WILLIAM C. WILLIS, Defendant- Missouri Cases

William C. Willis appealed his conviction for felony sexual misconduct involving a child, arguing the trial court abused its discretion by excluding evidence of an alternative suspect, the victim's step-grandfather. Willis contended this evidence would show the step-grandfather had a motive and derived sexual gratification from abusing the victim, and that the victim was reluctant to accuse him. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that the excluded evidence did not directly connect the step-grandfather to the charged crime and Willis failed to demonstrate outcome-determinative prejudice.