Morales v. State

Factual and Procedural Background

On 8 March 2007, Appellant was convicted by a jury of Abuse of a Child — Serious Emotional Injury, a B felony. § 568.060 1 The case stems from abuse inflicted on A.M., Appellant’s son, by Appellant and her boyfriend. Appellant and boyfriend beat A.M. with sticks, switches with thorns, electrical cords, shoes, hands, and a plastic stick used to open blinds. Additionally Appellant abused A.M. by forcing him to kneel on wooden board covered in bottle caps, and locking A.M. in a room with no lights and no food for hours at a time. Appellant was sentenced to twelve…