Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / May 21, 2019
STATE OF MISSOURI, Plaintiff-Respondent vs. SERENO BRUCE THOMPSON, Defendant-Appellant
Sereno Bruce Thompson was convicted of statutory sodomy in the first degree and sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, Thompson argued the trial court erred by allowing the child victim to testify while wearing a jacket described as a "biker jacket from BACA [Bikers Against Child Abuse]," claiming it was prejudicial. The Southern District of Missouri affirmed the conviction, finding no abuse of discretion by the trial court, relying on precedent that grants trial courts significant discretion in managing child victim testimony in sexual abuse cases.