Wolfe Given to Month's End to File Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea

Former area girls basketball coach Barry Wolfe has been given until the end of the month to formally file a motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

During a hearing Thursday afternoon in Coles County Circuit Court, Judge Brien O'Brien allowed Wolfe to incorporate a letter written to the Court on August 17, 2018 seeking to withdraw his guilty plea in the motion to withdraw his guilty pleas. Wolfe will not have to submit an affidavit. A status hearing has been set for 2:30pm on January 31 to determine the status of the case.

(BARRY WOLFE)

Wolfe was sentenced to 15 years in prison on each of four counts. Those sentences were directed to be served consecutively, that is one after the other, for a total of 60 years in prison. The charges include two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, plus two counts of criminal sexual assault by a person in a supervisory position over the victim. Wolfe said his former attorney didn't explain he could be sentenced to such a lengthy time in prison if he pleaded guilty.

The victims in the case were girls who played for Wolfe on his amateur basketball squad that toured Central Illinois. Wolfe admitted in his guilty pleas to involving the girls in sexual acts for his gratification.