Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 21, 2020
Shamika M. Thomas, Appellant, vs. State of Missouri, Respondent.
Shamika M. Thomas appealed the denial of her Rule 24.035 motion for post-conviction relief, which alleged her sentence for stealing was unlawfully excessive. Thomas had previously pleaded guilty to stealing, received a suspended sentence and probation, but repeatedly violated probation and absconded twice. The appellate court dismissed her appeal under the escape rule, finding that her twenty-month absence prejudiced the criminal justice system and demonstrated contempt for judicial process.