State v. Carpenter

TITUS, Judge.

Defendant was jury-convicted of stealing a 1976 Volkswagen owned by Cari Morgan. Having been charged and found to be a prior and persistent offender, defendant was court-sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

Between 11:15 and 11:30 p.m. of the Saturday in question, Ms. Morgan and a companion drove to a Joplin lounge. Ms. Morgan left her car keys and purse in the Volkswagen when she and her friend went into the bar. Upon returning to where she had left the vehicle a few minutes later, Ms. Morgan discovered the car (and obviously its contents) had been stolen. Joplin police were…