Convicted murderer and former Lawrence County resident Ray Tate was back in court this week.
He appeared via ZOOM from prison at Menard at the hearing in Clinton County, Ill. Circuit Court in his continued attempt to withdraw his guilty pleas to charges filed against him after being captured following the killing of Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Riley in December of 2021.
During the proceeding, Tate refused to speak to his court-appointed attorney Van-Lear Eckert of Belleville and in a surprise move fired him and indicated he would move forward without an attorney. The presiding judge admonished Tate for the move but did allow the move. The matter was then set for a status hearing on Wednesday, September 3rd.
Tate is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the Riley death in Wayne County and was given an additional 30 years for convictions on aggravated kidnapping and several weapons in Clinton County. He remains incarcerated at the Menard maximum-security facility in Chester, Ill.
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