Lane v. State

611 S.W.2d 44, 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 3666
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 14, 1981
DocketNo. 11703
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 611 S.W.2d 44 (Lane v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lane v. State, 611 S.W.2d 44, 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 3666 (Mo. Ct. App. 1981).

Opinion

TITUS, Judge.

In 1974 movant, then defendant, was jury-convicted of armed robbery in the first [46]*46degree. §§ 560.120 and 560.135 RSMo 1969. Having determined, as charged, that mov-ant was subject to the habitual criminal statute, § 556.280 RSMo 1969, the court sentenced him to a 12 year term of imprisonment. The circuit court appointed counsel for movant relative to his subsequently filed motion under Rule 27.26, V.A.M.R. This appeal follows denial, without eviden-tiary hearing, of movant’s pro se unamended motion. Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the motion are fully repeated in part I of the Addendum to this opinion.

Movant’s single point relied on, written in utter disregard of the mandatory requirements of Rules 30.06(d) and 84.04(d), V.A.M.R., reads: “The trial court erred in dismissing the movant’s Supreme Court Rule 27.26 motion without a hearing and in failing to make findings of fact and conclusions of law.” Albeit the legal file in this matter contains the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is patent that the point relied on, as written, does not undertake to advise “wherein and why” the court did not make such findings and conclusions; neither does the point state “wherein and why” the court erred in dismissing the motion without a hearing. Gaye v. State, 576 S.W.2d 554, 555[1] (Mo.App.1978). Because the point fails to relate “wherein and why” the court erred in dismissing the motion without an evidentiary hearing and in not making findings of fact and conclusions of law, it neglects to formulate and isolate the precise issues to be reviewed and thus preserves nothing for appellate review. Adkins v. State, 560 S.W.2d 67, 69[3] (Mo.App.1977). This court bears no duty to seek through the legal file or other portions of an appellant’s brief to acquire an understanding of the intendment of a point presented in an abstract and conclusory manner. Riley v. State, 545 S.W.2d 711, 712[4] (Mo.App.1976). Nevertheless, and in excess of the obligations on the part of this court, we will, ex gratia, con the legal file and the argument portion of movant’s brief and summarily consider the issues contained therein on their merits.

As will be seen from a reading of part I of the Addendum hereto, subpara-graphs (a), (b) and (e) of paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Rule 27.26 motion herein complain of trial court errors (a) in receiving evidence, (b) in not limiting cross-examination of a defense witness and (e) in admitting identification photographs. These are simply allegations of court errors during the course of the criminal trial which are not reviewable in a collateral proceeding under Rule 27.26. Achter v. State, 545 S.W.2d 86, 88[5] (Mo.App.1976). Subparagraphs (c) of paragraphs 8 and 9 of the motion are simply a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the guilty verdict and are not within the scope of a Rule 27.26 proceeding. Johnson v. State, 561 S.W.2d 704, 706[3] (Mo.App.1978); Barker v. State, 505 S.W.2d 448, 449[2] (Mo.App.1974). Movant’s claim in subparagraphs (d) of paragraphs 8 and 9 of the motion that he did not have a fair criminal trial is likewise not cognizable in a Rule 27.26 proceeding. Williams v. State, 530 S.W.2d 740, 742[8] (Mo.App.1975). Finally, subparagraphs (f) of paragraphs 8 and 9 refer to newly discovered evidence which is not a proper subject in a motion to vacate a sentence. Zinn v. State, 588 S.W.2d 177, 178[3] (Mo.App.1979).

In the argument portion of movant’s brief, he asserts that he had ineffective assistance of counsel in the criminal appeal. No such claim was asserted in his Rule 27.26 motion and may not be raised for the first time on appeal. Davis v. State, 586 S.W.2d 822, 824[2] (Mo.App.1979); Johnson v. State, 561 S.W.2d 704, 706[5] (Mo.App.1978).

Part II of the Addendum to this opinion is the order made by the trial court in denying movant’s Rule 27.26 motion without an evidentiary hearing. (We omit repeating “Exhibit A” incorporated in the order as it is a copy of paragraphs 8 and 9 of the motion as previously reproduced in part I of the Addendum). In our opinion the order contains findings of fact and conclusions of law on all issues presented in the motion in keeping with the requirements of Rule 27.26(i). After reciting its findings of fact the court proceeded as we have done, [47]*47supra, to legally conclude that the allegations made in the motion were not the proper subject for consideration in a Rule 27.26 proceeding and do not demonstrate that movant’s constitutional rights had been violated. The order in this case is not a “mere recital or statement that the motion, files and records conclusively show that movant is entitled to no relief.” Fields v. State, 572 S.W.2d 477, 483[3] (Mo. banc 1978). It is not necessary for the findings and conclusions of the court nisi to be supplied by implication, for it has made the specific findings and conclusions contemplated and required by the rule. Id. See also McCoy v. State, 610 S.W.2d 708 (Mo.App.1981).

Judgment affirmed.

GREENE, P. J., and FLANIGAN, J., concur.

ADDENDUM

Part I

“GROUNDS

“# 8. (A.) The trial court erred, by admitting into evidence, the eyewitness identification of state’s witness, Billy Yeager.

(B.) The trial court erred, by not limiting the prosecutor’s attempted impeachment, of defense witness, Sharon Moore.

(C.) The evidence was not sufficient as a matter of law, to support the verdict of guilty.

(D.) Movant did not have a fair and impartial jury, as guaranteed by law.

(E.) The trial court erred, by admitting into evidence, the photo — identification, of state’s witness, Carolyn Jackson.

(F.) Evidence of mistake, by state’s witness, Carolyn Jackson, in identification of the movant, as the person, who robbed her.

“FACTS OF SUPPORT

“ # 9. (A.) Witness Yeager, testified that he recognized the movant, only by what he thought was the movant’s voice, and by the build of the person, in his store. Yeager’s testimony was not material, to the alleged crime. It was based on speculation, and conjection. He stated several times, ‘Not Ronnie Lane, this Gentleman.’

(B.) Defense witness, Sharon Moore, was asked several times by the prosecutor, if she planned to marry, not only Ronnie Lane, but if at all. These questions did not relate to the facts. The prosecutor, was trying to show she, slept with men, without thinking of marriage. He was trying to impeach the witness, by showing immoral conduct.

(C.) Movant state’s that there was no physical evidence, to show that he was involved in the alleged crime.

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Bluebook (online)
611 S.W.2d 44, 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 3666, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lane-v-state-moctapp-1981.