Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Jun 12, 2018
State of Missouri vs. Sean David Knox
Sean Knox pled guilty to first-degree rape and, before sentencing, filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, which the circuit court denied. Knox appealed, arguing his plea was involuntary due to duress and his attorney's failure to explain direct and collateral consequences. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, affirmed the circuit court's decision, finding that a factual basis for the plea existed, attorney advice on potential sentencing was not coercion, and counsel was not required to inform Knox of collateral consequences.