Please help Kevin Mercer receive justice!

Why when murder's, rapist, and child molesters receive 8-25 years in prison, would this young man receive 49 years? Yes, he committed a crime, which was aggravated burglary, but the sentence does not fit the crime. Kevin has never said he was innocent, he admits he committed a crime and he accepts his responsibility in the crime. We understand that he has to pay for what he did, but look at the sentence, come on 49 years for his first offense! The judge was trying to make others see how hard of a judge he could be if someone was to try and escape again, he was not trying to serve justice. No one in the world gets 49 years for their first offense, not even most murders', they get 25 years on average. We are not asking you to sign this petition and say that Kevin is innocent, we are asking that you sign this and say that his sentence was a misuse of justice and to reduce his sentence. There were 4 individuals involved and 2 of them are out of prison, while 1 received a violation and is still incarcerated and then there's Kevin, who received the longest sentence, because he made the awful choice to escape before he was sentenced, which he did because he was a child wanting to see his new born child. He regrets all of the choices he made and is very remorseful. The charges imply that someone was hurt during the crime, but Kevin did not hurt anyone, he did not have a weapon. One of the boys who is out of prison, had a weapon, but made a deal and twisted things around on Kevin. Yes, Kevin made a choice to commit a crime, but he did not commit a crime which should give him such a horrible sentence. He has been stripped of all his human rights. He has done almost 6 years of his sentence and that should pay his debt to society. Please tell the Governor to let this young man come home and raise his 5 year old son. Give him a break! His attorney made him take this plea bargain, when he was just 18 years old, he was only a child and did not understand what to do. He was coerced into signing the plea bargain and because he signed the plea, no other hearings are afforded him to help him reduce this horrible sentence. His last hope is for the Governor of Tennessee to reduce his sentence. We are reaching out to the public for your help, please ask the Governor to do the right thing and give this young man his freedom back and the right to prove to everyone that he can be a productive and rehabilitated citizen. This petition has not been changed only added to. This is petition comes from my heart and if anyone would like to ask me any questions please e-mail me and I will gladly answer all questions. lhasty1@columbiastate.edu.