Three inmates file for resentencing under Oklahoma Survivors' Act
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Three Oklahoma domestic violence survivors are asking a judge to find them eligible under a new state law, and hopefully get them out of prison.
"I am filing a motion for re-sentencing in a criminal case," said Emily Turner, an attorney for The Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.
On Tuesday, Turner applied for resentencing under the Oklahoma Survivors' Act for Carla Enloe.
For twenty years, the 57-year-old has been serving a 40-year sentence at Mable Bassett Corrections Center.
"Hopefully we'll have that sentence reduced to 20 years and she will be out very soon," said Turner.
In January 2004, Enloe obtained a permanent protective order against her ex, James Martin.
"He decided it wasn't over and he continued to stalk, harass her," said Tuner.
Attorneys said the VPO didn't help. Instead, he broke into her home and vandalized it, while terrorizing her in various ways. Court documents show "he moved next door to her, slashed her car tires, tampered with her vehicle, and left several ropes to into nooses hanging in her garage."
The day of the crime, Enloe felt her and her disable daughter's lives were in danger.
"When they went home, she discovered that he had broken in, had broken the windows to her daughter's room, had left creepy little gifts, including a photo of himself," said Turner.
Enloe shot Martin at his home.
"She felt like she had no other choice," said Turner.
Enloe was convicted of second-degree murder.
Now the non-profit is hoping to show the judge evidence, like the protective orders, under the Oklahoma Survivors' Act. It allows domestic violence survivors to submit evidence of their abuse to lessen their sentence.
Attorneys also filed in Tulsa for Kim Perigo, who was run over by her husband's car before she shot him during a struggle with a gun.
They also filed for Judith Nix, who shot her husband while attorneys said he was threatening to kill her.
Right now, she'll be eligible for parole when she's 108.
As for Enloe, a sentence reduction would hopefully mean getting out on time served.
"She is looking forward to getting back to her life," said Turner.
If the court finds the women eligible to apply under the act, they will set a hearing and submit a big packet of evidence telling their stories of abuse.