KENNETH M. SAUTER, JR., Movant-Appellant v. STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent-Respondent(2025)
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern DistrictJuly 25, 2025#SD38346
Decision date: October 15, 2018SD35397
Reversed
Procedural posture: Appeal from the denial of a Rule 24.035 motion
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REGGIE OLIPHANT, ) ) Movant-Appellant, ) ) vs. ) No. SD35397 ) Filed: October 15, 2018 STATE OF MISSOURI, ) ) Respondent-Respondent. )
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF DALLAS COUNTY
Honorable Lisa C. Henderson, Judge
REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS
Reggie Oliphant ("Oliphant"), appeals from the judgment of the motion court denying his Rule 24.035 1 motion to set aside his convictions for two counts of distribution, delivery, manufacture, or production of a controlled substance; and one count of keeping or maintaining a public nuisance. Because the record is insufficient to demonstrate that the motion court conducted the required Moore 2 abandonment inquiry following appointed counsel's untimely amended motion, we reverse and remand.
1 All rule references are to Missouri Court Rules (2018).
2 Moore v. State, 458 S.W.3d 822, 825 (Mo. banc 2015).
2 Motion Court Failed to Conduct Moore Abandonment Inquiry
The record reflects (and both parties agree) that appointed counsel filed an untimely amended motion. An untimely amended motion raises the presumption of abandonment, which the motion court must resolve after inquiry. Moore v. State, 458 S.W.3d 822, 825 (Mo. banc 2015). "The result of the inquiry into abandonment determines which motion—the initial motion or the amended motion—the court should adjudicate." Id. at 826. As the State correctly indicates, "there is an insufficient record to establish that the motion court made an inquiry in to whether [Oliphant] was abandoned[.] " We reverse and remand with directions that the motion court conduct a Moore abandonment inquiry, and for such further proceedings as appropriate pursuant to Rule 24.035.
WILLIAM W. FRANCIS, JR., P.J. - OPINION AUTHOR
DANIEL E. SCOTT, J. - CONCURS
MARY W. SHEFFIELD, J. - CONCURS
Statutes, rules, and cases referenced in this opinion.
Rule 24.035
Moore v. State, 458 S.W.3d 822
Issue-specific holdings extracted from the court's opinion.
Issue: Whether the motion court erred by failing to conduct a Moore abandonment inquiry after appointed counsel filed an untimely amended motion.
Yes; an untimely amended motion raises a presumption of abandonment, which the motion court must resolve after inquiry, and the failure to do so requires reversal and remand.
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