts of PFMA
and setting bond, subject to conditions, at $20,000. The District Court held an arraignment
two days later, and Caplette appeared with counsel. Caplette entered his not guilty pleas
and was remanded to the Sheriff s custody.
      In his instant Petition, Caplette seeks to have discovery, production of copies of
videos, and appointment of another attorney. This Court cannot grant his requests.
Montana's statute for habeas corpus relief provides that a court may inquire into the cause
of restraint or incarceration to determine its illegality. Section 46-22-101(1), MCA.
Caplette has not demonstrated that he is illegally incarcerated. Section 46-22-101(1),
MCA. The cause of his incarceration is due to his pending criminal case in the District
Court. His other claims are not remedied by a writ of habeas corpus. See. Gates v. Missoula
County Comm ',as, 235 Mont. 261, 262, 766 P.2d 884, 884-85 (1988) (the habeas corpus
"statute allows a prisoner to challenge the legal sufficiency of the cause for
incarceration."). (Emphasis in original.)
       Caplette should refrain • from filing pleadings in this Court when he has legal
representation from counsel in his underlying proceeding. M. R. App. P. 10(1)(c). He is
not entitled to appointment of counsel upon his petition filed in this Court. See § 46-8-101,
MCA. At this juncture, Caplette is not entitled to dismissal. Accordingly,
       IT IS ORDERED that Caplette'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 Kirk Krueger,
District Court Judge; Beth Parks, Clerk of District Court, under Cause No. DC-23-251; -
Ann M. Shea, Deputy County Attomey; Eleanor Maloney, Defense Counsel; Cpt. Vaughn,
Detention Center; counsel of record, and Charles Joseph Caplette personally.
                    ,
      DATED this 5-A - day of October, 2023.

                                                                  Justices

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