Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 17, 2026
Deandre Walton appealed his convictions for murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm, arguing the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress statements made to police. Walton contended his Miranda waiver was involuntary due to police deception about the true nature of the investigation. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that Walton's waiver was voluntary because he was informed of his rights, understood them, and continued speaking with detectives, consistent with prior case law.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Feb 3, 2026
Amanda Rogers appealed her conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and the denial of her motion to suppress the firearm and ammunition. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's judgment. The Court held that the state presented sufficient evidence of Rogers' knowing possession of the firearm, rejecting the requirement for 'additional incriminating evidence' in joint possession cases. It also found that law enforcement had probable cause for the vehicle search based on an informant's tip and other circumstances.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Dec 29, 2025
Israel Barrera moved to suppress urine test results obtained via two warrants in a sexual molestation case. The circuit court sustained the motion, finding a lack of probable cause for Warrant 1 and that the good-faith exception did not apply. The Missouri Supreme Court reversed the suppression order, holding that the affidavit for Warrant 1 provided a substantial basis for probable cause, particularly due to corroborative details of the victim's medical examination. The Court affirmed that Warrant 1 authorized both seizure and search, rendering Warrant 2 unnecessary, and remanded the case for further proceedings.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Nov 12, 2025
Jonathan Rainey appealed his convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance, challenging the denial of his motion to suppress evidence and the sufficiency of evidence for the firearm charge. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment. It held that the protective search of Rainey's person and vehicle was justified by reasonable suspicion, and the subsequent search was supported by probable cause, thus the evidence was admissible. The court also found sufficient evidence to support the conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Nov 12, 2025
Patrick Logan Pulse appealed his convictions for first-degree assault and armed criminal action, stemming from shooting a Lyft driver, arguing self-defense at trial. On appeal, Pulse challenged the admission of three pieces of evidence: a video of his arrest, a video of him in a police car post-arrest, and his hospital records showing controlled substances. He also claimed instructional error for the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on the defense of others. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, affirmed the judgment, finding no merit to Pulse's claims of error regarding evidence admission or instructional error.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Sep 22, 2025
Andrew J. Sales, Jr., a prior and persistent felony drug offender, appealed his convictions for drug trafficking, possession, tampering with evidence, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, following a jury trial where he represented himself. Sales challenged the probable cause for a search warrant, the sufficiency of the evidence regarding chain of custody and drug paraphernalia, and claimed he was denied his right to counsel. The appellate court affirmed the convictions, finding no merit in any of his claims, including that his waiver of counsel was knowing and voluntary, and that the evidence was sufficient.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Sep 9, 2025
Michael Scott Mount was found guilty of multiple charges, including identity theft, after a bench trial. On appeal, Mount challenged his identity theft conviction, arguing insufficient evidence, and sought to exclude evidence as fruit of an unlawful search. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding Mount lacked standing to challenge the hotel room search and that sufficient evidence supported his identity theft conviction.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 17, 2025
Branden Collins appealed his conviction for possession of methamphetamine residue and drug paraphernalia, arguing the circuit court plainly erred by not sua sponte excluding his statements made during an alleged custodial interrogation without Miranda warnings. The appellate court affirmed the conviction. It held that Collins failed to meet his burden to show he was not Mirandized, and without evidence in the record, there was no evident, obvious, and clear error to warrant plain error review.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / May 29, 2025
Denise Margaret Lafferty moved to suppress evidence found during a traffic stop, arguing that a warrantless "Terry search" of her pockets was unconstitutional. The circuit court sustained her motion, leading to an interlocutory appeal by the State. The State contended the search was valid or, alternatively, that the evidence would have been inevitably discovered. The appellate court affirmed the suppression, holding that the officer's command to empty pockets exceeded the permissible scope of a Terry search and that the State failed to prove inevitable discovery.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 1, 2025
Jesse M. Bromwell was charged with burglary and stealing, and the trial court granted his motion to suppress evidence found during a warrantless search of a back bedroom in his father's home. The State appealed, arguing the search was lawful based on the father's consent and that the officer's testimony about the consent was not hearsay. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that the officers reasonably believed the homeowner father had authority to consent to the search. Additionally, the testimony regarding consent was admissible as it explained subsequent police conduct without implicating the defendant in the charged offenses.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 4, 2025
Douglas Beeson was convicted of multiple offenses, including possession of a controlled substance, after contraband was found in his vehicle. He appealed the denial of his motion to suppress this evidence, arguing the automobile exception to the warrant requirement did not apply because his vehicle was immobile. The Eastern District of Missouri affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that the automobile exception applies when there is probable cause to search, even if the vehicle is not readily mobile, due to the reduced expectation of privacy in vehicles.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Feb 11, 2025
F.S., a convicted sex offender, appealed a circuit court judgment that upheld the constitutional validity of section 217.735, which mandates lifetime electronic monitoring. She argued the statute was unconstitutional as applied to her under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, claiming she posed no risk of reoffending. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's judgment, holding that F.S. failed to present particularized evidence to support her as-applied challenge and did not dispute the circuit court's factual findings.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jan 13, 2025
Amanda M. Mire was charged with driving while intoxicated, and the trial court granted her motions to suppress statements and physical evidence, specifically blood draw results. The trial court found that Mire was involuntarily administered Versed, which prevented her from knowingly and voluntarily consenting to a blood draw or waiving her Miranda rights. The State appealed, and the appellate court vacated the trial court's order, holding that the trial court clearly erred by inferring the cognitive effects of Versed without expert testimony. The case was remanded for further proceedings.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Dec 17, 2024
William Schierbaum appealed the denial of his two Rule 29.15 post-conviction motions, arguing ineffective assistance of trial counsel for failing to object to evidence from allegedly illegal searches and for failing to investigate false information in search warrant affidavits. The appellate court dismissed the appeal. The court found that Movant's brief violated Rule 84.04 because his points relied on were multifarious, omitted required language, and his argument sections lacked preservation statements, record citations, and proper development of the claims.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 19, 2024
Isaiah M. Lane appealed his conviction for delivery of a controlled substance, arguing the trial court erred by not sua sponte excluding evidence from an allegedly unlawful stop and search of his vehicle. The appellate court found the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop Lane's vehicle to investigate a reported shooting and that the subsequent protective search of the vehicle was proper, leading to the discovery of methamphetamine. The court affirmed the trial court's judgment, declining to find plain error for the unpreserved claim.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Nov 5, 2024
Chad Thomas appealed his convictions for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, arguing the circuit court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence. He contended the evidence was discovered during an unlawful search because the officer extended a traffic stop without reasonable suspicion. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's judgment, holding that the totality of the circumstances surrounding Thomas's behavior and responses during the stop provided the officer with reasonable suspicion to continue the detention and conduct a canine sniff.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Oct 1, 2024
Deandre Walls appealed his convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and other charges, arguing the trial court erred in sentencing him under a specific subsection of the unlawful use of a weapon statute without a jury finding that he shot from a motor vehicle. He also contended the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence seized from his vehicle, asserting a lack of probable cause for its warrantless seizure. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no merit in Walls' points on appeal.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 1, 2024
Prinshun McClain appealed his convictions for second-degree murder and armed criminal action, challenging the trial court's denial of his motions to suppress evidence. He argued that a bag containing the murder weapon was seized from his grandmother's home without a warrant and that his location was obtained via warrantless cell phone data. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that the bag was abandoned property and the cell phone data was obtained under exigent circumstances, thus both searches were lawful.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Aug 28, 2024
Timothy Louis Smith called 911 for a medical emergency, and after EMS cleared him, he asked a law enforcement officer for a ride. The officer agreed on the condition of a consent search, which revealed methamphetamine residue and a syringe cap. Smith was convicted of drug offenses, but argued on appeal that he was immune under Missouri's Good Samaritan Law, section 195.205, because the evidence was found "as a result of" his call for medical assistance. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, holding that the statute requires a stronger causal connection than "but for" causation, and the evidence was found due to his consent to search, not directly from seeking medical assistance.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Mar 12, 2024
Craig Salcedo appealed his conviction for possession of methamphetamine, challenging the denial of his motion to dismiss based on statutory immunity and his motion to suppress evidence. Salcedo argued he was immune from prosecution because the methamphetamine was found during a good-faith request for medical assistance related to a mental health emergency. He also contended the warrantless search that discovered the drugs violated his Fourth Amendment rights. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the immunity statute did not apply to non-drug related mental health commitments and that a search incident to civil detention for mental health transport is reasonable.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 12, 2024
Appellant M.A.S. appealed a juvenile court judgment finding he committed acts constituting first-degree tampering, specifically driving a stolen vehicle. He challenged the denial of his motion to suppress evidence, arguing the arresting officer lacked reasonable suspicion for the stop. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the victim's testimony about reporting her vehicle stolen provided the necessary reasonable suspicion for the Terry stop. The court also found no reversible error as M.A.S. failed to demonstrate prejudice from the denial of his motion to suppress.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Mar 5, 2024
Brayon J. Williams appealed his conviction for possession of a controlled substance following a bench trial. He argued that he was immune from prosecution under section 195.205 because he was the subject of a good faith request for medical assistance for an overdose, and that the trial court erred in admitting evidence seized during an unlawful inventory search. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, holding that Williams waived the immunity defense by not raising it at trial. It further found no error in the admission of the evidence, concluding the inventory search was proper incident to protective custody.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 13, 2024
Christopher L. Gates appealed his convictions for first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and resisting arrest, following a bench trial. He challenged the trial court's admission of his custodial interrogation recording, arguing his Miranda waiver was unknowing, involuntary, and unintelligent, and also contested the admission of an audio recording from the victim's phone due to an alleged lack of foundation. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, affirmed the judgment, concluding that Gates knowingly and intelligently waived his Miranda rights and that the State established a proper foundation for the audio recording.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Nov 30, 2023
Kristina Proctor was charged with driving while intoxicated, and the trial court suppressed her breath test result because law enforcement read her Missouri's Implied Consent Statements before her Miranda rights. The State of Missouri filed an interlocutory appeal. The appellate court reversed the suppression order, holding that Miranda warnings are not required before reading implied consent statements and requesting a breath test, as this process does not constitute a guilt-seeking interrogation. Consequently, the breath test result is admissible evidence.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Oct 24, 2023
Marqus Andrew Wilson appealed his conviction for first-degree robbery, raising two points. First, he argued the trial court erred by not suppressing evidence and statements obtained from his arrest, claiming a lack of probable cause. Second, he contended the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial, alleging a Brady violation due to the State's suppression of a co-defendant's video-recorded interview. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding Wilson waived review of the suppression issue and failed to prove a Brady violation.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Sep 6, 2023
John Hough was convicted of two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy. On appeal, he requested plain error review of a prosecutor's closing argument comment regarding his post-arrest silence, arguing it violated his constitutional rights. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, affirmed the judgment, declining plain error review because Hough failed to establish substantial grounds for believing a manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice occurred due to the isolated nature of the comment.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Aug 8, 2023
Paul W. Bodenhamer appealed his convictions for possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while intoxicated, and failure to signal following a bench trial. The State moved to dismiss the entire appeal, arguing the suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) on the DWI count rendered the judgment non-final. The appellate court affirmed the convictions with imposed sentences (Counts I, II, and IV) and dismissed the appeal for the SIS count (Count III). The court also affirmed the denial of Bodenhamer's motion to suppress, finding that officers had reasonable suspicion to extend the traffic stop and conduct field sobriety tests.
Supreme Court of Missouri / Jun 27, 2023
Nicholas A. Barton was arrested by Poplar Bluff police officers in Campbell, outside their territorial jurisdiction, for felony robberies not committed in their presence. The circuit court sustained Barton's motions to suppress evidence, finding a Fourth Amendment violation. The Missouri Supreme Court vacated the circuit court's decision, holding that a warrantless felony arrest is constitutionally reasonable under the Fourth Amendment if supported by probable cause, even if the crime was not committed in the arresting officer's presence or within their jurisdiction. The Court also found that Barton's motion did not adequately raise a claim of lack of probable cause.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Apr 4, 2023
Joanthony Johnson appealed the motion court's denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief, alleging five claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Johnson argued his counsel erred regarding a cell phone extraction agreement, the observation of his phone's passcode, the scope of a suppression motion, and a motion for improper joinder and severance. The Western District affirmed the motion court's judgment, finding no error in its denial of Johnson's claims.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Mar 28, 2023
Kimberly Vandervort was charged with driving while intoxicated after a single-vehicle collision. The circuit court partially granted her motion to suppress custodial statements made before Miranda warnings. On interlocutory appeal, the State challenged the suppression of Vandervort's refusal to submit to a blood-alcohol test and her statements about vomiting in the patrol car. The appellate court reversed the suppression of the blood-alcohol test refusal, finding it was not protected by the privilege against self-incrimination, but affirmed the suppression of the vomiting statements, concluding they resulted from a custodial interrogation.