Sex trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown has been granted clemency after she was sentenced to life for killing a man who bought her for sex when she 16-years-old. Get the latest inside...
Here's some good news in 2019.
Cyntoia Brown - a woman serving a life sentence for killing a man who brought her for sex at the age of 16 - has finally been granted clemency. And the ruling comes just in time for Human Trafficking Awareness month.
According to the Tennessee governor's office, the 30-year-old sex trafficking victim will be released to parole supervision on August 7th after serving 15 years in prison. She will remain on parole for 10 years.
"This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case," Gov. Bill Haslam's office said in a statement.
"Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope."
In 2004, 16-year-old Cyntoia fatally shot 43-year-old Johnny Allen, a stranger who had picked her up at a Nashville Sonic. According to Cyntoia, he solicited her for sex and then took her back to his house. Fearful that he was going to kill her, she shot him in the head while he was sleeping.
CNN reports:
Prosecutors at the time said Brown shot Allen in the head while he was sleeping, stole money and guns, took his truck, and fled the scene. They argued the killing wasn't motivated by self-defense, but robbery.
Brown said she was scared for her life by Allen's behavior, and took money for fear of returning empty-handed to her pimp, nicknamed "Cut Throat."
A juvenile court found Brown competent to be tried as an adult. She was convicted of murder and robbery, and sentenced to life in prison.
Rihanna, Reagan Gomez, and other celebrities rallied for Cyntoia's release on social media in 2017, helping to raise awareness to her case:
A victim of neglect, abuse & sex trafficking, Cyntoia Brown was tried as an adult & convicted for killing her rapist in self defense. #CyntoiaBrownhttps://t.co/Ol2xrH1w7H
— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) November 20, 2017
In a statement, Cyntoia Brown said that she will do everything to justify Haslam’s faith in her and thanked her family for their support.
Celebs - including Meek Mill, Viola Davis, Jada Pinkett Smith and T.I. - are rejoicing after hearing the news of her release:
We're SO happy for her! And hopefully this is a step in the right direction of adjusting laws that define and prosecute self defense.
Photo: AP