Missouri Court of Appeals, 2019

Smith v. State

Smith v. State
Missouri Court of Appeals · Decided February 13, 2019 · Dowd, Hess, Hoff
568 S.W.3d 61 (South Western Reporter, Third Series)

Smith v. State

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM

Paul Smith ("Movant") appeals from the judgment denying his Rule 24.035 motion. Movant claims his three-year sentence of imprisonment for stealing over $500 was unauthorized by law according to State v. Bazell , 497 S.W.3d 263 (Mo. banc 2016), which held that offense was not a felony, but was actually a misdemeanor. But Bazell was handed down after Movant's sentence was imposed, and as the State correctly pointed out to the motion court, Bazell cannot be applied retroactively, only prospectively, expect to cases pending on direct appeal, as determined in State ex rel. Windeknecht v. Mesmer , 530 S.W.3d 500, 503 (Mo. banc 2017). The motion court did not err by dismissing Movant's case on this ground. An opinion would have no precedential value nor serve any jurisprudential purpose. We affirm under Rule 84.16(b).

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