Court throws out man's guilty plea in rape case
The Georgia Supreme Court has thrown out a guilty plea entered by a man sentenced t0 20 years in prison for rape, aggravated assault and cruelty to children.
The ruling gives Elmer Pride, charged in the 2003 attack, another chance to work out a plea deal with Fulton County prosecutors or take his chances at trial. The court said it overturned Pride's convictions because Superior Court Judge Wendy Shoob improperly injected herself into plea negotiations when she objected to an initial agreement between prosecutors and Pride's lawyer for a 13-year prison term.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
