Sex trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown, sentenced to life at 16, set to be freed next week

Cyntoia Brown, a 31-year-old woman who was sentenced to life in prison at 16 years old for killing a man who she said solicited her for sex, will reportedly be released from prison next week.

According to USA Today, Brown, who has been behind bars at the Tennessee Prison for Women for the last 15 years, will be freed on Wednesday. As part of the conditions for her release, Brown will reportedly be required to meet with a parole officer for regular visits over the next decade.

{mosads}Brown’s much anticipated release comes after Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) granted her clemency in January following months of pressure from the public and a number of celebrities and criminal justice reform advocates. 

At the time, Haslan called the sentence “too harsh,” especially in light of the “extraordinary steps” Brown has “taken to rebuild her life” in prison, referring to some of the education programs she completed and her work mentoring other women who are incarcerated. 

At 16 years old, Brown was tried as an adult and sentenced to life for the murder of 43-year-old Johnny Mitchell Allan.

Brown said she met Mitchell at a restaurant in Nashville after a pimp called “Kut Throat” forced her into prostitution. Brown said Mitchell had taken her back to his place to have sex.

While there, Brown reportedly said she had grew fearful of Mitchell after he began showing her some of his firearms and talking about his experience serving in the military as a sharpshooter.

Brown said she shot him while he was in bed out of fear after he appeared to be reaching for a gun.

In recent years, Brown’s has case has gained national attention with celebrities including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West calling for her to be pardoned. 

A MoveOn petition has also received more than 600,000 electronic signatures from people who support her release.