Associated Press Published

Man Withdraws Guilty Plea in Cross Lanes Motel Murder

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A man charged in a Cross Lanes motel murder has withdrawn his guilty plea at the last second.

Media outlets report Terrick Hogan had entered a written guilty plea to first-degree murder with mercy in the January 2015 robbery and murder when he asked to read a letter his mother sent to the judge.

Hogan was about to join his girlfriend Shayla Stephenson and triggerman Marcus Curtis in pleading guilty in the robbery and murder of his friend, Kalvon Casdorph. His trial was set to begin Monday. But when he read the letter critical of his lawyer, Hogan backed out of the plea and asked for a new attorney. The judge granted his request.

Hogan says he felt his lawyer hadn’t tried hard enough to get a better deal.