APPLETON (WLUK) – A judge dismissed Dezman Ellis’ attempt to withdraw his plea for the fatal shooting of Jovanni Frausto at the Fox River Mall in January, 2021. The action in court Thursday confirmed a previous filing by his attorney.
Ellis was 17 at the time of the Jan. 31, 2021 shooting, and 18 at the sentencing hearing. He’s now 22, serving his 40-year sentence after being convicted of second-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Ellis had asked to withdraw his plea, saying Ellis believed that since prosecutors were asking for 15 years in prison, he didn’t believe he could get more than that. However, defense attorney Len Kachinsky later withdrew the motion.
Despite the motion withdrawal, the hearing before Judge Mark McGinnis took place as scheduled Thursday…