Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 2, 2023
State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. Tyrone Valentine, Appellant.
Tyrone Valentine appealed his conviction for stealing a motor vehicle, arguing that the trial court erred by allowing a victim services advocate to sit in the jury box during the victim's testimony. Valentine contended this arrangement was both inherently and actually prejudicial, violating his constitutional rights to a fair trial. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding that Valentine failed to demonstrate either inherent or actual prejudice from the courtroom arrangement.