Turk Withdraws Guilt Plea

Turk (real name Tab Virgil) is currently serving a 10-year sentence (reduced from 12) for allegedly shooting SWAT team member, Deputy Chris Harris, four times during a raid in Memphis, Tenn. on Jan. 26, 2004.

The rapper had originally entered an Alford plea, also known as a best-interest plea, which allows a defendant to dispute some of the allegations but has the same legal effect as a guilty plea. Turk entered this plea presumably to accept an agreed-upon sentence and avoid a longer sentence if convicted at trial.

The original charges of first-degree murder would have brought a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Local Memphis news outlet, The Commerical Appeal, obtained a statement from appellate Judge J.C. Mclin, saying the rapper was allowed to withdraw his plea because it was "not knowingly, voluntarily, and understandingly entered, and that the pleas were entered through a misunderstanding as to their effects."