Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 1, 2024
State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Lonnell A. Lewis-Jones, Appellant.
Lonnell A. Lewis-Jones appealed his convictions for murder, assault, and armed criminal action, arguing the trial court violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial by denying his motion to dismiss after a 63-month delay. The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction. The court balanced the four Barker factors, concluding that despite the presumptively prejudicial delay, the reasons for the delay were neutral or justified, Lewis-Jones asserted his right late and contradictorily, and he failed to prove actual prejudice to his defense.