
    STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. DUANE A. SCHWEHR, Defendant.
    
      No. DC-99-0126
    
      Decision
   On July 16, 2004, the defendant was sentenced to a commitment to the Department of Corrections for the balance of the term, Four (4) years, which shall run concurrently with the sentences received in criminal Cause Nos. DC-97-0582 and DC-04-0114, for violation of the conditions of a suspended sentence for the offense of Driving or in Actual Physical Control of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol, a felony.

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 Dennis Paxinos.

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.  