§ 136.465 Verdict where crime or attempt included within charge

If you're on trial for a crime, the jury doesn't just have two choices of "guilty of the exact charge" or "not guilty." They can also find you guilty of a lesser crime, as long as that lesser crime is automatically part of the bigger charge against you. For example, if you're charged with a crime that includes a smaller crime inside it, the jury can convict you of just that smaller piece even if they don't think you're guilty of the full charge.

The jury can also find you guilty of attempting to commit that lesser crime, instead of actually completing it. This gives juries more options when deciding a case. They aren't stuck choosing between convicting you of the full charge or letting you go completely free.

This matters because it means you could still be convicted of something, even if the state doesn't prove every part of the original charge. Your defense needs to account for these lesser included crimes, not just the main charge listed in your case.