Court Opinion

ID: 4456871
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-19 15:07:03.426561+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:25.596099
License: Public Domain

In the Missouri Court of Appeals
                        Eastern District
                                                 DIVISION TWO

STATE OF MISSOURI,                                          )            No. ED107031
                                                            )
                             Respondent,                    )            Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                                            )            of the City of St. Louis
vs.                                                         )
                                                            )            Honorable Christopher E. McGraugh
ANTHONY J. STAFFORD,                                        )
                                                            )
                             Appellant.                     )            FILED: November 19, 2019

                                                    Introduction

           Anthony J. Stafford (“Stafford”) appeals the trial court’s judgment following jury-trial

convictions for first-degree sodomy and third-degree domestic assault. Stafford raises three

points on appeal. Point One contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new

trial because the jury heard impermissible testimony from the victim (“Victim”) about uncharged

drug use by Stafford. Point Two avers that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his

motion for new trial on grounds that a juror failed to disclose that he knew Stafford and Victim.

Lastly, Point Three charges the trial court with plain error in sentencing Stafford as a prior

offender under Section 558.0161 because the State failed to present evidence establishing

Stafford’s prior conviction under Section 558.021. Because Stafford demonstrates no prejudice

or manifest injustice resulted from Victim’s references to Stafford’s drug use, we deny Point

1
    All Section references are to RSMo (2016), unless otherwise indicated.
One. Because Stafford introduced no evidence that juror nondisclosure occurred, we deny Point

Two. Although the trial court committed plain error in sentencing Stafford as a prior offender

under Section 558.016, Stafford has not met his burden of showing manifest injustice with

respect to the length of his sentence, jury-recommended sentencing, or parole eligibility.

Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                    Factual and Procedural History

        This case involves a domestic dispute between Stafford and Victim in which Stafford hit

Victim and sodomized her with a broom in June 2017. The State charged Stafford with one

count of sodomy in the first degree and two counts of domestic assault in the third degree. The

case proceeded to trial in June 2018.

        At the beginning of the trial, Stafford filed a motion in limine to prevent Victim from

testifying about uncharged drug use by Stafford. The trial court sustained the motion. When

Victim took the stand, she made the following statements:

           “Sometimes we [Victim and Stafford] get up and just watch TV, smoke a
            cigarette or get up and call and get high.”
           “I had went and sat on the love seat. That’s when [Stafford] had called
            somebody and he made a call for—to get some drugs.”
           “I gave [Stafford] what I had got from being outside, and then both of us had
            did some and then we sat there and he went upstairs.”

Stafford did not object to the first statement. Stafford objected to the second statement, and the

trial court sustained the objection. In its initial instructions to the jury, the trial court had

instructed the jury to disregard any evidence to which the trial court sustained an objection.

After the third statement, Stafford requested a sidebar conference outside the hearing of the jury

and objected to Victim’s repeated violations of the motion in limine. The trial court sustained

the objection and advised the State to lead the Victim through that portion of the testimony.

Stafford stated that if violations of the motion in limine continued, he would ask the trial court

                                                    2
for a limiting instruction and to strike certain portions of the testimony. The trial court

concluded the sidebar, and the State resumed questioning Victim.

       During the trial, Stafford adduced evidence that he could not have committed the charged

offenses due to his physical impairment from a prior injury, including his use of crutches to get

around. The State sought to rebut Stafford’s limited-mobility defense with testimony from

Victim that Stafford managed his mobility issues through use of illegal narcotics. Following

argument by both parties and over Stafford’s objection, the trial court ruled that Victim could not

testify that Stafford self-medicated with heroin but could testify that Stafford used “pain drugs.”

The State asked Victim if there were times when Stafford was able to be mobile and if pain drugs

allowed him to have that increased mobility, and Victim answered affirmatively. The State

repeated this testimony in its closing argument.

       The jury found Stafford guilty on all charges. Stafford moved for a new trial on several

grounds, including Victim’s testimony about uncharged drug use as well as juror nondisclosure.

Regarding juror nondisclosure, Stafford alleged that the juror who occupied seat twelve and who

identified himself during voir dire as working part-time at a pawnshop (“Juror”) did not disclose

that he knew Stafford and Victim from having encountered them at the pawnshop. No affidavit

was attached to Stafford’s motion. At the motion hearing, Stafford did not take the stand or

present other evidence. Stafford argued that he recalled after trial that he knew the Juror prior to

being incarcerated because on multiple occasions he had gone to the pawnshop where Juror

worked. Stafford further argued that Juror knew him by name and would refer to him as “Mr.

Stafford.” The State disputed Stafford’s allegation of juror nondisclosure. The trial court denied

juror nondisclosure as a basis for retrial. The trial court explained that it was proceeding on the

assumption that Juror was in fact the same individual with whom Stafford had contact at the

                                                   3
pawnshop, even though no venireperson had indicated knowing Stafford or Victim. The trial

court found no basis to believe that Juror intentionally withheld information or that Stafford was

prejudiced, commenting that Juror likely did not recognize Stafford in the courtroom setting and,

if he did, he might have had a favorable impression of Stafford.

       At Stafford’s sentencing, the State did not file a sentence assessment report or introduce

evidence of Stafford’s prior conviction, which the indictment alleged involved Stafford pleading

guilty to second-degree drug trafficking on July 25, 2000. Stafford stated that the prior

conviction was for a drug-related offense occurring approximately eighteen years earlier.

Stafford did not object when the sentencing court asked whether there was any reason not to

proceed with sentencing. The trial court sentenced Stafford to seven years in prison for first-

degree sodomy to run consecutively with concurrent three-year sentences for each of the two

counts of third-degree domestic assault. The written sentence and judgment reflects that Stafford

was sentenced as a prior offender under Section 558.016. Stafford now appeals.

                                         Points on Appeal

       Stafford raises three points on appeal. In Point One, Stafford argues that the trial court

erred in denying his motion for new trial because Victim improperly testified about Stafford’s

uncharged drug use. In Point Two, Stafford claims that the trial court erred in denying his

motion for new trial because Juror failed to disclose knowing Stafford and Victim. Lastly, in

Point Three, Stafford contends the trial court plainly erred in sentencing Stafford as a prior

offender because the State failed to establish Stafford’s prior-offender status under Section

558.021.

                                                 4
                                         Standard of Review

        We review a trial court’s decision whether to grant a new trial on the basis of evidence

admissibility or juror misconduct for an abuse of discretion. See State v. Forrest, 183 S.W.3d
218, 223, 231 (Mo. banc 2006). Under the abuse-of-discretion standard, we examine the trial

court’s ruling “for prejudice, not mere error, and will reverse only if the error was so prejudicial

that it deprived the defendant of a fair trial.” Id. at 223–24 (internal citation omitted). We

presume that the trial court’s denial of a motion for new trial is correct and will reverse only

“when a ruling is clearly against the logic of the circumstances then before the court and is so

arbitrary and unreasonable as to shock the sense of justice and indicate a lack of careful

consideration.” State v. Hill, 412 S.W.3d 281, 284 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013) (internal quotation

omitted).

        Additionally, we review any unpreserved issue for plain error, “which requires a finding

that manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice has resulted from the trial court error.” State v.

Johnson, 207 S.W.3d 24, 34 (Mo. banc 2006) (internal citation omitted). The defendant bears

the burden of establishing manifest injustice under the facts and circumstances of the case. Id. at

49 (internal citation omitted). Specifically, the defendant must show that “there is a sound,

substantial manifestation, a strong, clear showing, that injustice or miscarriage of justice will

result if relief is not given.” Id. (internal quotation omitted).

                                              Discussion

I.      Point One—Uncharged Drug Use

        In Point One, Stafford asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new

trial because Victim improperly testified about Stafford’s uncharged drug use. Stafford

challenges four instances of drug-related testimony. In the first three statements, Victim testified

that; (1) she and Stafford “get up and call and get high” on a typical morning; (2) Stafford made

                                                   5
and call and directed her to “get some drugs;” and, (3) she and Stafford “did some” drugs on the

day of the incident. In the fourth statement, Victim answered affirmatively when the State asked

her if Stafford ever used “pain drugs” to manage his physical mobility issues. We address the

first three statements together and address the fourth statement separately.

       A.      Victim’s References to Stafford’s Drug Use

               1.      Preservation

       Before Victim testified, the trial court granted Stafford’s motion in limine to exclude any

testimony relating to Stafford’s uncharged drug use. While Victim’s first three disputed drug-

use statements present the same substantive issues, the parties note the following preservation

differences: (1) Stafford did not object to the first statement; (2) Stafford objected to the second

statement, which closely followed the first and which the trial court sustained before the jury;

and (3) Stafford objected at sidebar to the third reference as a continued violation of the motion

in limine, and that objection was also sustained.

       “The scope of an appellant’s claim on appeal is limited by the claim as presented in the

motion for new trial, which in turn is limited by the scope of the objection lodged at the time the

challenged evidence was offered at trial.” State v. Davis, 533 S.W.3d 781, 786 (Mo. App. S.D.

2017) (internal citations omitted). When a defendant fails to object due to inadvertence or

negligence, we review the claim for plain error, but a defendant waives even plain-error review

when “counsel has affirmatively acted in a manner precluding a finding that the failure to object

was a product of inadvertence of negligence” such as affirmatively stating “no objection” or for a

strategic reason. State v. Johnson, 284 S.W.3d 561, 582 (Mo. banc 2009) (internal citations

omitted).

       Here, since Stafford did not object to the first statement, we review that claim for plain

error. See Johnson, 284 S.W.3d at 568. Because Stafford objected to the second statement, we

                                                    6
review that claim for an abuse of discretion. See id. Regarding the third statement, although the

trial court sustained Stafford’s objection to the third statement at sidebar, the State nonetheless

argues that Stafford waived the claim because he failed either to affirmatively have his sustained

objection heard aloud by the jury or to request a limiting instruction. See id. at 582. We are not

persuaded. Stafford lodged multiple objections to the Victim’s roving testimony and specifically

objected to the State’s violation of the motion in limine in an effort to protect the trial court’s

evidentiary ruling. Stafford’s motion was granted on the record, albeit outside the hearing of the

jury. Accordingly, Stafford’s claim as to the third statement is not waived, and we review the

claim for an abuse of discretion. See id.; Davis, 533 S.W.3d 786, 788.

               2.      Substantive Analysis

       Evidence of uncharged crimes is generally inadmissible to show a defendant’s propensity

to commit the charged offense. State v. Schneider, 483 S.W.3d 495, 505 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016);

State v. Sprofera, 372 S.W.3d 17, 19 (Mo. App. W.D. 2012). However, it is well settled that “a

defendant seeking reversal has the burden of showing both error and resulting prejudice.” State

v. Adams, 350 S.W.3d 864, 866 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011) (citing State v. Isa, 850 S.W.2d 876, 895

(Mo. banc 1993)). No prejudice results unless “the erroneously admitted evidence so influenced

the jury that, when considered with and balanced against all of the evidence properly admitted,

there is a reasonable probability that the jury would have acquitted but for the erroneously

admitted evidence.” Id. (quoting Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 42); Forrest, 183 S.W.3d at 224. In

determining whether a reference to an uncharged offense is prejudicial, we consider various

factors, including whether the State prompted or emphasized the reference, whether the reference

was fleeting and isolated, whether specific offenses were mentioned, whether an objection was

made and sustained, and whether the reference played a decisive role in the verdict given the

context of the State’s case against the defendant. State v. Goff, 129 S.W.3d 857, 866 n.7 (Mo.
                                                   7
banc 2004) (internal citations omitted). For unpreserved claims of error, a defendant must meet

a higher standard of showing manifest injustice resulted from the inadmissible evidence. See

Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 34.

       Here, even under the abuse-of-discretion standard, we reject Stafford’s argument that the

verdict was prejudiced by the Victim’s passing references to Stafford’s drug use while setting the

scene of the incident. In particular, evidence of drug use was not an element of either of the

charged offenses of sodomy or domestic assault. See Goff, 129 S.W.3d at 866; State v. Bell, 488
S.W.3d 228, 251 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016) (finding no prejudice where the prosecution elicited

evidence that the defendant possessed cocaine when he was arrested because it was not directly

related to the charged offense of murder and unlikely to have been given significant probative

value by the jury). Although the State may have failed to effectively instruct Victim on the

limitations of the motion in limine, the record does not suggest that the State prompted Victim to

comment on Stafford’s drug use or her own drug use in setting the scene of the incident. See

Goff, 129 S.W.3d at 866. Indeed, after the sidebar in which the trial court expressed concern that

the Witness was unlikely to adhere to the motion in limine, the State was advised to and

successfully led the Victim through the remainder of her testimony with no further drug-related

references. Further, the Victim’s references to drug use and a single drug transaction were

limited and isolated to one portion of her testimony. The record shows that the State did not

improperly highlight or otherwise draw attention to that testimony nor identify any specific

uncharged criminal act during the presentation of evidence or in closing argument. See id.

Additionally, the jury heard the trial court sustain Stafford’s objection to Victim’s statement that

Stafford had made a call “to get some drugs,” and we may presume that the jury followed the

trial court’s instruction to disregard evidence to which an objection was sustained. See id.; State

                                                 8
v. Joseph, 515 S.W.3d 735, 749 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016) (internal citation omitted). Viewed in the

full context of the State’s case against Stafford, we do not find that Stafford has shown the

necessary prejudice or manifest injustice to find reversible trial court error. See Forrest, 183
S.W.3d at 223; Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 34.

       B.      Stafford’s Use of “Pain Drugs”

       Stafford also asserts that Victim’s reference to Stafford’s use of “pain drugs” to manage

his pain and allow him to be mobile created an unreasonable risk that the jury sentenced him for

uncharged misconduct. We disagree.

       During a sidebar conference, the parties argued their positions regarding the State’s

intention to rebut Stafford’s evidence (which included medical records) that he could not have

committed the charged offenses due to his physical limitations caused by pain from an earlier

accident. The State sought to ask Victim if Stafford self-medicated with illegal narcotics

(specifically, heroin) to show that he was sufficiently mobile on the day of the incident to have

committed the assault and sodomy. The trial court recognized the legitimacy of the State’s

request for rebuttal evidence but also recognized that mentioning heroin would be unduly

prejudicial. Over Stafford’s objection, the trial court ruled that the State could recall Victim to

testify and inquire whether “pain drugs” provided Stafford increased mobility. In its ruling, the

trial court noted that this narrow inquiry best avoided any reference to illegal activity while

allowing the rebuttal witness to testify to evidence in which the probative value outweighed any

prejudicial effect. Subsequently, the State asked Victim whether there were times when she was

living with Stafford that he was able to be mobile, whether pain drugs allowed him to have that

increased mobility, and whether he had mobility the night of the assault; Victim answered “yes”

to each question.

                                                  9
       Stafford’s claim that the term “pain drugs” constitutes a reference to illegal, uncharged

misconduct supporting a claim of reversible error is unavailing. See Schneider, 483 S.W.3d at

505. The single and carefully posed question about “pain drugs” did not violate the rule against

evidence of uncharged acts, but in fact was specifically designed to avoid any prejudicial

reference to Stafford’s heroin use. See id.; Bell, 488 S.W.3d at 249 (citing Johnson, 207 S.W.3d

at 42) (noting a “trial court has broad discretion in determining the admissibility of evidence, and

we will not disturb its ruling absent a clear abuse of that discretion.”). Indeed, the term “pain

drugs” reasonably encompasses legal substances. Victim’s reference to “pain drugs” was not

evidence of uncharged criminal acts. To the contrary, the reference was a generic term for

relevant and proper rebuttal testimony responding to Stafford’s evidence of his leg injury and

claims of impaired mobility. The trial court’s evidentiary ruling was not an abuse of discretion

because the testimony was limited to comply with the sustained motion in limine and prevent the

jury from hearing testimony of Stafford’s uncharged illegal drug use. See Forrest, 183 S.W.3d at

223–24.

       We find that Stafford has failed to demonstrate either prejudice or manifest injustice from

the admitted evidence of Victim’s uncharged drug use. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in

denying his motion for new trial. See id; Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 34. Point One is denied.

II.    Point Two—Juror Nondisclosure

       In Point Two, Stafford maintains that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his

motion for new trial due to Juror’s nondisclosure that he knew Stafford and Victim as patrons of

the pawnshop where Juror worked.

       “In determining whether to grant a new trial for juror nondisclosure, the court first must

determine whether a nondisclosure occurred at all and then, if so, whether the nondisclosure was

intentional or unintentional.” State v. Ess, 453 S.W.3d 196, 203 (Mo. banc 2015) (internal
                                                 10
quotation omitted); State v. Miller, 250 S.W.3d 736, 743 (Mo. App. S.D. 2008) (citing State v.

Mayes, 63 S.W.3d 615, 625 (Mo. banc 2001)). “Allegations of nondisclosure are not self-

proving and must be supported by the record.” Hill, 412 S.W.3d at 283–85 (Mo. App. E.D.

2013) (citing State v. McFadden, 391 S.W.3d 408, 418 Mo. banc 2013)); see also State v.

Pherigo, 389 S.W.3d 693, 698 (Mo. App. S.D. 2012) (internal citation omitted) (noting that

allegations in a motion for new trial are not self-proving). To establish juror nondisclosure, a

defendant “must present evidence through testimony or affidavits of any juror, or other witness

either at trial or at the hearing on his motion for new trial.” Ess, 453 S.W.3d at 202 (citing

Mayes, 63 S.W.3d at 625–26) (emphasis omitted). Thus, a bare allegation of juror nondisclosure

in a motion for new trial does not satisfy the quantum of evidence necessary to show that

nondisclosure actually occurred; rather, a claim of juror nondisclosure must be offered in

conjunction with evidence to supplement the record, such as an affidavit from the defendant or a

juror, or the introduction of sworn testimony at the hearing on the motion for new trial. See id. at

201–03 (citing Mayes, 63 S.W.3d at 626). Consequently, we will affirm the denial of a motion

for new trial where the defendant has not supported the motion for new trial with affidavits or

testimony. See Pherigo, 389 S.W.3d at 698 (internal citations omitted).

       Here, Stafford has not established sufficient facts to merit relief on his claim of non-

disclosure either by attaching an affidavit to the motion for new trial or by presenting evidence at

the motion hearing. See Ess, 453 S.W.3d at 202. We agree with Stafford that he need not

produce an affidavit or testimony from the non-disclosing juror to establish the requisite facts.

See id. However, Stafford was obligated to establish the nondisclosure through some evidence,

such as attaching an affidavit to his motion for new trial, or taking the stand or calling a witness

at the hearing. See id.; see also Miller, 250 S.W.3d at 743. Here, Stafford presented no evidence

                                                 11
from himself, Juror, or any witness in the form of affidavit or testimony. Because Stafford’s

allegation of juror nondisclosure in his motion for new trial was unsupported by any sworn

statements establishing facts in the record for the trial court to find that actual nondisclosure

occurred, the trial court did not err in denying Stafford’s motion for new trial. See Ess, 453
S.W.3d at 202; Pherigo, 389 S.W.3d at 698.

       Assuming arguendo that nondisclosure occurred, as the trial court did in its ruling,

Stafford’s claim nonetheless fails. Regarding intentional nondisclosure, Stafford has the burden

to show the nondisclosure was intentional. See Miller, 250 S.W.3d at 743. As explained above,

Stafford offered no evidence of such at the hearing. See Ess, 453 S.W.3d at 202; see also Miller,
250 S.W.3d at 743. Regarding unintentional nondisclosure, Stafford must show that the

nondisclosure prejudiced him in a manner that influenced the jury’s verdict. See Miller, 250
S.W.3d at 743. Stafford did not articulate in his motion or at the hearing how Juror’s familiarity

with Stafford and Victim from the pawnshop influenced the verdict so as to necessitate a retrial.

Stafford suggests only in a very general way that Juror’s nondisclosure of his familiarity with

Stafford and Victim influenced the verdict. Based on the record before us, we hold the trial court

did not err in finding Stafford insufficiently alleged prejudice. See Miller, 250 S.W.3d at 743.

At voir dire, the venire panel was asked whether anyone knew Stafford or Victim; no

vernirepersons responded in the affirmative. Further, the trial court instructed the jury to decide

the case fairly and impartially based on the evidence presented at trial. We presume that “jurors,

when properly instructed, will set aside any preconceived notions or premature conclusions

about the case[.]” Ess, 453 S.W.3d at 205 (citing McFadden, 391 S.W.3d at 421). Therefore,

even if Stafford had presented evidence of inadvertent nondisclosure, the record does not suggest

                                                  12
that such nondisclosure prejudiced the verdict so as to warrant a new trial. See Ess, 453 S.W.3d

at 205; Miller, 250 S.W.3d at 743. Point Two is denied.

III.   Point Three—Prior Offender Classification

       In Point Three, Stafford posits that the trial court plainly erred in sentencing him as a

prior offender under Section 558.016 because the State did not prove the essential facts to

classify Stafford as a prior offender as required by Section 558.021. Stafford requests removal

of the prior-offender classification from his judgment and sentence, but acknowledges that this

point is not preserved and requests plain-error review. See Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 34.

       Section 558.021 requires the State to introduce evidence establishing beyond a reasonable

doubt that the defendant is a prior offender, and further demands the trial court make findings of

fact that warrant finding beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is a prior offender.

Section 558.021.1(2)–(3). Here, the State concedes that it did not present evidence establishing

Stafford’s prior offender status. The State further concedes that the record does not show a

waiver of such proof and agrees that this omission constituted a violation of Section 558.021.

Accordingly, we find that the trial court plainly erred in sentencing Stafford as a prior offender.

See Sections 558.021, .016; State v. Robinson, 353 S.W.3d 448, 450 (Mo. App. E.D. 2011)

(holding that the trial court plainly erred in designating the defendant as a prior offender where

the State did not allege facts establishing the defendant’s prior-offender status).

       However, to provide Stafford with any relief, we must find that the plain error resulted in

manifest injustice. See Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 34; State v. Morgan, 480 S.W.3d 349, 353 (Mo.

App. E.D. 2015). Here, the trial court’s error in sentencing Stafford as a prior offender did not

affect the length of Stafford’s sentence. See State v. Pierce, 548 S.W.3d 900, 903–04 (Mo. banc

2018) (holding that even a different sentencing range may not be sufficient to show manifest

injustice). In this case, the sentencing range for sodomy in the first degree is five years to life in
                                                  13
prison, while the range for domestic assault in the third degree is one to four years. Additionally,

the sentences for the two counts of domestic assault must run consecutive to the first-degree

sodomy count. Section 558.026.1(3). No sentencing enhancement for prior-offender status is

applicable. We note that in pronouncing Stafford’s sentence, the trial court was critical of the

State’s request for 15 years for the sodomy charge compared to its plea offer of five years, and

expressed concern that the difference was punitive because Stafford exercised his right to trial.

The trial court accordingly sentenced Stafford within the proper statutory range to seven years

for first-degree sodomy to run consecutive to three years on each count of third-degree domestic

assault to run concurrent to each other. The record clearly reflects that Stafford’s prior

conviction was not a factor in sentencing and thus not a source of manifest injustice in

sentencing. See Pierce, 548 S.W.3d at 903–04.

       While the length of Stafford’s sentence would be no different had he not been classified

as a prior offender, the most direct legal consequence of erroneously sentencing Stafford as a

prior offender is Stafford’s loss of the statutory right to have a jury’s recommendation on

sentencing. Morgan, 480 S.W.3d at 353 (citing State v. Drudge, 296. S.W.3d 37, 41 (Mo. App.

E.D. 2009). The State reasons that Stafford cannot show manifest injustice by the loss of that

statutory right because Stafford waived that right by not requesting jury sentencing and failing to

object to being deprived jury sentencing.

       A defendant waives his right to jury sentencing when he allows the trial court to

determine his sentence without affirmatively raising his right to have the jury recommend a

sentence. State v. Emery, 95 S.W.3d 98, 102–03 (Mo. banc 2003); State v. Sprofera, 427
S.W.3d 828, 839 (Mo. App. W.D. 2014). The defendant must timely assert his statutory right to

a jury-recommended sentence. Emery, 95 S.W.3d at102–03; Morgan, 480 S.W.3d at 353 (citing

                                                 14
Drudge, 296 S.W.3d at 41) (noting that the “statutory right [to jury sentencing] can be waived

when the defendant fails to assert it”). Where “a defendant has waived his statutory right to jury-

recommended sentencing, the defendant cannot later claim that manifest injustice resulted from

the trial court determining his sentence.” Sprofera, 427 S.W.3d at 839; see Morgan, 480 S.W.3d

at 353.

          Here, the record plainly shows that Stafford did not assert his right to a jury-

recommended sentence when the trial court asked whether there was any reason not to proceed

with sentencing. The record of the hearing, including Stafford’s argument that his prior

conviction was non-violent and remote in time, suggests that both parties and the trial court

proceeded on the assumption that Stafford was a prior offender. We acknowledge that the trial

court did not explain to Stafford on the record that he had a right to jury sentencing that was lost

due to him being found a prior offender; however, the trial court was not obligated to do so,

particularly since Stafford’s prior-offender status was not a factor in the length of Stafford’s

sentence.2 Because the law firmly places the burden to assert the statutory right to jury

sentencing on the defendant, we must find that Stafford waived his right to jury sentencing. See

Emery, 95 S.W.3d at 103; Morgan, 480 S.W.3d at 353 (citing Drudge, 296 S.W.3d at 41).

          Having determined that Stafford fails to show manifest injustice with respect to the

length of his sentence or his waiver of jury sentencing, we lastly consider Stafford’s contention

that his prior-offender status results in manifest injustice because that status carries possible

ramifications for parole eligibility. See Sprofera, 427 S.W.3d at 839 (citing Robinson, 353

2
 We note that Stafford does not allege—nor does the record show—a mismatch between the oral pronouncement of
his sentence and the written sentence. See State v. Brown, 558 S.W.3d 105, 115 (Mo. App. E.D. 2018) (internal
quotation omitted) (“[B]ecause a defendant has a right to be present at the time of sentencing, the trial court’s
written sentence and judgment should generally reflect the court’s oral pronouncement of sentence given to the
defendant.”).
15
S.W.3d at 450, Drudge, 296 S.W.3d at 41). This Court rejected a similar claim after careful

analysis in Morgan. The State argues Morgan is controlling and is the most recent judicial

authority analyzing potential negative parole consequences in this context. 480 S.W.3d at 353–

54. In Morgan, this Court held that a defendant who waived his right to jury-recommended

sentencing did not otherwise demonstrate manifest injustice by alleging negative parole

consequences. Id. Morgan found that a closer analysis of legal precedent as well as Department

of Corrections regulations revealed that “it is not the finding by the trial court that one is a prior

offender that affects parole eligibility under these statutes and regulations, but the fact of one’s

prior criminal history or previous prison commitments.” Id. (internal citations omitted).

Specifically, the relevant statutes and rules—none of which Stafford specifically addresses

here—refer only to the offender’s prior criminal history or “previous prison commitments” rather

than any classification made by the trial court. Id. (internal citations omitted). We may not find

manifest injustice based on purely speculative claims that are not supported by the record.

Forrest, 183 S.W.3d at 229–30.

       Stafford supports his argument only with cases that preceded Morgan, and does not offer

a basis allowing us to distinguish the precedent Morgan established with respect to speculative

parole-eligibility ramifications. See, e.g., Simmons v. State, 432 S.W.3d 306, 309 (Mo. App.

E.D. 2014) (internal citations omitted) (recognizing that we are bound by precedent in the

context of parole eligibility being a collateral matter not impacting the voluntariness of a guilty

plea). Accordingly, having failed to identify any probable negative consequences resulting from

his classification as a prior offender, Stafford does not meet his burden to show manifest

injustice necessary to be granted relief on appeal. See Johnson, 207 S.W.3d at 34; Morgan, 480
S.W.3d at 354. Point Three is denied.

                                                  16
                                           Conclusion

       The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

                                     _____________________________________
                                     KURT S. ODENWALD, Judge

Philip M. Hess, P.J., concurs.
Lisa P. Page, J., concurs.

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