CORY D. JONES, Movant- Missouri Cases

Cory Jones appealed the denial of his Rule 24.035 motion to set aside his first-degree murder conviction, arguing ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to investigate his mental health history before his guilty plea. The motion court denied relief after an evidentiary hearing, finding no indication of mental instability and strategic reasons for the plea. The appellate court affirmed, concluding that Jones failed to show a factual basis for a questionable mental condition that would have required counsel to investigate, thus not meeting the deficient performance prong of Strickland.