A Jefferson County judge sentenced 24-year-old Christopher Thompson to 30 years in prison after a jury recommended a 65-year term following his conviction on charges of kidnapping, robbery, and sexual abuse stemming from a 2023 attack. The sentencing decision has prompted backlash from prosecutors and members of the Louisville Metro Council.

In December, a jury found Thompson guilty of abducting a woman in her own vehicle, forcing her to perform oral sex in a school parking lot, driving her to an ATM to withdraw money, and sodomizing her at gunpoint. Prosecutors argued that the severity of the crimes warranted the jury’s recommended sentence.

During the Feb. 2 sentencing hearing, Thompson repeatedly disrupted proceedings with profanity and direct insults aimed at Judge Tracy Davis. Court transcripts show Thompson telling the judge he did not care about the victim or her family and expressing no remorse. Despite the outbursts, the court proceeded with sentencing.

Judge Davis declined to follow the jury’s recommendation, citing Thompson’s age and the possibility of rehabilitation. “This court does not believe Mr. Thompson, if given the resources that he can get while incarcerated, is beyond being rehabilitated,” Davis said. She also referenced his background and circumstances leading up to the offenses. In addition to the 30-year sentence, Davis imposed an additional sentence of more than four years related to statements Thompson made in court, which he must serve prior to the 30-year term.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers described the outcome as “disappointing,” stating that the jury’s recommendation reflected the seriousness of the crimes and the threat posed to the community. Louisville Metro Council Minority Caucus Chair Anthony Piagentini also questioned the reduction, raising concerns about public safety and the impact on the victim.

The case has renewed debate in Louisville over judicial discretion, sentencing standards, and the balance between rehabilitation and community protection in violent felony cases.