Judge rules in Skelton case

Judge Robert Montgomery has granted Brandon Skelton’s request to set aside the guilty plea he entered on March 7.

In a hearing on Tuesday, Skelton had asked the court to allow him to rescind the plea he had accepted on lesser charges of Reckless Manslaughter in the 2014 death of Matthew Seward. Skelton had initially been charged with Reckless Murder in the case.

Following his guilty plea, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Skelton’s attorney argued on Tuesday that, when he had accepted the plea, Skelton had not been correctly informed about whether or not he would be able to potentially gain an earlier release for ‘good time’.

Judge Montgomery issued his ruling this afternoon (Friday), stating that Skelton would be allowed to rescind the plea.

Skelton’s case will now go to trial on the earlier charges of Reckless Murder.