SPRINGFIELD — Attorneys are asking a judge to set aside the conviction of a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy found guilty in the July 6, 2024, shooting of Sonya Massey in her home in the Cabbage Patch neighborhood.
As an alternative, Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff are seeking a new trial for Sean Grayson, 31, of Riverton who was convicted of second-degree murder by a nine-woman, three-man Peoria County jury on Oct. 29 after more than 12 hours of deliberation.
The Nov. 26 motion filed on in Sangamon County court cited the court’s denial in letting into evidence Massey’s state of mind and “propensity for violence” as among the reasons that Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin should overturn the conviction.
Grayson is scheduled to be sentenced in Springfield on Jan. 29. He faces 4 to 20 years in prison, though there is the possibility of probation. Grayson will serve any sentence at 50%.
Regarding the “propensity for violence,” Grayson’s attorneys argued that “a defendant is permitted to introduce such evidence where there are conflicting accounts as to who the initial aggressor was in the confrontation.”
Prosecutors argued that Massey’s alleged confrontation with a neighbor wasn’t reasonably reliable.
The motion referred to the defense’s argument that Massey was throwing a pot of boiling water at Grayson, who had responded to her 911 call about a possible prowler outside her home.
Grayson had yelled aggressively for Massey to drop the pot, which was introduced as evidence at the trial.
The state argued that Massey was using the pot to defend herself.
Grayson’s attorneys noted that courts have recognized that a victim’s state of mind “is relevant to the extent it bears upon who the aggressor was.”
Cadagin’s decision to twice detain Grayson hampered his ability to assist in his defense, his attorneys further argued.
Grayson’s detention was the subject of an Illinois Supreme Court hearing in January, though it was never ruled on and last month the high court cited Grayson’s conviction in calling the point moot.
In the aftermath, family members and supporters of Massey said the second-degree conviction wasn’t enough. Grayson faced first-degree murder charges, which carry a mandatory 45 years to life in prison without the possibility of probation.
“We got partial justice. We didn’t get complete justice,” said James Wilburn, Massey’s father, following the trial.
If Cadagin denies the motion, Grayson’s attorneys have a right to appeal the denial.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Attorneys for ex-deputy Sean Grayson seek new trial
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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