
    STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. SABAH O. MALLAK, Defendant.
    No. DC-00-930
    Decision
   On November 13, 2001, the defendant was sentenced to the following: Count II: Ten (10) years in the Montana State Prison for the offense of Burglary, a felony; Count III: Ten (10) years in the Montana State Prison for the offense of Witness Tampering, a felony; Count IV: Six (6) months in the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, all suspended, for the offense of Criminal Contempt, a misdemeanor; and Count V: Six (6) months in the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, all suspended, for the offense of Criminal Contempt, a misdemeanor. These Counts shall run concurrently with each other. The last three (3) years of the prison sentence is suspended.

On August 8, 2005, 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 Carl DeBelly. The state was represented by Scott Twito.

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 Rules 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.

Done in open Court this 8th day of August, 2005.

DATED this 17th day of August, 2005.

Chairperson, Hon. Gary L. Day, Member, Hon. John Whelan and Member, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding.  