
    STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. CLARENCE COOK, Defendant,
    No. BDC-04-388d
    Decision
    
      DATED this 21st day of August, 2006.
   On February 27, 2006, the defendant was sentenced to one hundred (100) years in the Montana State Prison, with fifteen (15) years suspended, for the offense of Deliberate Homicide, a felony. The defendant shall not be eligible for parole until he has served twenty (20) years in prison.

On August 10, 2006, the defendant’s application for review of that sentence was heard by the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court.

The defendant appeared by videoconference from Crossroads Correctional Center and was represented by Kenneth Olson. The state was represented by Brandt 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 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 10th day of August, 2006.

Alt. Chairperson, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding, Member, Hon. Katherine Irigoin and Alt. Member, Hon. Douglas Harkin.  