Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Oct 9, 2019
STATE OF MISSOURI, Plaintiff-Respondent v. VERNON G. CHRISTIAN, Defendant-Appellant
Vernon Christian was convicted of forgery after a jury trial. On appeal, he argued the trial court plainly erred by allowing testimony about the victim's civil suit to recover title to the property, including the associated costs and duration. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding no plain error. It held that the evidence regarding the civil suit was relevant and admissible to demonstrate Christian's motive and intent to defraud, corroborate the victim's ownership, and provide a complete picture of the events surrounding the forgery.