Case Name: Eric BRATTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 2018-10-09
Citations: 557 S.W.3d 539
Docket Number: WD 80741
Parties: Eric BRATTON, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Third Series
Volume: 557
Pages: 539–540

Head Matter:
Eric BRATTON, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
WD 80741
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
Filed: October 9, 2018
Julia E. Neidhardt, Jefferson City for respondent.
Amanda Langenheim, Kansas City for appellant.
Before Division Two: Karen King Mitchell, C.J., and Alok Ahuja and Edward R. Ardini, Jr., JJ.
ORDER

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Appellant Eric Bratton was convicted of two counts of second-degree assault in violation of § 565.060, RSMo, and two counts of armed criminal action in violation of § 571.015, RSMo. After we affirmed his convictions on direct appeal, Bratton filed a motion for post-conviction relief under Supreme Court Rule 29.15. The circuit court denied Bratton's motion after an evidentiary hearing. Bratton appeals. He first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to references during the prosecutor's opening statement and during a police officer's testimony that Bratton's companion had made statements implicating Bratton. Bratton also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective in advising Bratton to waive jury sentencing, and to instead submit to sentencing by the trial judge, who was a former prosecutor. We affirm. Because a published opinion would have no precedential value, we have provided the parties an unpublished memorandum setting forth the reasons for this order. Rule 84.16(b).