Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 21, 2019
State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Tommy Joe Davis, III, Appellant.
Tommy Joe Davis, III, appealed his conviction for first-degree assault and armed criminal action, arguing the trial court erred in allowing him to waive counsel and represent himself pro se. Davis contended his waiver was not knowing and voluntary, and that he was unable or unwilling to abide by courtroom rules. The appellate court affirmed, finding no plain error in the trial court's acceptance of Davis's waiver or its failure to rescind his right to self-representation, even though he engaged in obstructionist behavior and voluntarily absented himself from trial.