Ray Tate will remain in prison for the rest of his natural life. The former Lawrence County man had his motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate his life sentence for the killing of a Wayne County Sheriffs deputy denied during a nearly 9 hour hearing Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court in Fairfield. During the proceeding, Tate testified he was coerced into pleading guilty to the killing and was not mentally competent at the time. However, presiding Judge Denton Aud, after a brief recess at the end of the hearing, emerged and announced his decision saying that there was no question as to Tate's guilt based on the preponderence of evidence presented against him. Tate does have the right to file a written notice of appeal of the ruling within 30 days. Tate was remanded back into the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) afterward and will continue to serve his life sentence without parole at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester.
Daily Record office closing
Employee pay stubs mandatory starting January 1
Red Hill Unit #10 adopts levy and adds a new administrator
Jasper County shooting
Illinois State Police to expand technology to get drivers to move over
Winter officially kicks off Saturday
Neimerg seeks input on new state flag
Unit 20 approves tax levy and looks for bus drivers
Lawrence County Board approves multiple projects
Lawrence Unit #20 announces holiday schedule
Wanted man arrested in Lawrence County
LCMH announces same day child illness appointments
Sumner City Council special session
Two sentenced to prison in Lawrence County Circuit Court
Historic Hamilton march set for this weekend
Lawrence County projects bid opening
Busy weekend for Lawrence County law enforcement
LAFPD property tax hearing
Lawrenceville Police release November statistics
