State v. Taylor

KERRY L. MONTGOMERY, Judge.

A jury convicted Ronald E. Taylor (Defendant) of second degree murder and armed criminal action in violation of § 565.021 and § 571.015. 1 The trial court sentenced Defendant as a prior offender to consecutive terms of life and fifteen years’ imprisonment.

Defendant appeals contending that the trial court (1) plainly erred in imposing consecutive sentences because the trial judge was unaware that the court had discretion on whether to sentence concurrently or consecutively, and (2) erred in overruling his objection to the prosecutor arguing in opening statement that…