State v. Jaco

STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR., Judge.

A jury convicted Christy L. Jaco of abuse of a child for causing the death of her thirteen-month-old child in violation of section 568.060, RSMo 2000. Pursuant to section 557.036, RSMo Supp.2003, the court bifurcated Jaco’s trial. After the jury was unable to agree on the appropriate sentence during the penalty phase, the trial court sentenced Jaco to twenty years in prison. Because Jaco challenges the validity of section 557.036, this Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction. Mo. Const, art. V, sec. 3. The judgment is affirmed.

I. Facts

The facts, which this…