Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Aug 22, 2022
CORNELL ANTHONY CORNELIUS, Movant-Appellant v. STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent-Respondent
Cornell Anthony Cornelius appealed the denial of his Rule 24.035 motion for post-conviction relief, arguing the State breached its plea agreement by clarifying a 20-year minimum sentence and that his counsel was ineffective for not objecting. The appellate court affirmed the motion court's judgment. It found the plea agreement's term "something less" to be ambiguous, permitting consideration of extrinsic evidence, and concluded Movant failed to prove either a breach of the agreement or ineffective assistance of counsel.