Zigta v. Commonwealth

Argued at Alexandria, Virginia OPINION FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ARLINGTON COUNTY Paul F. Sheridan, Judge Rezene Mehart Zigta (Zigta) was convicted in the Arlington County Circuit Court of rape, in violation of Code § 18.2-61, pursuant to an Alford 1 guilty plea. He was sentenced to serve a fifteen-year term of imprisonment. On appeal he contends the trial court erred by refusing to allow him to withdraw his plea prior to sentencing. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court. I. BACKGROUND