Sex trafficking survivor Alexis Martin will be released from prison by Ohio's governor

[Eugene]

Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

Alexis Martin, a sex trafficking survivor sentenced to prison as a teenager, will be released.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Friday afternoon that the 22-year-old is among several inmates for whom he will grant clemency amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, which health experts say particularly threatens jail and prison populations.

"This is a brilliant young person who gets to live her life," said Sasha Naiman, a lawyer for the nonprofit Ohio Justice & Policy Center who has worked alongside Jennifer Kinsley, a private lawyer working pro bono, to free Martin since 2018.

A law providing protections to children trafficking victims, had it been applied during Martin's trial, could have resulted in her already being free.

-snip-

Max Londberg, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 4:26 p.m. ET April 17, 2020


Read more: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/04/17/sex-trafficking-survivor-alexis-martin-being-released-ohio-prison/5154816002/

---

Source: Washington Post

10:56 p.m.

Imprisoned child sex trafficking victim Alexis Martin to be freed due to coronavirus spread

Alexis Martin, a nationally-known child sex trafficking victim imprisoned in Ohio, will soon go free. Gov. Mike DeWine commuted her sentence Friday as a part of the state’s efforts to reduce the spread of covid-19 in prisons.

Martin, now 22, was arrested at age 15 for her alleged involvement in the death of a man who was selling her for sex. In 2013, her alleged pimp, 36-year-old Angelo Kerney, was killed during an attempted robbery. Martin was in another room at the time, but prosecutors argued she participated in the planning of the robbery.

Although Ohio has a “safe harbor” law, which is intended to route minor victims of trafficking into diversionary programs, Martin was tried as an adult. At age 17, she was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 21 years.

Attorneys and advocates have been working to free her ever since, appealing her case all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. Judges acknowledged that there is a “clear history of human trafficking,” but declined to free Martin.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/17/coronavirus-latest-news/#link-FATT5CLPSNHXRFCAPHOJSYMGLQ

[bobbieinok]

1. Her sentencing true travesty of justice

[cos dem]

2. What the heck? DeWine has been acting like a decent human being lately.

He's a Republican, how can that be?

[Polybius]

3. He handled the pandemic like an adult too

If he were younger, he'd have a great chance at the R nomination in 2024.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Here's a DeWine backhander at Trump

He says he takes “responsibility for any decision” vis a vis pardons and commutations