The PEOPLE v. Watson

On April 21, 1966, an indictment which charged the defendant, LaRoy Watson, with armed robbery, was returned in the circuit court of St. Clair County. An assistant public defender was appointed to represent him, and he entered a plea of not guilty. The case came on for trial on May 26, 1966, and after 8 jurors had been accepted, the defendant withdrew his plea of not guilty, and pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery. He was sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not less than 4 nor more than 7 years. No appeal was taken.

Thereafter, on August 14, 1967, defendant filed a…