Appeals Court Denies Effort To Withdraw Plea

The Idaho Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court's ruling dismissing the appeal of a convicted murderer to withdraw his guilty plea on a claim of ineffective assistance from lawyers.

Judges late last month ruled they found nothing supporting Cameron Watts' claim that he was coerced by his lawyers into pleading guilty.

Fifth District Judge Randy Stoker of Twin Falls dismissed Watts' petition for post-conviction relief in April 2010, and Watts appealed that decision.

Watts pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2008 for the 2007 kidnapping and killing of 18-year-old Dale Miller over a $250 drug debt. Watts was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for his part in Miller's death.

Miller's body was found in a barrel in Twin Falls.

Associated Press