Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 10, 2020
James Hixson, Appellant, v. Missouri State Highway Patrol and St. Louis County Chief of Police Jon M. Belmar, Respondents.
James Hixson appealed the dismissal of his petition seeking removal from Missouri's sex offender registry (SORA). Hixson, an adult Tier III offender whose offense was adjudicated in Illinois and who was subsequently removed from Illinois's registry, argued he was eligible for removal from Missouri's registry. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's dismissal, holding that SORA's plain language prohibits adult Tier III offenders from petitioning for removal, regardless of where their offense was adjudicated or their status in other states. The court found that SORA's provisions are harmonious and subject foreign offenders to Missouri's tier system.