Jacob T. Shepard Missouri Cases

Jacob Shepard appealed the denial of his Rule 24.035 motion for postconviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. He argued his counsel was ineffective for advising him to plead guilty despite a potential defense under Missouri's Good Samaritan Law, Section 195.205, and that the circuit court lacked authority to convict him. The Eastern District of Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the circuit court's judgment, finding Shepard's allegations of ineffective assistance were insufficient and refuted by the record, and that the Good Samaritan Law provides a waivable defense, not a jurisdictional bar.