
    From: The District Court of the 7th Judicial District. County of Richland.
    STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. RANDALL M. RUDOLPH, Defendant,
    No. DC-98-18
    Decision
   On March 25, 2003, the defendant was sentenced to a five (5) year commitment to the Department of Corrections for violating the conditions of a suspended sentence for the offense of Issuing Bad Checks, a felony. The defendant shall receive credit for a total of 365 days of combined incarceration and probationary time. All but twenty (20) months of the remaining four (4) year commitment is suspended.

DATED this 9th day of December, 2003.

On November 13, 2003, the defendant's application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court.

The defendant and his attorney, Lyle Panasuk, both participated in the hearing telephonically. The state was represented by Mike Weber, who also participated telephonically.

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 13th Day of November, 2003.

Chairperson, Hon. Katherine R. Curtis, Member, Hon. Marc G. Buyske and Alt. Member, Hon. John W. Whelan.  