State v. Artis

JOHN E. PARRISH, Presiding Judge.

Xavier V. Artis (defendant) was convicted, following a jury trial, of assault in the first degree, § 565.050, RSMo 1994, kidnapping, § 565.110, RSMo 1994, forcible sodomy, § 566.060, RSMo Cum.Supp.1999, and forcible rape, § 566.030 RSMo Cum. Supp.1999. Defendant was charged as, found to be, and sentenced as a persistent offender with respect to each offense. See § 558.016, RSMo 1994.

Defendant’s Point I contends that he timely and unequivocally requested to waive counsel and represent himself at trial; that the trial court committed error in denying those…