A woman who was sentenced as a youth to life in prison without parole for capital murder has been released after her sentence was shortened after U.S. and state Supreme Court rulings found such sentences to be unconstitutional.
Laquanda "Faye" Jacobs was released Tuesday after serving 26 years. On Monday, the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney's office had renegotiated her sentence to 40 years.
In 1993, when she was 16, Jacobs was found guilty of the murder of a classmate and was sentenced to life without parole. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that life sentences for youthful offenders constituted cruel and unusual punishment.
The Midwest Innocence Project, which is representing Jacobs, said in a statement that Jacobs is innocent, and plans to petition the governor for clemency.
Metro on 07/18/2018