In 2006, 15-year-old Travion Blount was given the longest prison
sentence ever given to a teenager for a crime other than murder. He was
sentenced to an incredible six life sentences plus an additional 118
years (you know, just in case he outlived the first six lifers) in
prison for his role in a 2006 house theft.
In the theft, 15-year-old Blount and two 18 year old accomplices stole cell phones, cash, and marijuana from a local house party. The boys were quickly detained by police and charged with their crimes.
The 18 year olds accepted plea deals that landed them only 10 and 13 years in jail. Blount rejected his plea deal at the time, and as a result the judge handed him an infinitely more harsh sentence.
Blount has been serving time in Wallens Ridge State Prison since 2007. Now, almost seven years later, Blount and his attorney are appealing his sentence. They are arguing that his punishment is far more severe than the crime, especially given that the other two teens who committed the crime with him are serving only a fraction of the time Blount is. The appeal is being sent to Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell in hopes that he will pardon Blount before leaving office.
“There is no arguing that the crime committed was trivial,” the appeal reads. “What is arguable is the fact that, out of the three individuals who committed the crime, only one person will die in prison.”
The letter adds that the young Blount was “naive and unduly influenced by the boys.”
Virginia governors are allowed to grant conditional pardons to prisoners. As part of Blount’s conditional pardon appeal, he agrees to meet any conditions Gov. McDonnell sees fit. Prior to being incarcerated for theft, Blount was convicted of unauthorized use of a vehicle, robbery, attempted robbery, and malicious wounding.
When asked for a comment on Blount’s appeal, Gov. McDonnell’s office only said the request is “working its way through the normal process."
Sources: Hampton Roads, Daily Mail
In the theft, 15-year-old Blount and two 18 year old accomplices stole cell phones, cash, and marijuana from a local house party. The boys were quickly detained by police and charged with their crimes.
The 18 year olds accepted plea deals that landed them only 10 and 13 years in jail. Blount rejected his plea deal at the time, and as a result the judge handed him an infinitely more harsh sentence.
Blount has been serving time in Wallens Ridge State Prison since 2007. Now, almost seven years later, Blount and his attorney are appealing his sentence. They are arguing that his punishment is far more severe than the crime, especially given that the other two teens who committed the crime with him are serving only a fraction of the time Blount is. The appeal is being sent to Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell in hopes that he will pardon Blount before leaving office.
“There is no arguing that the crime committed was trivial,” the appeal reads. “What is arguable is the fact that, out of the three individuals who committed the crime, only one person will die in prison.”
The letter adds that the young Blount was “naive and unduly influenced by the boys.”
Virginia governors are allowed to grant conditional pardons to prisoners. As part of Blount’s conditional pardon appeal, he agrees to meet any conditions Gov. McDonnell sees fit. Prior to being incarcerated for theft, Blount was convicted of unauthorized use of a vehicle, robbery, attempted robbery, and malicious wounding.
When asked for a comment on Blount’s appeal, Gov. McDonnell’s office only said the request is “working its way through the normal process."
Sources: Hampton Roads, Daily Mail
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