Convicted murderer Ray E. Tate made a brief video appearance in Clinton County Circuit Court Wednesday as part of his ongoing effort to withdraw a guilty plea connected to crimes committed following the 2021 murder of Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley.
The hearing, presided over by Judge Douglas Gruenke, lasted less than a minute. Tate’s court-appointed attorney, VanLear P. Eckert of Belleville, informed the judge that he had not yet been able to speak with his client and requested more time to prepare a motion to withdraw the plea.
Eckert noted that arrangements have been made with Menard State Prison, where Tate is currently incarcerated, and asked for an additional 30 days to consult with Tate and finalize the necessary legal filings.
Tate is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the December 29, 2021, killing of Deputy Riley. He also received a 30-year sentence in Clinton County for aggravated kidnapping and multiple weapons offenses tied to his flight from law enforcement following the murder.
A new status hearing in the Clinton County case has been scheduled for June 11th and will again be held via Zoom.
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