Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Oct 31, 2018
STATE OF MISSOURI, Plaintiff-Respondent vs. MICHAEL EUGENE SNEED, Defendant-Appellant
Michael Eugene Sneed appealed his convictions for multiple counts of child molestation, statutory rape, statutory sodomy, and incest, following a bench trial. He contended the trial court erred by denying his motion for a mental examination under § 552.020 RSMo, arguing there was reasonable cause to doubt his competency to stand trial. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, concluding that the factual allegations and counsel's unsworn arguments were insufficient to establish reasonable cause, and the trial court's personal observations did not indicate a lack of competency.