Teets v. Kowalski ( 2023 )

10/24/2023
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA Case Number: OP 23-0591
OP 23-0591
RANDY WAYNE TEETS,
ELED
OCT 2 4 2023
Petitioner, Bowen Greenwood
Clerk Court
v. ORDER
CAPTAIN JASON KOWALSKI,
Respondent.
Randy Wayne Teets petitions this Court for habeas corpus relief, requesting his
immediate release from the Missoula County Detention Facility because he is "innocent of
all charges . . . ." Teets alleges that he has been incarcerated for fourteen months and has
had very little legal representation. He contends that his rights are being violated and that
he has requested another attorney. He adds that he has not received all of his medication
and that his bail is excessive. He that the judge "is maliciously prosecuting [him] in a case
where there are no real true victims." Teets also requests financial restitution.
We secured a copy of the register of actions for Teets's pending criminal case in the
Missoula County District Court. As Teets provides, his criminal case commenced in July
2022. Since that time the court has ordered an evaluation twice—first in December 2022
and again in September 2023. Teets has been assigned new counsel in his case.
Teets states that his bail is excessive, but he does not provide an amount. Montana's
statute for habeas corpus relief provides that a court may inquire into the cause of restraint
or incarceration to determine its illegality. Section 46-22-101(1), MCA. Teets has not
demonstrated want of bail, pursuant to § 46-22-103, MCA, because the court presumably
has imposed an amount for his pending case. Teets's pending criminal case is the cause of
his incarceration.
Teets is not entitled to release. Teets is represented by counsel in his underlying
proceeding. He should communicate with counsel his concerns about his medication and
detention. He should refrain from filing pleadings on his own behalf with this Court when
he is represented by counsel. M. R. App. P. 10(1)(c); State v. Samples, 2005 MT 210, ¶ 15,
328 Mont. 242, 119 P.3d 1191. He has the remedy of appealing any conviction and
sentence to this Court after the District Court issues a final judgment.
Teets has not demonstrated illegal incarceration or detention. Section 46-22-101(1),
MCA.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Teets's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is
DENIED and DISMISSED.
The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to: the Honorable John Larson,
District Court Judge; Amy McGhee, Clerk of District Court, under Cause No. DC 22-0382,
for distribution to counsel of record in the criminal case; Captain Kowalski, MCDF;
counsel of record, and Randy Wayne Teets personally.
DATED this Z-(1 .—aay of October, 2023.
Chief Justice
(94 in .414...
Justices
2