Cooper v. State

GREENE, Judge.

Russell E. Cooper appeals from the denial after evidentiary hearing of his Rule 29.151 motion to vacate his conviction of the crime of forcible rape, § 566.030, for which he received a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. After Cooper was incarcerated, he filed a pro se motion to vacate his sentence, which motion, after amendment by court-appointed counsel, alleged that Cooper was denied effective assistance of trial counsel because counsel (1) failed to request a change of venue from the county where the rape charge was filed, (2) failed to record the preliminary hearing which,…