State v. Steffes

No. 02-281
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2003 MT 2N
STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
MICHAEL A. STEFFES,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Fourth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Missoula,
The Honorable John W. Larson, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Michael Steffes, Black Eagle, Montana (pro se)
For Respondent:
Mike McGrath, Montana Attorney General, Carol E. Schmidt, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana; Fred Van Valkenburg, Missoula
County Attorney, Suzy Boylan-Moore, Deputy Missoula County Attorney,
Missoula, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: December 27, 2002
Decided: January 9, 2003
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Patricia O. Cotter delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court 1996 Internal
Operating Rules, the following decision shall not be cited as precedent but shall be filed as a
public document with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and shall be reported by case title,
Supreme Court cause number and result to the State Reporter Publishing Company and to
West Group in the quarterly table of noncitable cases issued by this Court.
¶2 Following a conviction in Justice Court for driving while his license was suspended or
revoked, Steffes appealed to the Fourth Judicial District Court. Steffes was again found
guilty in the District Court, and was sentenced to six months in the county detention facility,
with all but two days suspended. The court also fined Steffes $500, with all but $250
suspended, and imposed a $15 surcharge and the costs of prosecution. Steffes appeals from
this judgment. We affirm.
¶3 The sole issue presented on appeal is whether the District Court imposed a legal
sentence for Steffes' conviction of driving while his license was suspended or revoked.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶4 On January 7, 2002, the Missoula County Justice of the Peace found Steffes guilty of
driving while his license was suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor, sentenced Steffes to six
months in the county jail, with all but two days suspended, and imposed a fine of $500, with
all but $250 suspended. The Justice Court's sentence allowed Steffes to serve his two days
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with the Missoula County Detention Center Work Program. Steffes appealed the Justice
Court's judgment to the District Court.
¶5 Steffes was again found guilty of the offense following a District Court bench trial on
March 29, 2002. The court imposed the same sentence on Steffes that was imposed by the
Justice of the Peace--six months in jail, with all but two days suspended, and a $500 fine,
with all but $250 suspended. The court also ordered Steffes to pay $100 for the cost of
prosecution ($50 for each trial) and imposed a $15 surcharge as required by § 46-18-236,
MCA. The District Court also allowed Steffes to participate in a work release program in
lieu of serving the two days in jail.
¶6 On appeal, Steffes states that he "is not looking for a disappearance of the matter at
hand, but [is] asking only for a mere opportunity to rectify this driving citation by being
deferred over a period of time." Steffes suggests that, "[i]f the defendants (sic) driving record
remains absolutely free of any citations for that period of time, this citation will be
dismissed."
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶7 While it us unclear exactly what Steffes is appealing, our review of a criminal
sentence is limited to its legality. See, State v. McLeod, 2002 MT 348, ¶ 12, ___ Mont. ___,
¶ 12, ___ P.3d ___, ¶ 12 (this Court reviews criminal sentences for legality only, that is,
whether the sentence is within the parameters provided by statute) (citation omitted).
In a direct appeal, the defendant is limited to rasing those issues that were properly
preserved in the district court and to allegations that the sentence is illegal or exceeds
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statutory mandates. McLeod, ¶ 12 (citing § 46-20-104, MCA, and State v. Lafley, 1998
MT 21, ¶ 26, 287 Mont. 276, ¶ 26, 954 P.2d 1112, ¶ 26). A sentence is not illegal when it
is within the parameters provided by statute. McLeod, ¶ 12 (citations omitted).
DISCUSSION
¶8 Did the District Court impose a legal sentence on Steffes following his conviction for
driving while his license was suspended or revoked?
¶9 The statute Steffes was convicted under provides in relevant part,
A person who drives a motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle on any
public highway of this state at a time when the person's privilege to do so is
suspended or revoked in this state or any other state is guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 2
days or more than 6 months and may be fined not more than $500.
Section 61-5-212(1), MCA. In addition, pursuant to § 46-18-232, MCA, a court may order a
defendant to pay the costs of prosecution. Finally, § 46-18-236(1)(a), MCA, requires a court
to impose a $15 surcharge on all persons convicted of a misdemeanor.
¶10 We conclude that Steffes' sentence was well within the parameters allowed for by
Montana Code Annotated.
¶11 Finally, because it appears that Steffes' appeal was filed in an attempt to reduce or
defer his sentence, we note that the statute under which Steffes was convicted specifically
prohibits a court from suspending or deferring imposition of penalties. See, § 61-5-212(6),
MCA.
¶12 Accordingly, the District Court's judgment is affirmed.
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/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
We Concur:
/S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ JIM REGNIER
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