State v. Parton

MORGAN, Presiding Judge.

Charged as an habitual criminal with three prior offenses, Section 556.280, RSMo 1969, V.A.M.S., defendant was tried to a jury and found guilty of statutory rape. The trial court assessed punishment at fifty years confinement, Section 559.260, V.A.M.S., and defendant has appealed.

The victim was six years of- age at the time of the incident in question and seven at the time of trial. Her mother had three children, and “off and on” defendant had lived with the family. On July 25, 1970, a baby-sitter was watching the children when she noticed Karen, the victim, was absent…