Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jul 25, 2023
MARK D. O'BRIEN, Appellant v. STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent
Mark D. O'Brien appealed the motion court's denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief, which sought to set aside his convictions for statutory sodomy and child abuse. O'Brien claimed his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to discuss hypothetical plea counteroffers in detail. The appellate court affirmed the motion court's judgment, finding that O'Brien's claim was not a valid basis for ineffective assistance of counsel and that he failed to demonstrate prejudice.