Clifton Gabaree, Jr. v. Troy Steele

KELLY, Circuit Judge.

Clifton Gabaree, a Missouri inmate, petitioned the district court1 for a writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The court concluded that Gabaree’s trial counsel had rendered ineffective assistance and granted Gabaree’s petition in part and denied it in part. The State appeals the partial grant of relief, and Gabaree appeals the partial denial. We agree with the district court’s conclusions and affirm the judgment.2

I. Background

In 1992, Gabaree began living with a woman who had two daughters, B.S. and A.S. Gabaree and the woman later had two children together, M.G. and…