Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jun 22, 2021
STATE OF MISSOURI, Plaintiff-Respondent v. LEIGHTON MICHAEL QUAPAW, Defendant-Appellant
Leighton Michael Quapaw appealed his felony stealing conviction, arguing the evidence was insufficient to prove he "physically took" money from the victim because she handed it to him. The appellate court affirmed the conviction. It held that the statutory phrase "physically takes" does not require a forceful or rough taking, and that a victim handing over money under duress constitutes a physical taking from the person.