Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 22, 2022
State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Keith Stewart, Appellant.
Keith Stewart was convicted of child molestation in the second degree after a bench trial. On appeal, Stewart argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove venue in St. Louis County beyond a reasonable doubt. The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction, holding that venue is not an element of the crime and was waived because Stewart failed to object before trial. The court also found that, even if preserved, the evidence was sufficient to establish venue.