Stillwater NewsPress

Local News

Related Photos

  • Benjamin Littlesun, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Cushing woman, withdrew his plea of guilty in Payne County District Court.

    Benjamin_Littlesun_12_06_11.jpg
July 24, 2012

Prosecutor wants Cushing man’s murder plea to stand

By Russell Hixson Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER, Okla. — A man sentenced to life in prison for stomping a Cushing woman to death after a night of partying now wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

The Payne County district attorney’s office filed a motion Monday to deny Benjamin Littlesun’s request to take back his plea.

Littlesun, 23, was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month after pleading guilty first-degree murder in the death of Ava Marie King, 45, who was found in a Cushing alley last December and died a few hours later in a hospital.

Littlesun sent Payne County Judge Phillip Corley a handwritten note saying he wanted to withdraw his plea of guilty. The district attorney’s office is opposing the move, contending Littlesun’s note 13 days after he pleaded guilty was filed outside the 10-day window to withdraw a plea.

Littlesun is set to appear before Corley at 9 a.m. Aug. 10 regarding his request to vacate the guilty plea.

The state contends the withdrawal should be denied because Littlesun failed to provide any reason why he requested it. According to state law, defendants must show a guilty plea was entered through inadvertence, ignorance, influence or without deliberation.

District Attorney Tom Lee was out of the office and could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Littlesun’s attorney, Peter Astor, said he could not comment on why his client submitted the request and said it is likely he will have to testify about it and another attorney would likely be appointed for Littlesun due to a conflict of interest.

According to witness testimony, Littlesun and a woman left a Cushing bar together the night before King was found severely beaten, and Littlesun told investigators he beat King when she slapped and spat at him.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
Stilly Studio
  • Savory_Stilly_Studio_05_01_13.jpg Savory crosses off goals with fifth album

    “I love the high energy stuff,” he said. “Even though it’s country, being able to rock it up, distorted guitars and just seeing the crowd, feeding off of that.”

    May 2, 2013 1 Photo

NewsPress Specials
AP Video
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol Transgender Candidate Running in NYC Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent' Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation' Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
Stocks