Attorneys: Sheley plans to plead guilty to murder
GALESBURG – Last month, Nicholas T. Sheley told a Knox County judge that he wants to plead guilty to killing a Galesburg man. He could get death.
The judge gave his attorneys 30 days to talk him out of it. They failed.
Thursday, Knox County Public Defender Jim Harrell and co-counsel Jeremy Karlin filed Sheley’s notice of intent to plead guilty in the first-degree murder of 65-year-old Ronald Randall.
The statement is brief: “It is still the Defendant’s intention to plead guilty to the charges as expressed in open court on September 29, 2009.”
The defense attorneys, who have maintained throughout proceedings that the 30-year-old Sterling man is not competent to make such decisions for himself, plan to go ahead with a change-of-venue hearing Friday.
Web Exclusive: Click here to read the defense's affidavitin support of their request for a change of venue (PDF). Note: The motion contains harsh language. Reader discretion is advised.
It is not known whether Sheley will be allowed to plead, or whether Judge James Stewart will accept it. There will be discussion of the matter Friday.
If Sheley pleads guilty to Randall’s death, he will not automatically avoid the death penalty – a death penalty sentencing hearing still will take place, Stewart has said.
None of the attorneys could be reached for comment Monday.
Sheley, who is also charged in the deaths of five local residents and an Arkansas couple who were killed in Festus, Mo., likely will be returned to Whiteside County after Knox County prosecutes him.
Jefferson County prosecutors have said they expect Sheley’s Illinois cases to wrap up before he is tried in Missouri.
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