Smith v. Steele

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION ERNEST L. SMITH, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) Case No. 4:16 CV 517 CDP ) STANLEY PAYNE,1 ) ) Respondent. ) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter is before the Court on Missouri state prisoner Ernest L. Smith’s petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. I will deny the petition. Procedural History On February 14, 2011, Smith was charged by criminal complaint in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, with murder second degree and armed criminal action. An amended complaint was filed February 15, charging…