Published on December 24, 2025 10:09 am
Last Updated on December 24, 2025 10:09 am
It’s been more than a year since Judge Denton Aud rejected Ray Tate’s efforts to withdraw his guilty plea to the 2021 slaying of Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley. Despite the rejection, Tate has taken his case to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Mt. Vernon, challenging the ruling.
Tate has a similar case on appeal in Clinton County, where he was captured. On October 16th last year, Tate entered a guilty plea to charges related to his capture, including kidnapping and home invasion and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. On November 11, he filed a motion to withdraw the guilty plea and vacate the sentence.
Over the course of nearly a year, Tate has been through two defense attorneys, firing his most recent counsel on August 13. Tate is now representing himself. His next court appearance by Zoom in Clinton County will be on October 29.
Meanwhile, Tate remains in the maximum security Menard Correctional Center in Chester where he is serving a life sentence for Deputy Riley’s killing.
