Supreme Court of Missouri / Apr 28, 2020
State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. Jason Russell, Appellant.
Jason Russell appealed his felony stealing conviction, arguing that under State v. Bazell, his offense was a class A misdemeanor and could not be enhanced to a felony. The circuit court had sentenced him for a class C felony after he pleaded guilty, despite his objection. The Missouri Supreme Court reversed the judgment, holding that Bazell applied prospectively to his sentencing and that his guilty plea did not waive his right to raise the excessive sentence claim on direct appeal. The case was remanded for resentencing as a class A misdemeanor.