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State v. Laedeke
03/09/2021
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA Case Number: DA 21-0055
DA 21-0055 FILED STATE OF MONTANA, MAR 0 9 2021 Bowe n Greenwooa
Plaintiff and Appellee, lerk of Supreme Courl rrf NAnntana
v. ORDER
RANDY S. LAEDEKE,
Defendant and Appellant.
Self-represented Appellant Randy S. Laedeke seeks relief from the Thirteenth Judicial District Court's February 2, 2021, Order that denied Laedeke's Motion to Stay Execution of Sentence Pending Appeal. The Order has been filed with this Court. Laedeke relies on § 46-20-204, MCA, and M. R. Civ. P. 22 for authority to stay execution ofjudgment. He represents that at a January 15, 2021 hearing, the court again revoked his sentence for misdemeanor cruelty to animals and reimposed a sentence of eleven months and twenty days in jail, with all but thirty days suspended, for failure to sell and remove horses from his property. Laedeke states that the District Court ordered him immediately to jail upon conclusion of his revocation hearing, refused to admit him to bail pending appeal, and then denied his motion for stay of execution. Laedeke argues that he will be irreparably damaged if a stay of execution pending the outcome of appeal is not granted and he is incarcerated for the remainder ofthe additional 30 days jail imposed. It appears from the February 10 filing of his motion and from available records, however, that Laedeke is no longer being held at the Yellowstone County jail. Laedeke contends that it would be a travesty ofjustice for him to be denied a stay because he was denied the right to bail.
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The District Court refused to admit Laedeke to bail under § 46-9-107, MCA. That section provides in relevant part: "The court shall order the detention ofa defendant found guilty of an offense who is awaiting imposition or execution of sentence or a revocation hearing or who has filed an appeal unless the court finds that, if released, the defendant is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any person or the community." The District Court recited Laedeke's history, pointing out that he was originally convicted on September 5, 2018, and that Laedeke had been revoked several times for failing to heed the condition of his sentence restricting his possession of hooved animals. The court concluded,"Mr. Laedeke's conviction for cruelty to animals and his repeated defiance of the conditions of his suspended sentence presents a danger to the cornmunity." The court found Laedeke "unfit to care for horses and ... lilcely to subject them to abuse or neglect should this Court stay execution of Mr. Laedeke's sentence." Because it did not admit Laedeke to bail, the court held § 46-20-204 inapplicable. Laedeke contends that the District Court's rationale is based upon "false information" because 141 of the defendant's horses had been sold or otherwise transferred prior to the January 15, 2021 hearing." Section 46-20-204(2), MCA, controls the stay of execution of judgment in a criminal case. It provides that "[i]f an appeal is taken and the defendant is admitted to bail, a sentence of imprisonment rnust be stayed by the trial court." Thus, if, in the trial court's discretion under § 46-9-107, MCA,it admits a convicted defendant to bail pending appeal, it must stay the execution of the sentence under these statutes. If, however, the trial court does not admit the defendant to bail pending appeal,there is no mandate to stay his sentence under § 46-20-204(2), MCA. Moore v. McCormick, 260 Mont. 305, 307-08, 858 P.2d 1254, 1256(1993). This Court reviews a district court's denial of an application for bail pending appeal for abuse of discretion. "Absent such abuse, this Court will not interfere." Moore, 260 Mont. at 306, 858 P.2d at 1255 (citing State ex reL Bretz v. SheriffofLewis & Clark County, 167 Mont. 363, 365, 539 P.2d 1191, 1192(1975)).
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Although it may be unusual for an offender convicted of cruelty to animals to be denied bail pending appeal, we have declined to disturb the district court's discretion in such matters even for misdemeanor or non-dangerous offenders. See State v. Scott, No. DA 19-0280, 2019 Mont. LEXIS 638 (Or. Oct. 22, 2019); Moore, 260 Mont. at 308, 858 P.2d at 1256. Further, we have held that § 46-20-204, MCA, provides for a stay of execution and relief pending appeal of an original conviction. See State v. Pease, 233 Mont. 65, 68, 758 P.2d 764, 766 (1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1033, 109 S. Ct. 845 (1989). Laedeke's original conviction occurred on September 5,2018. Upon consideration of the District Court's order and Laedeke's motion, we conclude that he has not demonstrated entitlement to relief. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Laedeke's Motion for Relief from Order of District Court, Stay of Execution, and Stay ofProceedings Pending Outcome of Appeal is DENIED. The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record and to Randy S. Laedeke personallycr..\ DATED this day of March, 2021.
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