Still defending his innocence, Jay Edward Cates has appealed Tuesday´s sentencing in the murder of 41-year-old Keri Rasberry.

The 42-year-old Cates was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years-to-life in state prison for the bludgeoning death of his girlfriend. Her body was found in the woods near Calaveras Big Trees State Park in the fall of 2001.

The Stockton man is seeking a new trial to prove his innocence. No date has been set for that trial.