Man Sentenced to 74 Years In Prison Is Now Spreading A Message Of Hope

Facing 74 years in prison, an Oklahoma man decided to change his life and give hope to others facing similar circumstances. 

“Really it just started with a series of wrong choices and wrong decisions,” said Christopher Hendrix.  

Those wrong choices would earn Hendrix a sentence of 74 years in prison for multiple armed robberies. At the time he was 27 years old.  

“When I went to the department of corrections, I simply took that time, as time that was still valuable to me, because I had an understanding that time is time no matter where you’re at,” said Hendrix.  

He became the model prisoner, earning his college degree with straight A’s, even though it was very likely he would spend the rest of his life in prison. 

“I filed some paperwork through the law library after doing a lot of reading in law books, and I discovered something in my case that wasn’t right,” said Hendrix.  

He was finally granted a new trial in the courtroom of Judge Amy Palumbo.  

“She’s looking at letters of recommendation from over the years, she’s looking at college transcripts, she’s looking certificates of completion,” said Hendrix. 

At his sentencing, Judge Palumbo observed letters from multiple prison units requesting leniency for Hendrix.  

According to court documents, “it was one of the most extraordinary compelling cases of redemption she had encountered in her career.”   

“In my case, Judge Palumbo, she made the decision to give me a second chance, and I’ll forever be grateful to God and forever be thankful to her for that,” said Hendrix.  

His new sentence was for the 12 years he had already served, essentially, making him a free man.  

“It was like a feeling, like I couldn’t actually believe what I had just heard,” said Hendrix.  

Now a free man, Chris is making the most of his second chance. He’s the chaplain at the juvenile detention center, and the assistant chaplain at the Oklahoma County jail, freely walking the halls that once confined him  

“When I interact with inmates, be it an adult or child, I’m not only able to spark hope in them by giving them God’s word, but I also convey to them my story,” said Hendrix.  

He says he never would have gotten through this without the support of his family. Hendrix serves on multiple boards and committees spreading the hope that got him through.