We, A Call For Justice Organization, have refused to remain silent while a young woman’s future is being stolen through injustice. At just the age of 18 years old, Bryanna Houston, a Black teenager, was harshly sentenced to 23 years in prison without the possibility of early release. Although charged in adult court for murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary (all with firearm specifications), Bryanna did not take anyone’s life, steal anything from anyone, carry any lethal weapon, or break into anyone’s house and attempted to withdraw from the situation and tried her hardest to convince her codefendants to leave but was forced to stay. Yet, a plea deal she never fully understood nor participated in negotiating condemned her to spend her entire youth and much of her adulthood behind the walls of Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. This harsh sentence imposed by stacking maximum penalties despite numerous mitigating factors as well as alternative sentencing has robbed her of 23 years of freedom and the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the development of the country she loves. This is a devastating example of how the system can destroy young lives. As defenders of justice, we call upon our courts to take a second look at Bryanna’s sentencing, review the facts, and correct this profound injustice. But, how did she end up in this situation?

Bryanna Houston, then 17 years old, was arrested shortly after a shooting that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old Jaden Halpern on June 10, 2022, along with five other teenagers then aged 15 to 18 years. The five included Roseline Thomas-Lewis, Brianna Patrick, Khyrese Garner, Jaquan Glenn, and Keion Darden. The group was accused of allegedly planning to lure Jaden under the pretense of buying marijuana from him in order to commit a robbery. When Jaden failed to come outside, the teenagers attempted to gain entry into his home, with the knowledge of Jaden’s father, David Halpern. Shortly afterward, Jaden’s father saw what he believed to be an assault rifle (though the teenagers were in fact carrying only an air rifle) and fired a single shot. Tragically, his son, Jaden, stepped into the line of fire and was fatally shot in the back by the single bullet fired by his father.

Originally, Bryanna was charged with murder (an unclassified felony), aggravated robbery (a first-degree felony), and aggravated burglary (a first-degree felony), all carrying firearm specifications. Unknown to her, negotiations started behind the scenes for a possible plea deal between the public defender representing her and the prosecution. According to the plea deal, her charges would be reduced from murder and aggravated burglary to involuntary manslaughter while the charge of aggravated robbery would remain as part of the plea. This plea deal, structured by the public defender and the prosecution without Bryanna’s full understanding or input, allowed the prosecution to secure a conviction without going to a full trial, resulting in a stacked 23-year prison sentence for her without the possibility of early release from the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio.

Typical of many Black individuals accused of similar crimes, the arrest and subsequent legal proceedings in Bryanna’s case were marked by coercion and threats from the investigating officers aimed at extracting an admission or confession, manipulation of facts, and significant challenges in securing and retaining competent, private attorneys. The process involved exhausting and prolonged court appearances with no timely hearing dates, undue pressure to accept plea deals that discouraged trials, warnings about the high costs of hiring private defense attorneys, and threats of harsher sentences in the event of non-cooperation. The combined pressure on a then 17-year-old teenager was immense, deliberately applied to coerce her into accepting a plea deal that has now deprived her of her freedom due to a stacked 23-year sentence, despite the possibility of concurrent or lesser sentencing, given that Bryanna, who was only 17 at the time, did not take a life, steal property, carry a dangerous weapon, or break into anyone’s home. 

Bryanna’s life now hangs in the balance. She cannot fight for the injustice in her case without our help. She cannot reclaim the years stolen from her unless we stand together, raise our voices, and demand her story to be heard. Justice will not come on its own. It will only come if we speak out by signing this Petition to “Take a second look at the harsh punishment and stop a 23-Year Sentencing Injustice”. Your signature is a stand against a system that punished a teenager far beyond what was fair or just at a time when she was just beginning her life and full of potential. It is a vote for fairness, accountability, and a chance to reclaim her future. Sign this Petition by A Call For Justice Organization today to stand up for Bryanna and demand that young lives are not sacrificed for the gain or convenience of others. Your voice can help Bryanna restore her hope, protect her freedom, and bring her one step closer to the justice she so urgently deserves.