People v. Ledbetter

Defendant James Leonard Ledbetter appeals a trial court order denying his pro se motion to withdraw his guilty plea. The court denied a similar motion presented at defendant’s sentencing hearing, finding no factual basis to support the withdrawal of the plea and denied the second motion at a post-conviction hearing without the presence of defendant or appointment and presence of counsel for the defendant. Defendant argues that Supreme Court Rule 604(d) (107 Ill. 2d R. 604(d)) requires that counsel be appointed to assist an indigent defendant with a motion to vacate a guilty plea. We agree and…