Ray E. Tate made no progress Wednesday in his latest attempt to withdraw his guilty plea on charges connected to his capture in Clinton County.
Tate, who is already serving a life sentence for the December 2021 murder of Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley, appeared via Zoom from Menard Correctional Center in Chester before Associate Judge J. Marc Kelly.
During the brief hearing, Tate asked the court for a continuance so he could draft an amended motion to withdraw his plea. Judge Kelly declined to grant the request, saying he would not consider a continuance until Tate filed a formal written motion. “There are no further settings,” Judge Kelly said before dismissing the case. The hearing lasted less than a minute.
Tate, representing himself after dismissing his court-appointed attorney, told the court in previous proceedings that he has struggled to obtain legal materials and make document copies.
In addition to his Clinton County convictions — which include aggravated kidnapping and weapons charges carrying a 30-year sentence — Tate is serving life without parole for Deputy Riley’s killing.
Tate’s attempt to withdraw his guilty plea in the Wayne County case was denied last year by Judge Denton W. Aud following an extensive hearing. He has since appealed that ruling to the Fifth District Court of Appeals.
Tate remains housed in the maximum-security Menard State Penitentiary in Chester.