This KC juvenile pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Should he ever be a free man?
Trevon Henry was 14 when he was certified to stand trial as an adult in the fatal stabbing of Tanya Chamberlain of Lee’s Summit. Henry pleaded guilty recently to one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action.
Prosecutors will recommend the appropriate penalty after assessing the vicious nature of the offense and Henry’s prospects for rehabilitation. His sentence will be determined in January by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jennifer Phillips.
There is little dispute these were serious crimes that merit serious punishment. Henry would have faced life in prison without the possibility of parole. The guilty plea apparently took that off the table.
But it’s still possible that Henry will never be a free man again. Consecutive sentences that effectively amount to life in prison are a reality. He shouldn’t remain behind bars for the rest of his adult life for a crime he committed as a juvenile.
It remains to be seen how much time awaits Henry in prison. A range of penalties include life with a chance of parole after 25 years or a sentence of 30 to 40 years. His age at the time that the crimes occurred should be a consideration, though.
A federal judge recently ruled that the Missouri Parole Board has refused to give youth offenders the opportunity to rehabilitate. Officials have until Dec. 12 to present a plan for complying with constitutional requirements. That could favor Henry if he gets the services he needs to become a productive member of society.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling is clear,” Amy Breihan, director of the MacArthur Justice Center, said in a statement. “Individuals who commit crimes as juveniles must be provided a realistic opportunity for release from prison based on demonstrated rehabilitation.”
Henry, now 17, was a child when he committed the violent crimes. Research shows adolescents are more likely to commit reckless acts without considering the long-term consequences.
Chamberlain, 43, was stabbed to death in 2015. The heinous crime devastated her family, said Gina Fetters, Chamberlain’s mother. Family impact statements play an integral part during sentencing. Henry needs to pay a hefty price for his crimes. But in prison, he should also have the a chance to mature and rehabilitate himself.
Co-defendant Joshua Trigg, who was 13 at the time, was also certified as an adult. The case against Trigg is pending. His trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 26.
Henry and other juvenile offenders should eventually have a shot at redemption, as the federal judge suggested. And state officials are obligated to give Henry and others the real possibility of parole.
This story was originally published October 25, 2018 at 6:29 PM.