Update 08/07/2019 4:07pm:
Sex trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown was released from a Nashville prison on Wednesday (August 7) after being granted clemency from her life sentence earlier this year. Brown was serving life in prison for killing 43-year-old real estate agent Johnny Allen who picked her up to have sex when she was 16, claiming that she was defending her life. Brown, now 31, spent 15 years in prison before then-Gov. Bill Haslam granted her clemency.
Upon her release, Brown's lawyer, Ed Yarbrough, revealed that she was recently married. Brown reportedly left the prison with her new husband, her agent, and bodyguards. She plans to release a memoir about her childhood this October.
Original 01/07/2019 2:16pm:
According to reports, Tennessee governor Bill Haslam ordered an early release of Cyntoia Brown, a Tennessee woman who was an alleged sex trafficking victim that got issued a life sentence for killing a man when she was 16-years-old.
Brown noted that she was forced into prostitution and that she was scared for her life when she shot the 43-year-old man while they were both in bed.
A statement was released by Brown’s lawyers on her behalf. She addressed Haslam, saying thank you “for your act of mercy in giving me a second chance. I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me.” She continued, saying “With God’s help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people. My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I have been.”
Cyntoia Brown will reportedly be required to perform 50 hours of community service and also participate in counseling sessions. Along with that, Brown will be required to get a job.
source: CNN
