Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Apr 29, 2021
TIMOTHY EASLEY, Movant-Appellant v. STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent-Respondent
Timothy Easley appealed the denial of his Rule 24.035 motion to set aside his conviction for first-degree assault, following a guilty plea. Easley argued that his guilty plea lacked a sufficient factual basis and that his plea counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him on the elements of first-degree assault. The appellate court affirmed the motion court's denial, holding that the factual basis claim was not cognizable in a post-conviction proceeding and deferring to the motion court's credibility findings regarding the ineffective assistance of counsel claim.