Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jan 29, 2020
STATE OF MISSOURI, Plaintiff-Respondent vs. MARK ALBERT FRIEND, Defendant-Appellant
Mark Albert Friend appealed his convictions for various sexual abuse crimes against two victims, challenging the exclusion of evidence and his conviction for child molestation in the second degree. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision to preclude evidence regarding abuse by the victims' father, finding no abuse of discretion. However, the court reversed the conviction for child molestation in the second degree, as the victim was over twelve years old, and remanded the case for entry of a conviction for child molestation in the third degree and resentencing.