
    STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. JOHN TROTTER, Defendant,
    Cause No. BDC-05-326
    Decision
   On June 30, 2006, the defendant was sentenced to one hundred (100) years in the Montana State Prison, with ten (10) years suspended for the offense of Deliberate Homicide, a felony. The defendant shall not be eligible for parole until he has served twenty-five (25) years in prison.

On November 3, 2006, the defendant’s application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court.

The defendant was present and was represented by Matthew McKittrick. The state was represented by Brant Light.

Before hearing the application, the defendant was advised that the Sentence Review Division has the authority not only to reduce the sentence or affirm it, but also increase it. The defendant was further advised that there is no appeal from a decision of the Sentence Review Division. The defendant acknowledged that he understood this and stated that he wished to proceed.

Rule 17 of the Rides of the Sentence Review Division of the Supreme Court of Montana provides that “the sentence imposed by the District Court is presumed correct, and the sentence will not be reduced or increased unless it is deemed clearly inadequate or excessive.” (§46-18-904(3), MCA).

The Division finds that the reasons advanced for modification are insufficient to hold that the sentence imposed by the District Court is inadequate or excessive.

Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the Sentence Review Division that the sentence shall be affirmed.

DATED this 19th day of November, 2006.

Done in open Court this 3rd day of November, 2006.

Chairperson, Hon. John Whelan, Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding and Alt. Member, Hon. Kurt Krueger.  