BISMARCK, N.D. – A Minot man sentenced to 35 years in prison for a 2017 murder had his appeal to withdraw a guilty plea denied by the North Dakota Supreme Court.
Four days into his 2022 re-trial after his first conviction was thrown out on appeal, Bradley Morales unexpectedly entered a guilty plea, making a lengthy statement, admitting to stabbing the victim, and apologizing to the victim’s family.
At the time of his sentencing in February, Morales tried to withdraw the guilty plea claiming he received ineffective legal counsel, and that various witnesses lied and the evidence did not support a conviction.
On November 9, state’s high court said the lower court’s criminal judgment in the case should stand.