The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld a LaFollette woman’s nine-year prison sentence for among other things, stealing from a child.

Shawna Henson, 33, (TOP PHOTO) had appealed the sentence handed down to her last year by Eighth Judicial Criminal Court Judge Shayne Sexton on the grounds that the punishment didn’t fit the crime.

The state court disagreed.

Last March, Henson, a repeat offender, pleaded guilty to attempting to tamper with evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft over $500. After weighing the factors in the case, Sexton sentenced Henson to nine years in prison, which was within the range for her offenses. Yet, in her appeal she challenged the punishment citing it as “inconsistent with the purposes and principles” under state law. Within the appeal, she provided no supporting evidence as the inconsistency of the sentence.

Henson had two cases that were combined for the purpose of sentencing.

The first was an attempted tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia case. These charges were levied when Henson was in a car stopped by police and attempted to hide the drug paraphernalia, the court record said.

In the next matter, Henson’s actions were far more dishonest. She stole the purse of an 11- year- old girl. The young lady was standing in the receiving line next to her sister’s casket when Henson stole the child’s purse, the record said.

Henson was on parole at the time of her crimes.

Prior to her sentencing, Henson was to take part in a presentencing interview, which she failed to appear for. Along with this, her four prior felony convictions and parole violation were factored into her sentence, according to the court record.

In a victim impact statement prepared for the court, the girl expressed how Henson’s actions affected her.

“You made me feel so violated and taken advantage of on the worst day of my life that I will never forget,” she said.

When Sexton sentenced Henson he noted she had an “extensive” criminal history and cited her failure to appear for the presentencing interview as reasons to enhance her sentence. The parole violation and the “vulnerability” of the victim were cited as factors as well. The judge further noted Henson had prior opportunities to take part in rehabilitation program but failed to.

The higher court agreed with Sexton stating “there was no dispute” that Henson had been appropriately sentenced. The sentence was “reasonable,” according to the court.

Henson is currently being housed at the Campbell County Jail. She will be eligible for parole in Aug. 2020.

Read a related story HERE.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/03/2019-6AM)

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