Court rejects Joplin man's appeal of attempted stealing conviction

A Joplin man's attempt to get a new trial after being convicted of attempted stealing was rejected by teh Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals today.

Albert Jay Wright was found guilty after a two-day trial in Jasper County Circuit Court in 2024.

Wright's sole point on appeal was that no one could have thought he was serious about stealing from a woman because she was only wearing a t-shirt and underwear and there was no place she could hide her money.

Wright, who was categorized as a persistent offender is serving a 7-year sentence.

The details of the case were spelled out in the opinion.

Wright entered Victim's home on the morning of November 10, 2022, through an open back door. Victim was sitting on her bed, wearing only a t-shirt and underwear, and looked up from her computer to see Wright standing there. Victim did not know Wright. 

Wright told Victim, "Give me your f*****g money, b***h." 

Victim replied, "Okay, okay[,]" and got up. He repeated his demand for Victim's money and then said, "If you don't give me $200 or more, I will f*****g shoot you and kill you[,]" gesturing toward his pocket. 

Wright also threatened to stab and beat Victim several times during the encounter. Eventually Wright told Victim, "Get down on the floor. G*****n it, get down on the floor and give me some money." 

At that point, Victim said, "I'm trying to get to my money." 

Wright responded, "I will get it myself. Where is it?" 

Victim then said, "I don't even know where my billfold is. I've got to go find it myself." Victim refused to get down on the floor, but she told Wright she would "try to get you some money." Victim testified that she, fearing for her life, startled Wright by mimick[ing] back [Wright's] language and his stance, and I just progressed back to the back door. And so, I just yelled at him. I just looked at him, and I said, "Get the f**k out of my house and off my g*****n property. D**n it. Right now." 

And he looked at me, and he blinked. And then he flipped over a laundry basket and ran out the door. 

As soon as Wright got down the steps, Victim dialed 911 to report the incident. There was surveillance footage taken of the incident from Victim's personal home camera. This footage shows Wright entering the home with no head covering and later exiting with a shawl belonging to Victim over his head. 

Wright was subsequently apprehended and during his interview with a detective, Wright admitted to entering the home. He was shown the surveillance footage and stated "that's me" multiple times. It is not disputed that the man entering and exiting Victim's home in the video was Wright.

The court rejected Wright's claim that he had no intent to steal from the woman.

Here, Wright committed a substantial step toward completing the offense of stealing—and specifically attempted to take money from Victim's person—when he invaded Victim's home, threatened Victim, 5 and demanded Victim give him money.