State v. Matthews

The State of Montana appeals from an order of the Seventeenth Judicial District Court, Phillips County, dismissing the action against the defendant, Larry D. Matthews, for lack of a speedy trial. We affirm.

The State raises three issues on appeal, which we have consolidated into one issue and state as follows:

Was the defendant denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial?

Larry Matthews is the owner/operator of Delta Ford, a motor vehicle dealership in Malta, Montana. On May 12, 1993, Matthews was charged by information with six counts of forgery, all felonies, in violation of § 45-6-325,…