Some things are hard to believe until they are seen differently. Even with a copy of the resentencing legal documents, it still did not sink in. Then when I read in my home town local newspaper that
The five other defendants who have accepted 40-year terms to replace their life sentences are:
Wallace Allen, 38, of Little Rock. He pleaded guilty to capital murder in June 1998 for killing Carol Rountree in front of her daughters, who were 6, 9 and 11 years old, while trying to rob her outside the family's apartment. Allen, who cursed the victim's sister after being sentenced, is now parole-eligible.
Source: The Arkansas Gazette
my heart sunk. A battle that my family and I won 21 years ago is here again and this time we lost. The original sentence he received was life in prison without parole. I was 12 years old when I heard this and all I could think was he will not be able to hurt anyone else, any more. But due to a Supreme Court ruling on The Fair Sentencing of Minors Act. This change how my story would end. My mother murder's will now serve a 40 year sentence with the possibly of parole. WAIT WHAT!!!!! What was once a guarantee has now become and option.
On April 3, 2018, (which is also my wedding anniversary ) We prepared to go to trial for the resentencing. We were all excited to come together again and address the monster who took my mother's life 21 years ago but it was cancelled. My middle sister was told that she will receive a new date of when the trial is set to take place. Three months later while we were stilling waiting for an answer, my aunt was watching the local news and learned that the resentencing had taken on July 12, 2018, and we missed it. My family and I were shock and upset. My middle sister and some members of my family stayed in constant contact with the prosecuting attorney about everything that was going on in this case. And they dropped the ball. An much anticipated trial was missed because we were not notified of when it would take place. A day that I had be waiting and preparing for, slipped right passed me. I felt like my 12 year old self again, I was ready to address the monster who had stolen my mother life but no one cared to listen, while he was given the victory. I lost the battle without being given the opportunity to fight. I was moved to cry about it but I felt no tears fall. All I could think of was his family expressing joy and excitement that their son can home. While I wished I could receive the same fate and welcome my mommy home too. I feel that the prosecuting attorney in this case and the state of Arkansas failed us. My sister's and I witness this man take our mother's life and express no remorse. As little girls, I remember missing school days to attend court preceding and meetings with our prosecuting attorney. In court when his family and my family were present together in the courtroom, no one from his family offered an apologize to my family or even tried to notice me and my sisters. They treated my family so badly that some of our male family members had to act as shields to protect us from them. They treated us like we were to blame. They even chased and harassed one of my family member's to her car. His family disregarded his actions and behaviors then, just like The State of Arkansas disregarded his actions and behaviors now. As I viewed his Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate report, his behavior let me know that prison did not change him. His behavior alone should have been more of a reason of why he should have continued his original sentence. The fact that he murdered a woman in front of her children should have been enough. I stared at his inmate picture as tears streamed down my face all I could say with sadness is why? I thought back to 1998 when I was a shy 12 year old sitting quietly in a courtroom office as my prosecuting attorney prepared me to take the witness stand. She asked me her last question. "Do you want him to stay in prison for the rest of his life or do you think he deserve to die for what he did?" Knowing what I know now, I wish I would of answered differently.
This hurts so much right now!!!!!!!
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