PRESS RELEASE
On July 28, 2016, Melissa Kennedy entered a guilty plea to the charge of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm for the killing of Clifford Lewis which occurred on October 19, 2015. Judge Michael Overstreet sentenced Ms. Kennedy to a mandatory 40 years in prison pursuant to the 10-20-Life law.
Under the 10-20-Life law, Ms. Kennedy must serve this 40 year sentence day to day, with no gain time or early release. Ms. Kennedy is 42 years old and will not be eligible for release until, and unless she reaches the age of 82.
Mr. Lewis’ daughters were supportive of the sentence and expect it will amount to a life sentence for their father’s killer. Because Ms. Kennedy pled guilty, she waives any right to appeal the sentence.
Assistant State Attorney Bob Sombathy was please that the Lewis family will finally have some closure to this stressful ordeal, “I expect that this will amount to a life sentence for this defendant, and for her to forfeit her right to appeal will give the Lewis family some peace of mind.”