Former deputy convicted of murdering wife asks to change guilty plea

EL RENO, Okla. (KFOR) — The former Cleveland County deputy convicted of murdering his wife in 2023 asked the court this week to change his plea to not guilty.

In September, Vaughn Cannon pled guilty to the murder of his wife, Jordan Pyle, after initially pleading not guilty.

But, in a new court filing, he asked the judge to change the plea because of "ineffective assistance of counsel in entering the plea."

The news hit family and friends of Pyle hard after an emotional sentencing hearing on December 11 that had him spending life in prison without parole.

"Even though we didn't go to trial, there was still a lot of evidence today that we saw that we were hoping we didn't have to see," said Jordan Pyle's father Rusty Pyle, the day Cannon was sentenced.

A new filing also showed on Friday that Cannon's defense attorney, Zachary Ramsey, was entered in as a state witness in the case.

"In my experience, I have never seen a defendant win on their motion to defend an appeal after sentencing and everything," said Annie Ruttkay, an attorney at Bennett Vernier Law Firm.

Her firm has been representing law enforcement agencies for many years.

"I like to explain to my clients, you know, did someone have a gun pointed at your head and forced you to plead guilty," said Ruttkay.

Ruttkay said it can be pretty standard to put the defense lawyer on the stand when asking a judge to change the plea.

Last year, Cannon said after he pleaded guilty, "I will accept what the court sentences me to."

In a statement, Cannon talked to his wife’s family and friends. He said, “Grief is brutal,” and “I especially failed my beloved wife, Jordan.”

“I think it was only just that he spent the rest of his life in prison. You know, take his freedom away from him like he took her life away from her,” said Rusty Pyle.

The judge sentenced Vaughn Cannon to life without the possibility of parole.