Remember that woman who squatted in a $2 million East Memphis Mansion? Tabitha Gentry is serving a 20-years in prison for that. Now her new attorney hopes to get that sentence reduced or the case overturned.
Gentry’s lawyer released a documentary about the case. Watch it HERE.
“I made the video because her sentence did not fit the crime,” said Katheryn DeRossitt.
DeRossit said she hopes after watching this video, people will understand how unjust Gentry’s punishment is.
“We have people that commit crime after crime against our community, that are violent and harmful, and they don’t get 20 years in prison,” said DeRossitt.
Gentry took over an East Memphis mansion that at the time was up for sale. She was charged with what was considered a class “A” felony.
“My question for the state of Tennessee is, why did they charge her with the same class as first-degree murder. This was not a family home, there were not people living in it. She didn’t terrorize anybody. She sat in a bank-owned home for 5 days,” said DeRossitt.
In the video, Derossitt points to other cases, like a Memphis woman who pleaded guilty to embezzling almost $200,000 but was sentenced to just one year in prison. Another man highlighted in the video was convicted of murdering a man in Cordova during a parking spot dispute and got an 18-year sentence, less time than Gentry.
“Five days in a bank-owned house. 20 years in prison,” said Gentry.
In the courtroom Gentry was known for her outbursts. She claimed she was a Moorish citizen and didn’t have to follow the rules of the US government.
Other lawyers we talked to say it’s hard to compare cases.
“It’s all apples and oranges. Every case is going to be different,” said Michael Scholl.
“The judge is required by law to look at each individually,” said Murray Wells.
A spokesperson for the Shelby County District Attorney’s office says Gentry was charged with a class a felony because of the value of the house.
DeRossitt believes had it not been an East Memphis mansion, her client may have never been charged.
“I do think that had to be a factor, because I don’t think it would have been prosecuted if this has been a 3-bedroom tiny house, no one was paying attention to,” said DeRossitt.
Last year the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld Gentry’s conviction. Her lawyer plans to file additional appeals in either state or federal court.
