State v. Hastings

HOUSER, Commissioner.

Cletus Hastings has appealed from a judgment of conviction of molesting a minor, § 563.160, V.A.M.S., upon trial by jury, and a sentence of 3 years’ imprisonment under the Second Offender Act.

The only witness testifying to facts incriminating appellant was R-S- S-, a female child aged 7 years and 11 months at date of trial. Before she testified the court conducted a preliminary examination out of the hearing of the jury to determine her competence to testify. At the conclusion of the examination the court found the child “to be an intelligent little girl, she understands…