44-year-old Ray Tate, the convicted killer serving a life sentence for the December 2021 murder of Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley, has dropped his bid to withdraw his guilty plea on multiple felony charges in Clinton County.
Tate had filed a motion in Clinton County Circuit Court to withdraw his guilty plea to charges including aggravated kidnapping, home invasion while armed, and aggravated possession of a stolen firearm. These charges stem from his capture following the killing of Deputy Riley. In Clinton County, Tate was sentenced to two 30-year terms for aggravated kidnapping, a 30-year term for home invasion with a firearm, and 10 years for aggravated possession of a stolen firearm. The sentences are to be served concurrently with his life sentence.
During a court hearing last Friday, the Clinton County State’s Attorney asked Judge Douglas Gruenke to strike Tate’s motion. The judge denied the request and allowed Tate the opportunity to present his argument. Tate declined and instead abruptly withdrew his motion to vacate his sentence.
While the Clinton County proceedings have now concluded, Tate continues to pursue an appeal in his Wayne County murder case. After Judge Denton Aud denied his motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate his sentence in Wayne County, Tate appealed to the Fifth District Court of Appeals, where the case remains pending.
Tate is currently serving his life sentence at the maximum security Menard State Penitentiary in Chester, Illinois.