Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jul 21, 2020
State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. Tammy D. Peeler, Appellant.
Tammy D. Peeler was found guilty of class A misdemeanor stealing after a bench trial, where she was accused of taking scrap metal from Schaefer's Electrical Enclosures. On appeal, Peeler argued the trial court erred in denying her motion for judgment of acquittal, contending the State failed to prove the knowledge element of stealing and that she had a viable claim of right defense. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding the State presented sufficient evidence for all elements of stealing and that Peeler did not meet her burden to inject a claim of right defense.