Bartley hires new attorney

Kenneth Bartley hires new attorney:

In the wake of appealing his guilty plea, Kenny Bartley has a new attorney.

Kenneth Bartley met with Knoxville attorney Bruce Poston this week. Poston agreed to take over the case from Michael Hatfield.

Bartley was sentenced to 45 years in prison, as part of a plea bargain last month. However, Poston says that’s “no bargain” for Bartley who only faced six more years if he lost at trial.

On July 2nd, Poston will try to convince a judge the teen didn’t “knowingly or voluntarily” agree to the terms, and that he turned down a similar offer in the presence of his parents.

Be careful what you wish for Mr. Poston. If this goes back to trial, and you lose, 51 years is the minimum of what Bartley is facing.