A Charleston teenager will spend the rest of his life in prison of the murder of an unborn child.
Kelly Juwan Chapman, 16 was sentenced Wednesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court for the November murder of Natasha Folden's unborn baby. In addition to the life sentence, Chapman received 15 years for the attempted murder of Folden.
"Our goal was to get a no mercy sentence and that's what we got. I'm happy for the victims, and I'm happy we could provide them with some justice," says Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants.
Plants also says this is the first time he can recall the unborn victims statute being used in Kanawha County.
According to state law, Chapman's sentencing will have to be reconsidered when he turns 18. However, Plants does not anticipate going for anything but life with no mercy.
"When juveniles commit adult type crimes, there needs to be adult consequences. At this point, I think this a no mercy case. I suspect when he turns 18, we'll come back and argue for no mercy again," Plants says.
Chapman pled guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges back in May. The shooting took place back in November outside the Shop N' Go on Washington Street.
