State v. Van Dyke

*5The defendant, Ruben Van Dyke, was charged by grand jury indictment with second degree murder, a violation of Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:30.1. He initially pled not guilty and filed various counseled pre-trial motions. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the defendant withdrew his former plea and pled guilty to manslaughter, a violation of Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:31. The defendant was then sentenced to twenty-four years at hard labor. He did hot move for reconsideration of sentence. The defendant filed an untimely motion for appeal, which was granted. Contending that there are no…