WOODFORD COUNTY, Ill. – A Washburn woman’s murder conviction has been overturned by an appeals court.
21-year-old Maya Nodine was found guilty but mentally ill in September of 2022 for her role in a December 2021 head-on crash that killed 47-year-old Joy Hattan on Route 26 and Banta Road.
Nodine had intentionally swerved her car into on-coming traffic.
Nodine was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
But the Fourth District Appellate Court this week reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial.
That’s because the judge in the case did not warn Nodine of potential conflicts with her defense attorney, and was not given an opportunity to hire another attorney, if desired.
The defense attorney, Maureen Williams, had pleaded guilty to forgery in a 2021 case. Nodine was also not told the state’s attorney’s office filed a motion to revoke Williams’ probation for alcohol consumption.
Williams had reportedly tried to withdraw from the case, but did not tell the judge that prosecutors intended to revoke for probation.
The appellate justices ordered the trial court to appoint a new attorney for Nodine, unless she hires her own.
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