Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Aug 3, 2023
STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent v. RODNEY BAKER, Appellant
Rodney Baker appealed his conviction for vehicle hijacking, arguing the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion for a continuance. Baker claimed a complete breakdown in communication with his public defense counsel and sought time to hire private counsel. The Southern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction, finding no abuse of discretion because the record did not support a complete breakdown in communication, and Baker failed to demonstrate prejudice from the denial of the continuance.