State, Ex Rel. Coburn v. Bennett

This matter comes before us on a petition for writ of su*22pervisory control. In issuing the writ, we assumed jurisdiction over a single issue on this cause: Did the District Court abuse its discretion by refusing to grant relator’s motion for a change of venue? We find that the refusal to grant the motion was an abuse of discretion under the facts of this case.

On May 20, 1982, R.H., an eleven-year-old Helena schoolgirl, reported that she had been abducted and sexually assaulted while on her way to school that morning. R.H. provided police with a description of her assailant and the vehicle used…