Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Sep 4, 2018
State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. Ahmaad Betts, Appellant.
Ahmaad Betts appealed his convictions for first-degree robbery and armed criminal action, arguing insufficient evidence of identity, a "trial tax" in sentencing, and improper admission of co-defendants' recanted statements. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, holding that co-defendants' prior inconsistent statements were sufficient evidence of identity and admissible under Section 491.074. The court also found no plain error in sentencing, concluding the trial court focused on the crimes' nature and victim harm, not Betts's decision to go to trial, and that Betts "opened the door" to the admission of the co-defendants' statements.