Jacob Hilbert Missouri Cases

Jacob Hilbert appealed his conviction for first-degree statutory sodomy and child molestation, arguing the circuit court plainly erred by proceeding to a bench trial without a constitutionally sufficient waiver of his right to a jury trial and by admitting a victim's forensic interview video. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the judgment. The Court found Hilbert's waiver of a jury trial was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent based on the record, and that the admission of the video recording satisfied statutory requirements, thus finding no plain error.

Jacob Hilbert appealed his convictions for statutory sodomy and child molestation, arguing the trial court plainly erred by conducting a bench trial without a constitutionally sufficient waiver of his right to a jury trial. The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals agreed, finding no unmistakable clarity in the record that Hilbert knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right. Consequently, the court vacated Hilbert's convictions and sentences and remanded the case for a new trial.