Tate Asks to Withdraw His Guilty Plea to Deputy's Murder

From his jail cell at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Ray Tate has filed a motion asking to withdraw his guilty plea to the murder of Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Riley. 

Riley was shot to death in the early morning hours of December 29 along Interstate 64.

Tate makes three arguments in his handwritten motion. One, the plea was the result of coercion. He wrote that he wasn't allowed phone, mail or visits and threatened that unless he took a plea, he wouldn't be allowed those rights. Two, he had inadequate representation by his attorney regarding the guilty plea. Three, he wasn't mentally competent to enter the guilty plea.

Tate requests that he be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and that his sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole be vacated.

Tate is to be returned to Wayne County Circuit Court on June 28 for a hearing on his request.