State v. T.W. Hatfield

DA 24-0293 ·Direct Appeal ·Criminal ·Open
Docket DA 24-0293
Type Direct Appeal — Sexual Abuse of Children
Classification Criminal
Outcome Reversed
Lower court case DC 23-274
Lower court judge Hon. Brett D. Linneweber

Key dates

Appeal filed May 8, 2024
Record filed Jun 13, 2024
Transcript filed Jul 2, 2024
Briefing started Jul 2, 2024
Appellant Opening Brief Filed Jun 23, 2025
Appellee Response Brief Filed Dec 12, 2025
Appellant Reply Brief Filed Jan 28, 2026
Briefing ended Jan 28, 2026
Sent to the court Jan 28, 2026
Submitted for decision Jan 28, 2026
Classified Apr 8, 2026
Opinion issued Aug 25, 2026

Calculated

from the docket dates
Appeal filed to briefing start 55
Briefing days 574
Briefing start to opening brief filed 356
Classified to Opinion 139
Close of briefing to sent to court 0
Days since filed 846
Filing date to Opinion 839
Opening to response 171
Response to reply 46
Sent to court to classified 70
Submitted for decision to Opinion 209

Tags

Five Justice Panel Open Published opinion Request for Out of Time Appeal Granted Request for out of time appeal filed Reversed

Parties

Appellee
State of Montana
Represented by Austin Miles Knudsen Scott D. Twito Brad Fjeldheim
Appellant
Travis Wayne Hatfield
Represented by Tammy Ann Hinderman Anthony P. Reed

Opinion

State v. T.W. Hatfield, 2026 MT 202

Reversed on August 25, 2026, in a 5 to 0 published opinion.

Events

most recent first
Opinion - Published - Justice Gustafson - AFFIRMED and REMANDED Aug 25, 2026 3:58 PM Opinion
Order - Classified - Five Justice Panel Apr 8, 2026 11:31 AM Classifying Notice
Event - Case Sent to Court Jan 28, 2026 10:27 AM Classifying Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Jan 28, 2026 10:26 AM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant Reply Jan 28, 2026 9:00 AM Appellant Reply Brief
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including January 29, 2026, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's reply brief on appeal. No further extensions will be granted Dec 15, 2025 6:14 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellant Reply Brief (First Request 30 Days) Dec 15, 2025 3:51 PM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Dec 12, 2025 12:16 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellee's Response Dec 12, 2025 11:01 AM Appellee Response Brief
Order - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including December 22, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve its response brief Oct 14, 2025 8:00 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellee's Response Brief Oct 10, 2025 12:48 PM Motion
Order - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including October 21, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve its response brief Aug 5, 2025 11:30 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellee's Response Brief Aug 5, 2025 10:01 AM Motion
Extension - Appellee is Given until August 22, 2025 in which to prepare, file, and serve its response brief Jul 17, 2025 1:13 PM Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellee's Brief (First Request 30 Days) Jul 16, 2025 1:39 PM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Jun 23, 2025 3:44 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant's Opening Jun 23, 2025 12:10 PM Appellant Opening Brief
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including July 3, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal May 27, 2025 2:37 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief May 27, 2025 12:42 PM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including June 3, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Mar 26, 2025 11:49 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Mar 26, 2025 9:51 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including April 4, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Jan 28, 2025 10:20 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Jan 27, 2025 3:54 PM Motion
GRANT - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including February 3, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Dec 26, 2024 2:34 PM Other
Motion - Unopposed - (OPENING) Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Dec 26, 2024 2:18 PM Motion
GRANT - Appellant is given an extension of time to and including January 3, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Nov 26, 2024 2:31 PM Other
Motion - Unopposed - (OPENING) Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Nov 26, 2024 11:29 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including December 4, 2024 within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief Nov 1, 2024 12:15 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Oct 31, 2024 6:12 PM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including November 4, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Sep 24, 2024 11:08 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Sep 23, 2024 8:00 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including October 3, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Sep 3, 2024 5:40 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Sep 3, 2024 8:50 AM Motion
Extension - Appellant is given an extension of time until September 3, 2024 to prepare, file, and serve the Appellant's opening brief Jul 31, 2024 4:43 PM Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion for an Extension of Time - Brief (First Request 30 Days) Jul 31, 2024 4:30 PM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Transcript Filed Jul 2, 2024 10:19 AM Transcript
Record - Electronic Transcript Filed for Cause No. DC-23-274 of 05/15/2023, 05/16/2023 & 07/10/2023 hearings Jul 2, 2024 10:08 AM Record
Notice - Outgoing - District Court Record Filed Jun 13, 2024 9:18 AM Record
Record - DC Record Filed for Cause DC 23-0274 electronic records 1-35 and Case Register Jun 13, 2024 9:14 AM Record
Notice - Incoming - Transcripts Deemed Necessary Jun 11, 2024 1:23 PM Notice - Incoming
Notice - Outgoing - Appeal Notice Jun 11, 2024 10:53 AM Notice - Outgoing
Notice - Incoming - Notice of Appeal Filed Jun 11, 2024 10:43 AM Notice - Incoming
Order - Grant - Petition for Out of Time Appeal GRANTED - FURTHER ORDERED that Hatfield's Motion for Appointment of Counsel is Granted. The ADD has 30 days from the date of this Order within which either to file a Notice of Appeal or Motion to Rescind this Order Appointing Counsel May 21, 2024 3:57 PM Order - Other
Event - Sent to Court-Pleading May 8, 2024 3:04 PM Event
Motion - Appointment of Counsel (pro se motion sent to court) May 8, 2024 3:03 PM Motion
Petition - Out of Time Appeal May 8, 2024 2:46 PM Petition