State v. Kennell

BILLINGS, Presiding Judge.

Defendant Leslie David Kennell was jury-tried and convicted of endangering the welfare of a child [§ 568.050, V.A.M.S.] and sentenced to serve a year in the county jail. He contends the five-year-old victim was incompetent to testify and that his retained attorney should have been permitted to withdraw from the case and the matter continued. We affirm.

The victim, son of a woman who was dating defendant, testified defendant whipped him with a switch and slapped him. Defendant admitted he struck the lad “seven or eight times” with a switch but denied responsibility for…