Loden v. State

RANDOLPH, Justice,

for the Court:

¶ 1. On September 21, 2001, Thomas E. Loden, Jr., an eighteen-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps who had attained the rank of gunnery sergeant (E-7), waived his right to a jury at trial and sentencing, and pleaded guilty to capital murder, rape, and four counts of sexual battery.1 After conducting an extensive hearing on the knowing, intelligent, and voluntary nature of said waivers, the Circuit Court of Itawamba County accepted Loden’s pleas and adjudged him guilty on each count. At sentencing, Loden:

elected to waive cross-examination of all of the…