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.
"Improving Outcomes, Together" theme for National EMS Week
Candidates can begin filing for school board elections on Tuesday
Indiana Natural Resources Commission to hold public hearing for bobcat rule changes
Single-lane closures to impact State Road 63 near Cayuga
Parke County teenage arrested after biting toddler
Duke Energy breaks ground on Cayuga Energy Complex project
Miller, Vincent lead Parke Heritage Class of 2026
May 15 is National Peace Officers Memorial Day
Indiana Conservation Officers seek help finding track chairs stolen from Fort Harrison State Park
Clay County man among six drug traffickers, including one illegal alien, sentenced to decades in federal prison
110th running of the Indianapolis 500 a sellout, local TV delay lifted
Projects wanted for READI 2.0 and Lilly Blight funding
Rockville man nabbed for harmful matter
USDA requires SNAP authorized retailers to carry more real food
Congressman Yakym's staff to hold mobile office hours in Plymouth this month
Indiana state senator working to legalize medical marijuana
“Click It or Ticket” campaign reminds Hoosiers to buckle up
IDEM introduces new “Local Air Quality Advisory” for short‑term conditions
