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Guilty Plea Changed For Yates City Man
21-year old Jason Oppe was in Knox County Circut Court Thursday for a hearing concerning criminal sex charges brought against him.

Oppe had previously pled guilty to the charges, however, at his last court appearance, he and Public Defender Karl Johnson requested a reversal of the guilty plea.
Johnson argued today that when Oppe entered the guilty plea, there was confusion over whether parole would be a possibility in future sentencing.

Now that Oppe understands the possible punishment, he wanted a bench trial.
Assistant States Attorney Eric Gibson argued however, that at the time of the guilty plea, he made it clear parole was not an option by correcting a mis-statement by Judge Stephen Mathers.

Gibson argued at that time, Oppe stated he understood the possible punishment.
That argument was not enough for judge Paul Mangier. He granted Oppe's motion to dismiss the guilty charge and set a date for a bench trial for March 17th.
Oppe faces four to fifteen years in prison if he is convicted and sentenced on the charge of criminal sexual assault of a young child.
02 11 11 by Newsroom
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