State v. Boone

Antoine Boone (Boone) was charged by information with the class A felony of assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. See §§ 565.050, 571.015.1 On December 10, 2010, a jury found Boone guilty of the charged offenses. After the jury returned its verdict, the trial court took a short recess before proceeding with the penalty stage of the trial. During the recess, Boone was granted leave to use the restroom. He did not return to the courtroom. Subsequent searches within the courthouse by defense counsel and the bailiff failed to reveal Boone’s location. The trial court overruled…