Justia Montana Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court convicting Defendant of solicitation of witness tampering and sentencing him to prison for ten years with four years suspended, holding that the district court made numerous errors during trial amounting to cumulative error requiring reversal.Specifically, the Supreme Court held that Defendant's conviction resulted, at least in part, from the prejudice of the irrelevant and extrinsic bad acts evidence erroneously admitted from void dire through the entire evidentiary presentation and that Defendant did not receive a fair trial as a result of the district court's erroneous rulings, mandating reversal of Defendant's conviction under the doctrine of cumulative error. View "State v. Smith" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction for aggravated promotion of prostitution of B.M. and promoting prostitution of Z.T., holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion.On appeal, Defendant argued that the district court erred in granting the State's motion in limine prohibiting Defendant from eliciting any testimony concerning B.M. and/or Z.T.'s prior sexual conduct. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it excluded evidence related to Z.T.'s prior involvement with prostitution under Mont. R. Evid. 401, 402, and 404(b). View "State v. Thomas" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction for felony theft, felony altering an identification number, and misdemeanor violation of license plate requirement, holding that the district court did not err.Specifically, the Supreme Court held (1) the district court did not err in denying Defendant's motion to dismiss based on the state's alleged failure to preserve exculpatory evidence; (2) the district court did not err when it allowed an out-of-court statement offered for the limited purpose of explaining an officer's conduct; and (3) after correctly instructing the jury, the district court did not abuse its discretion in referring the jury to instructions already provided. View "State v. Fillion" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court revoking Defendant's deferred sentence for criminal endangerment, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion by revoking Defendant's deferred sentence after he failed to report to his probation officer for five months.Defendant pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment. The district court sentenced Defendant to five years' incarceration, with all time suspended, and imposed standard conditions of probation. The State later filed a petition to revoke Defendant's sentence, alleging that Defendant violated four conditions of his suspended sentence. The district court found that Defendant committed the violations alleged in the State's petition to revoke and imposed a five-year commitment with two years suspended. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it revoked Defendant's deferred sentence. View "State v. Fjelsted" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the revocation of his suspended sentence by the district court, holding that the district court's sentence revocation was supported by sufficient evidence that Defendant had violated the conditions of supervision by engaging in a new criminal offense.Defendant pled guilty to aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. After completing the unsuspended portion of his sentence Defendant was released to serve the suspended portion of his sentence. Later, the county attorney filed a petition for revocation of Defendant's suspended sentence, alleging that Defendant had violated a condition of probation. The district court found by a preponderance of the evidence that Defendant had committed non-compliance violations of the probationary conditions of his sentence. The court then revoked Defendant's sentence and resentenced him. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court did not err by determining that Defendant violated a sentencing condition by committing sexual abuse of children. View "State v. Howard" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the district court's imposition of certain conditions on Defendant's sentence and reversed the court's determination that Defendant must pay the costs of his public defender, holding that the district court erred.Defendant pled guilty sexual assault and evidence tampering. In sentencing Defendant, the district court imposed conditions limiting Defendant's ability to possess a phone, a computer, or access to the internet. The district court further ordered Defendant to pay the cost of his public defender without conducting a meaningful inquiry into his ability to pay such expense. The Supreme Court reversed in part, holding (1) the sentencing conditions were overbroad insofar as they completely restricted Defendant's ability to access the internet and certain electronic devices; and (2) the district court erred in ordering Defendant to pay the cost of his public defender without conducting a meaningful inquiry into his ability to pay. View "State v. Hotchkiss" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court dismissed the charges against Defendant, holding that Defendant was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial and was presumptively prejudiced by the delay.The State filed an information charging Defendant with burglary and theft of more than $800. Nearly five years after his arrest Defendant had still not been brought to trial. Defendant filed a pro se motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that the five-year delay violated his right to a speedy trial. The district court denied the motion. Defendant pleaded guilty, reserving the right to appeal the denial of his speedy trial motion. The Supreme Court dismissed the charges against Defendant, holding that Defendant was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial. View "State v. Chambers" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court denying Defendant's motion to exclude evidence obtained during a traffic stop and to dismiss the charges against him, holding that an officer has a lawful right of access to reach into a vehicle and seize plainly visible contraband observed by the officer during a lawful traffic stop.Defendant was charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Defendant moved to exclude the evidence obtained during the traffic stop and to dismiss the charges, arguing that the deputy sheriff's warrantless seizure of a plastic bag found on Defendant's lap was unlawful. The district court denied the motion. Defendant then pled guilty, preserving his right to appeal the denial. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that because the officer's warrantless seizure of the bag was not unlawful because the officer was lawfully present next to Defendant's truck during the traffic stop, could plainly see readily apparent contraband fall onto Defendant's lap, and had a lawful right of access to that contraband. View "State v. Tenold" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's felony conviction of criminal possession with intent to distribute, holding that the district court did not err in determining that the State was not required to disclose the identity of its confidential informant.After Defendant was charged, he moved to dismiss the case on the basis that the State had failed to disclose the confidential informant's identity within the discovery timeframe. The district court summarily denied Defendant's motion to dismiss, declining to require disclosure of the confidential informant's identity. Defendant pled guilty, reserving his right to appeal the denial of his motion to dismiss. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court did not err as a matter of law in denying Defendant's motion to dismiss and did not abuse its discretion in denying disclosure of the confidential informant's identity. View "State v. Soto" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court revoking Defendant's deferred sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, holding that the district court did not violate Defendant's Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses during his revocation and did not abuse its discretion in determining that Defendant absconded.Specifically, the Supreme Court held (1) the district court did not violate Defendant's Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses against him by relying on statements made in a report of violation by Defendant's previous probation officer; and (2) the State presented sufficient evidence at Defendant's revocation hearing to establish that Defendant failed to report for the purpose of avoiding supervision and that the probation office made reasonable efforts to contact him. View "State v. Fetveit" on Justia Law