UPDATE: Judge refuses to overturn Kenneth Bartley plea deal:
Yesterday Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood rejected the motion for the Campbell County High School shooter, Kenny Bartley Jr., to withdraw his guilty plea.
When the Judge Blackwood announced his decision, the courtroom filled with applause.
That says a lot, doesn’t it? Not only that but the lawyer that helped him reach the deal testified against Bartley.
Mike Hatmaker, Bartley’s former attorney who helped broker the plea deal testified the 15-year old knew what he was getting into.
“He wanted to do this. Absolutely,” says Hatmaker.
District Attorney General Paul Phillips asked during Monday’s proceeding, “Any question in your mind?”
“No,” replied Hatmaker.
Now a question that makes no sense from his new attorney…
According to his new defense attorney, Bruce Poston, the teen didn’t completely understand them before taking the offer.
Poston says, “On March 25th you turned down a deal that was 25 years for second degree murder and 10 years and 10 years for attempted second degree murder.”
Bartley replied, “Yes sir.”
“On April 10th you said I’ll take the deal. Why?,” asked Poston.
Bartley answered, “I was scared cause I was looking at two life sentences.”
It sounds like he understood exactly what he was doing. That’s why people take pleas, to avoid longer sentences.
Bartley has 30 days to appeal. I’m sure there will be an appeal and I’m sure that one will be rejected too.
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