Merkley's request to withdraw guilty plea denied

A Brownstown man who pleaded guilty in October to a felony sex crime was unsuccessful in his bid to withdraw that plea.
At the conclusion of a hearing Friday, Fayette County Resident Circuit Judge S. Gene Schwarm denied Lloyd W. Merkley’s request for a new trial on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
Merkley, 62, agreed to accept a 10-year prison sentence for the Class X felony in signing a plea agreement Oct. 30.

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