Cyntoia Brown Case: Top 5 Facts You Need to Know
She's back in the spotlight for a reason and it's time to pay attention to the Cyntoia Brown case. For this list, we're providing an overview of the key factors and considerations at play in this much-discussed legal case. First her story: This 16 year old girl was tried as an adult and convicted in for the 2004 murder of a 43 year old Johnny Allen. A teenage runaway, suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, Cyntoia Brown was forced into prostitution by a pimp named “Kutthroat”. While in prision, Cyntoia earned an associate's degree and has worked to help others. The reason why she's back in the spotlight is because celebrities have been using their voice to help her case.
#5: Her Story
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This 16 year old girl was tried as an adult and convicted in for the 2004 murder of a 43 year old Johnny Allen. A teenage runaway, suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, Cyntoia Brown was forced into prostitution by a pimp named “Kutthroat”. A sex trafficking victim, she was regularly abused, threatened at gunpoint, and was raped growing up in her household and by her pimp. She also testified that she was beaten and drugged by the johns who would pay for her services. Brown told the police that at Allen’s house, she says she saw guns and felt he was acting strange. She then saw him reach for something which she suspected to be a gun. After seeing this, she drew her own firearm and shot and killed him. She was tried as an adult and given a life sentence, serving 51 years before being eligible for parole.
#4: She Earned an Associate’s Degree While in Prison and Has Worked to Help Others
When the justice system sentences someone to life in prison, you might expect them to just give up and never pursue a proper education, especially if it happens at the tender age of 16. A testament to her character however, Cyntoia Brown went on to earn an Associate’s Degree from Lipscomb University in 2015, where she was described as a “star student” by her own prosecutor-turned-teacher Preston Shipp. She reportedly plans on continuing her education, aiming to earn a Bachelor’s Degree next. Though her opportunities may be limited due to her imprisonment, she has still managed to put her education to good use as a volunteer consultant to help thejuvenile justice system in matters of youth security and trafficking. …
#3: The Reason She’s Back in the Spotlight
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It’s long overdue, but the thinking about sentencing juveniles, particularly as it relates to children victimized by sex trafficking, is finally changing within the justice system. In 2012, the US supreme court banned thesentencing of juveniles to life without parole. For Cyntoia Brown, this has meant renewed hope in her case. Theincreased attention began back in 2011 with the release of a documentary entitled “Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story,” which shed light on her tragic tale. After seeing the film, an attorney from Nashville, Charles Bone, was moved to join her legal defense, pro-bono, in the name of getting her the justice she deserves. Since then, themovement to help her has slowly but surely gained momentum, culminating in a major social media push in 2017.
