
    STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff, vs. ELIZABETH S. JOHNSON, Defendant.
    No. DC-97-94
    Decision
   On February 3,2005, the defendant was sentenced to Count I: Six (6) years in the Montana Women’s Prison, for the offense of Issuing a Bad Check, a felony. The Defendant will not be considered for parole until she has completed all recommendations of the initial classification by the Department of Corrections.

On April 1, 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 Mark McLaverty. The state was represented by Bill Fullbright.

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 she understood this and stated that she 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 1st day of April, 2005.

DATED this 13th day of April, 2005.

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