People v. Vinson

Defendant, James E. Vinson, was charged by information with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the strangulation death of his girlfriend, Terry Spillers. Defendant pleaded guilty to one count and was sentenced by the circuit court of Jackson County to 40 years’ imprisonment. Two weeks after being sentenced, defendant filed a pro se petition to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate the sentence imposed. Appointed counsel subsequently filed a supplemental petition for defendant, which the court denied without hearing evidence. Defendant appeals the denial of his petition to…