OTT LAW

State of Missouri, Respondent, v. DeWayne Patterson, Appellant.

Decision date: Unknown

Slip Opinion Notice

This archive contains Missouri appellate slip opinions reproduced for research convenience, not the final official reporter version. Official source links remain authoritative where provided. Joseph Ott, Attorney 67889, Ott Law Firm - Constant Victory - Personal Injury and Litigation maintains these public legal archives to support Missouri case research and to help prospective clients connect that research to the firm's courtroom practice.

Opinion

This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court. Opinion Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Case Style: State of Missouri, Respondent, v. DeWayne Patterson, Appellant. Case Number: 71801 Handdown Date: 01/20/1998 Appeal From: Circuit Court of Shelby County, Hon. Ronald M. Belt Counsel for Appellant: David Simpson Counsel for Respondent: John M. Morris Opinion Summary: Defendant Dewayne Patterson appeals from the judgment entered on his convictions of attempted forcible sodomy, section 566.060, RSMo 1994, and forcible rape, section 566.030, RSMo 1994, following a jury trial. The trial judge, following the jury's recommendations, orally sentenced Patterson to concurrent terms of fifteen years for attempted forcible sodomy and ten years for forcible rape. However, the written sentence and judgment indicate that Patterson was convicted of forcible sodomy and attempted forcible rape and sentenced to ten years for forcible sodomy and fifteen years for attempted forcible rape. We affirm the judgment on the convictions of attempted forcible sodomy and forcible rape and remand for correction of written judgment and sentence. AFFIRMED IN PART; REMANDED IN PART. Division Three holds: We find sufficient evidence on the record to affirm Patterson's convictions of attempted forcible sodomy and forcible rape. Since the oral sentence and judgment differed materially from the written one and the trial judge had discretion to enter a sentence and judgment different from the written sentence and judgment, we remand only for entry of a corrected written judgment and sentence. Citation: Opinion Author: Clifford H. Ahrens, Presiding Judge Opinion Vote: AFFIRMED IN PART; REMANDED IN PART. Crandall and Karohl, J.J., concur.

Opinion: Defendant, Dewayne Patterson, appeals from the judgment entered on his convictions of attempted forcible sodomy, Section 566.060 RSMo 1994, and forcible rape, Section 566.030 RSMo 1994, following a jury trial. The trial judge, following the jury's recommendations, orally sentenced Defendant to concurrent terms of fifteen years for attempted forcible sodomy and ten years for forcible rape. However, the written sentence and judgment indicate that Defendant was convicted of forcible sodomy and attempted forcible rape and sentenced to ten years for forcible sodomy and fifteen years for attempted forcible rape. We affirm the judgment on the convictions of attempted forcible sodomy and forcible rape and remand for correction of written judgment and sentence. Defendant's first point challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. We have reviewed the briefs of the parties and the record on appeal, and find no error. No jurisprudential purpose would be served by a written opinion as to Defendant's point I. However, the parties have been furnished with a memorandum opinion for their information only, setting forth the facts and reasons for our decision. In his second point, Defendant asserts the trial court erred in entering written sentences and convictions in the sentence and judgment that differed from the court's oral pronouncements, violating Defendant's due process rights. The State concedes that the trial judge erred in entering a written sentence inconsistent with that stated at the sentencing hearing. In criminal cases, generally, the written sentence and judgment of the trial court should reflect its oral pronouncement of sentence before the defendant. State v. Johnson, 864 S.W.2d 449, 451 (Mo. App. 1993). A trial court may, however, amend its oral pronouncement of sentence until it is reduced to written judgment. State v Burrell, 944 S.W.2d 948 (Mo. App. 1997); Johnson, 864 S.W.2d at 451; State v. Johnson, 861 S.W.2d 807, 809 (Mo. App. 1993). Until that time, the trial court retains jurisdiction and may call the defendant back for re-sentencing. Id. Nothing in the record indicates Defendant was returned to court for re-sentencing or for clarification of the court's original oral pronouncement. A defendant has a right to be present at the time of sentencing. Id. Therefore, the court should enter the sentences as orally pronounced, unless the record shows the oral sentence was not materially different from the written sentence or the judge has no discretion to pronounce a sentence different from the written sentence. See Johnson v. State, 938 S.W.2d 264 (Mo. banc 1997). The written sentence and judgment deviated from the oral pronouncement. Additionally, a "judgment derives its force from the rendition of the court's judicial act and not from the ministerial act of its entry upon the record." State v.

Williams, 797 S.W.2d 734, 738 (Mo. App. 1990). When the two are in conflict, the oral sentence controls, and the written judgment is erroneous. Williams, 797 S.W.2d at 738; Plant v. State, 608 S.W.2d 91 (Mo. App. 1980). The record shows, and both parties agree, that the oral sentence differed materially from the written one and the judge had discretion to pronounce a sentence different from the written sentence. Cf. Johnson v. State, 938 S.W.2d 264 (Mo. banc 1997). Therefore, the case must be remanded for entry of a corrected sentence and judgment consistent with the oral pronouncement. The judgment of the trial court on the convictions of attempted forcible sodomy and forcible rape is affirmed in accordance with Rule 30.25(b). We remand only for entry of a corrected written judgment and sentence. Separate Opinion: None This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.

Related Opinions

Rodney Lee Lincoln, Appellant, vs. State of Missouri, Respondent.(2014)

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern DistrictDecember 2, 2104#ED100987

affirmed
criminal-lawmajority4,922 words

State of Missouri, Respondent, v. James McGregory, Appellant.(2026)

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern DistrictMarch 10, 2026#ED113080

affirmed

McGregory appealed his convictions for domestic assault in the third degree and property damage in the second degree, raising unpreserved claims of error regarding evidence admissibility and the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund judgment amount. The court affirmed the convictions but modified the CVC judgment amount, finding the trial court entered a judgment in excess of that authorized by law.

criminal-lawper_curiam3,374 words

STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent v. RUSSELL KENNETH CLANCY, Appellant(2026)

Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern DistrictFebruary 25, 2026#SD38782

affirmed

The court affirmed Clancy's conviction for second-degree assault against a special victim after a jury trial. The evidence was sufficient to prove that Clancy punched an elderly civilian in the face and struck a police officer during an altercation at a laundromat, supporting the conviction under Missouri statute § 565.052.3.

criminal-lawper_curiam1,516 words

State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. James Willis Peters, Appellant.(2026)

Supreme Court of MissouriFebruary 24, 2026#SC101218

remanded

James Willis Peters appealed his conviction for driving while intoxicated as a chronic offender, challenging whether the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that all four of his prior offenses were intoxication-related traffic offenses. The court found the state failed to sufficiently prove his 2002 offense was an IRTO and therefore vacated the judgment and remanded for resentencing.

criminal-lawper_curiam3,993 words

State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. Deandre D. Walton, Appellant.(2026)

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern DistrictFebruary 17, 2026#ED112976

affirmed

Appellant Deandre Walton appealed his convictions for two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm, arguing the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress statements and admitting evidence of his statements at trial. The appellate court affirmed the convictions, finding no error in the trial court's denial of the suppression motion.

criminal-lawper_curiam1,670 words