THOMAS STANLEY SKINNER II, Movant- Missouri Cases

Thomas Stanley Skinner II appealed the denial of his motion for post-conviction relief. Skinner, who pled guilty to statutory rape and sodomy, claimed his plea counsel was ineffective for allegedly guaranteeing that evidence of a second victim would not be presented at his sentencing hearing. The motion court found no prejudice, concluding the evidence would likely be admissible and Skinner failed to show he would have insisted on going to trial. The appellate court affirmed the motion court's judgment, finding no error in its determination that Skinner was not prejudiced by any purported misadvice.