Published : October 3, 2024
Author: Staff Writer
Suffolk, VA — Alexander King, incarcerated since 2006 for his role in an attack that left Timothy Arnold severely injured, claims his 30-year sentence is disproportionate to those of his co-defendants. Now 37, King asserts that while he was sentenced to multiple decades in prison, others involved in the crime, including his co-defendant Christopher Langston, received significantly lighter sentences.
King, who was 19 at the time, was convicted of aggravated malicious wounding, robbery, and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. His co-defendant Langston, who cooperated with authorities and testified against King, pleaded guilty to lesser charges of malicious wounding and robbery. Langston served only five-and-a-half years before being released.
The events of that night remain contested. King admits to hitting Arnold twice but denies the claim that he stole Arnold’s wallet, an allegation Langston made during his testimony. According to King, Arnold did not appear critically injured when he left the scene. King maintains that his co-defendant’s cooperation with the authorities resulted in a significantly lighter sentence, despite their involvement in the same crime.
In a recent letter, King expressed remorse for his actions but emphasized the harshness of his sentence, which he contends exceeds that of those convicted of more severe offenses. “I don’t have a violent history in society or in prison,” King wrote. “It’s very hard to walk around with a sentence that’s lengthier than those with murder or rape charges.”
Although King was 19 at the time of the offense, research recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in Graham v. Florida and Miller v. Alabama indicates that the brain is not fully developed until around the age of 25. Neuroscientific studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and assessing long-term consequences—matures significantly during the late teens and early twenties. This research suggests that there is little difference in maturity between a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old, as both age groups often struggle with impulse control and risk assessment. While the legal system defines adulthood at 18, King is hopeful that this evolving understanding of adolescent brain development will be considered in his request for clemency or a sentence commutation.
As he continues to serve his sentence, King is working toward rehabilitation. He has earned his GED, completed programs in anger management, and is currently pursuing a business management degree from South Side Community College. Despite his efforts to reform, he remains frustrated by what he views as an unjust sentence, especially compared to his co-defendant’s.
Now, King and his family are receiving legal support from Oklahoma legal analyst Evan Riddle, owner of Sandlinelegal.com, who will be working with them to explore legal avenues to secure King’s release from prison. The family is hopeful that this new effort will help rectify what they believe is a severe sentencing disparity.
King now seeks a re-evaluation of his case, hoping that his growth and personal development during his 18 years behind bars will be recognized. While he acknowledges his role in the crime, King believes his lengthy sentence is excessive and calls for a second chance at life outside prison.
King’s case raises broader questions about sentencing disparities in the criminal justice system, particularly when co-defendants receive drastically different punishments for the same crime.