Court Opinion

ID: 9349300
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-21 17:05:34.448243+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:46:36.219470
License: Public Domain

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                                             to.        Nat       'IN Ar i a                                     12/21/2022

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                                             Case Number: OP 22-0683

                                          OP 22-0683
                                                                                           ,   -

 DANIEL FOX,
                                                                                     DEC 2 0 1"    2
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                                                                                                   '
              Petitioner,                                                      C .
                                                                                                       urt
                                                                                               ncana

       v.
                                                                                     ORDER
 JAMES SALMONSEN, Warden,
 Montana State Prison,

             Respondent.

       Daniel Fox petitions this Court for habeas corpus relief because of the "illegal
revocation" of his parole "which were based upon the incorrect determination of . . .
`NON-COMPLIANCE' violations. . . ." (Emphasis in original). Fox contends that his
illegal confinement is due to the Board of Pardons and Parole (Board) and its actions.
       Fox explains that on December 18, 2020, the Montana Highway Patrol detained and
arrested him for felony drug possession, and that the State filed a complaint in the Custer
County Justice Court. He states that on December 30, 2020, his Parole Officer filed a
Report of Violation with the Board, citing the felony complaint. Fox adds that unknown
to him and during the protracted delay for his parole revocation hearing, the court dismissed
the criminal complaint on January 25, 2021. Citing to Montana statutes and Morrissey v.
Brewer, Fox challenges his confinement because the charge was dismissed. Fox alleges
that the Board incorrectly revoked his parole because the Montana Incentives Intervention
Guide (MIIG) should have been utilized.                        408 U.S. 471, 92 S. Ct. 2593 (1972);
§ 46-23-1028, MCA. Fox also contends that the Board violated his due process and civil
rights and that the Board was not a neutral and detached body.
       While Fox correctly cites the various laws in Montana, his conclusion is wrong.
Fox's new offense triggered the Board's revocation of his parole. It does not matter that
the Justice Court later dismissed the felony charge because the Report of Violation
reflected a non-compliance violation with a new offense. Section 46-23-1001(3)(a), MCA.
We note that the attached Report of Violation lists two non-compliance violations and
recommends placement at the Montana State Prison to appear before the Board. Because
of the non-compliance violations, the MIIG does not apply to Fox. Section 46-23-1028,
MCA. Fox was not entitled to a prompt hearing, within five days of his arrest, because of
this new offense. "After the arrest of the parolee, an initial hearing must be held unless
[,] . . . the parolee has been charged in any court with a violation of the law[.]" Section
46-23-1024(1)(b), MCA (emphasis added).
       The Morrissey Court listed the minimum requirements of due process. Morrissey,
408 U.S. at 488-89; 92 S. Ct. at 2604. Fox received a copy of the Report of Violation or
written notice of the claimed violations, and these violations were disclosed to him. While
Fox may contend that his speech was stifled, he had an appearance before the Board and
an opportunity to be heard. Fox asserts the Board was not neutral and detached as required.
Fox's contention does not overcome the reported non-compliance violations.
       We have pointed out several times before that the revocation of parole is not a part
of the criminal prosecution. Morrissey, 408 U.S. at 480, 92 S. Ct. at 2599-2600. Montana's
statutory scheme outlines the process that a parolee, such as Fox, is due.               See
§§ 46-23-1024, and -1025, MCA. The Board afforded Fox notice, disclosure of evidence,
and opportunity to be heard when he appeared before the Board. Morrissey, 408 U.S. at
489, 92 S. Ct. at 2604. The Board determined that Fox violated his paroleAnd subsequently
revoked his parole, pursuant to § 46-23-1025(2), MCA. The Board adhered to Montana's
statutory process for Fox's parole revocation.
       Fox's due process rights were not violated. Habeas corpus is not the remedy for
Fox's claims of civil rights violations. Lastly, we point out that this Court does not hold
evidentiary hearings, and we do not issue certificates of appealability, as in federal court.

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We have repeatedly stated that the Board's authority is broad, and any review of the
Board's decision is limited to the minimum requirements as listed in case law, statutes, and
administrative rules. See McDermott v. McDonald, 2001 MT 89, ¶ 20, 305 Mont. 166, 24
P.3d 200 (The Board "may consider evidence of offenses which were charged in dismissed
counts."). (Citation omitted).
      "Parole . . . is a discretionary grant of freedom from incarceration." McDermott,
¶ 24. Fox has not shown that the Board erred in revoking his parole. Fox has not
demonstrated that he is illegally incarcerated. Section 46-22-101(1), MCA.
       Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that Fox's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus is DENIED and
DISMISSED.
       The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel
of record and to Daniel Fox personally.
       DATED this           day of December, 2022.

                                                               Chief Justice

                                                                 Justices

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