Judge David Folsom of the U

Judge David Folsom of the U.S. District Court division in Texarkana has issued an order for a new sentencing hearing for Elroy Chester, who has been on death row since 1998.
Chester, 33, pleaded guilty in 1998 to the shooting death of Willie Ryman III, who tried to intervene as Chester sexually assaulted 2 teens.
The order stated that Chester must be released from custody unless he is given a new sentencing hearing within 180 days or his sentence is reformed to life in prison.
The order was issued based on the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in the case of Atkins v. Virginia, that the execution of mentally retarded inmates is unconstitutional.
Chester fatally shot Ryman Feb. 6, 1998, when the man walked into the house where Chester was sexually assaulting 2 teen-age girls.