By Sophia Rijo
Staff Writer
When a juvenile is convicted of a crime should prosecutors think about the morality of sentencing a child to prison, or should they think about upholding the law? In the case of Cyntoia Brown the law was upheld but not to her benefit.
On Aug. 7, 2008 the body of Johnny Allen was found by Nashville police dead due to gunshot wound to the head. Allen’s murderer was Cyntoia Brown who at the time of the crime was 16-years-old. Her justification against killing Allen was that he had solicited her for sex and when brought to his home, he started becoming violent. In fear she grabbed a .40 caliber handgun from her purse and shot him. In court prosecutors claimed that Brown’s true motive was to rob Allen and she was charged with first-degree felony murder and aggravated robbery. Her sentencing was two simultaneous life sentences.
As of Jan. 10, 2019, Cyntoia Brown was granted clemency (pardon) by former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam. It has been about 14 years since Brown was sentenced to 51 years in prison. The case of Cyntoia Brown is a sad one; she never got a proper childhood since her mother was an alcoholic when pregnant with her. Along with the neglect she received, Brown was also placed in foster care and was deemed a runaway.
She has a neurodevelopmental disorder which can result in “’poor impulse control and disconnect between thought and action.’” Diagnosed with that disorder along with carrying trauma of being used as a prostitute at a young age, the court should have ruled that she is a mental health victim and be given treatment under supervision.
There are many cases similar to Brown’s that haven’t garnered as much attention; and that is why Brown’s case could open up many doors in the ways that prior and future cases should be handled.
One thing that must also not be forgotten when thinking about this case is that ultimately a person’s life was taken. The majority of people’s opinion might be that Allen deserved to get killed because he tried to not only have sex with a minor but also harm her. Of those two statements the only one with validity is that Allen was going to have sex with a minor. Evidence that could support the statement is that Brown has had a record of being a prostitute.
Another would be that Brown had an abusive relationship with a man known as “Cut Throat,” who forced her into prostitution. The second statement cannot be validated because Allen was murdered.
How would people be able to believe that Brown killed Allen in self defense and not for robbing him, if there is only one part to the story? Brown told police that Allen became violent, but there are no records that show she had sustained any physical injuries. What police did find from Brown was that she had taken Allen’s wallet and some of his guns.
It seems hard to believe that if Brown was in fear for her life, she would shoot Allen then go through the hassle of searching for his wallet and carrying around guns taking them back to a hotel. It would have been easier to believe that it was self defense if she shot Allen, and then took off not wanting to stay for a second longer in the room of a man who she had just killed because he became violent.
There is no doubt that it is hard to pin-point Brown’s true reasonings for murdering Allen, but what can be taken from this case is that Tennessee juvenile laws are outdated. A 51-year sentence must be carried out before an appeal can be made for parole. A life behind bars at a young age does nothing to teach minors how to distinguish right from wrong. In fact, it could be argued that it harms their psyche because they are treated and sentenced as adults while they have not fully developed mentally.
Brown’s case has brought awareness to the need of changing Tennessee’s laws. In the case of first-degree murder there is the death penalty, life in prison without possible parole, and life in prison with possible parole after 51 years. Tennessee is only one state out of many that is in need of reform and as society gradually changes its views the laws must change accordingly as well.
There is so much more information that is involved in this case that would be too much to fit into the newspaper. If this case has interests you, I personally urge you to continue to do your own research and become well informed on this matter.
