IN RE ROBERT J. BRANSON v. MICHELE BUCKNER, WARDEN, SOUTH CENTRAL CORRECTIONAL CENTER

In Division IN RE ROBERT J. BRANSON, ) ) Petitioner, ) No. SD38312 ) v. ) Filed: October 29, 2024 ) MICHELE BUCKNER, WARDEN, SOUTH ) CENTRAL CORRECTIONAL CENTER, ) ) Respondent. ) ORIGINAL PROCEEDING IN HABEAS CORPUS WRIT GRANTED Introduction In 2018, Robert J. Branson pleaded guilty to child molestation in the first degree under section 566.067 and was sentenced to life imprisonment for that crime. At the time of Branson's offense, child molestation in the first degree was a class B felony unless the victim was less than 12 years of age and the defendant had a prior conviction of an offense…