State v. Coburn

The Supreme Court affirmed the district court’s decision sentencing Defendant to the Montana State Prison (MSP) instead of committing him into the custody of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS), holding that the court’s decision was supported by the record.Defendant entered an Alford plea to the charge of deliberate homicide. During sentencing, Defendant argued that he should be sentenced to DPHHS custody rather than to MSP because he allegedly suffered from a mental disease, defect, or development disability that rendered him unable to appreciate the criminality of his behavior or to conform his behavior to the requirements of law. The district court disagreed and sentenced Defendant to life in prison. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the sentence of life imprisonment was not imposed in error and was supported by the record. View "State v. Coburn" on Justia Law