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Kim Kardashian West Helps Free D.C. Man Who Was Convicted Of Murder As A Teen
Momolu Stewart was only 16 years old when he gunned down an unarmed man.
A D.C. man serving life in prison for a murder he committed as a teenager has had his sentence reduced, shortly after Kim Kardashian West wrote him a letter of support.
In July, Kardashian West visited the D.C. jail while shooting footage for “Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project,” an upcoming Oxygen documentary special that follows her efforts to "secure freedom for Americans who she believes have been wronged by the justice system."
There, she met 39-year-old Momolu Stewart, who was given a life sentence in the late 1990s for the murder of an unarmed man. Though Stewart was only 16 years old when he committed the crime, he was tried as an adult.
Kardashian West, 38, wrote that during their meeting, she and Stewart discussed the murder, and Stewart “openly admitted that he had shot and killed another young man and that he has to live with that reality every day.”
According to Kardashian West, Stewart has made every effort to turn his life around since becoming incarcerated, including earning his general education diploma and enrolling in college courses under the Georgetown Prisoner’s Scholars program. He has also reportedly set up projects to help other inmates.
“Momolu is a genuine example of the transformation that can take place when a person commits their life to personal atonement and helping to lead others to their own redemption,” wrote Kardashian West in her two-page letter.
Back in February, Stewart petitioned the court for early release under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act, a 2017 law that allows juveniles who have served at least 15 years the opportunity to have their sentences reduced.
“I have no doubt that if his petition is granted, that Momolu would be an asset to his community, rather than a threat to public safety... I have been actively involved in cases across the country and in my view, Momolu is especially deserving of your consideration,” wrote Kardashian West.
Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno, who oversaw Stewart’s petition, granted the sentence reduction this month, after receiving Kardashian West’s letter, along with 40 others, reported The Washington Post.
On Sept. 14, Kardashian West tweeted, “I’m so happy you’re coming home! You soooo deserve this!”
Salerno, however, has not yet announced when Stewart will be released. A hearing in October will determine if Stewart will be freed or must serve more time, according to the Post.
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