Cyntoia Brown, sentenced to life in prison for man who solicited sex, granted clemency
A woman who alleges she was a sex trafficking victim and killed a man who solicited her for sex has just been granted clemency.
Cyntoia Brown had her sentence commuted by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today after serving 15 years in prison.
"This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case," Haslam said in a statement released by his office.
Brown was convicted of the 2004 murder of Johnny Allen, a 43-year-old real estate broker she claims solicited her for sex. She was tried as an adult in the case, convicted in 2006, and sentenced when she was 16 years old.
Brown’s case gained attention in 2017 thanks to social media posts by celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, calling for her release. She was also the subject of a 2011 documentary called "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story."
Kardashian was one of Brown's supporters who praised Haslam's clemency, tweeting her support this afternoon.
"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," Haslam said in the statement.
Haslam's office pointed to the reformational work that Brown did during her time in prison, inlcuding getting her GED and noting that she is expected to get her bachelor's degree this year.
The decision to grant Brown clemency, which lawmakers and advocates have been pushing for, is one of the final acts of the outgoing Republican governor.
Brown will be subject to parole until August 2029.
Her attorney, Charlie Bone, was the one to tell Brown on Monday that she was granted clemency.
"There is nobody like Cyntoia Brown, and I may be a little prejudiced, but she deserves this," Bone said at a news conference.
An advocate at the news conference read a letter written by Brown, in which she thanked many people, including Haslam "for your act of mercy and giving me a second chance."
"The lord has held my hand this whole time and I would never have made it without him," Brown wrote in the letter, adding that she is "committed to living the rest of my life helping others."
Nashville mayor David Briley also attended the news conference, calling the decision important for the city.
"Her circumstances were tragic and that tragedy is something we can't forget...but today is a moment in Nashville where we can have a moment of redemption, where we can all be freed from the sins of the past," Briley said.
"She has fought hard to give us this moment of redemption," he said. "Let's not let it pass."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Brown’s correct claims regarding Johnny Allen, and to reflect the correct year of Brown's conviction.
