A woman in Arkansas who shot her ex-boyfriend 17 times was sentenced to only 20 years in prison; her statements to police have sparked outrage.
Conway Woman Sentenced to 20 Years After Pleading Guilty in Child Sex Crime Case
A Conway woman has been sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a charge connected to a child sex crime investigation.
Court records show Emily Brinley, 27, pleaded guilty on July 23 to one count of conspiracy to rape a child in Benton County. Prosecutors said she had previously faced additional charges, including internet stalking of a minor and conspiracy to commit rape.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Robinson confirmed Brinley’s 20-year prison sentence following her plea.
The case involved an investigation that began in 2023 when Brinley and her husband, Benjamin Coney, allegedly communicated with an undercover officer posing as a minor. According to court documents, the conversations later moved to an encrypted messaging app, where investigators say the couple discussed sexual activity involving a child.
Authorities said both Brinley and Coney were arrested after arriving at a meeting location. During a search of their vehicle, deputies reported finding sexual items, lubricant, a receipt, and cell phones.
Coney previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit rape and received a 20-year sentence in state court. He also received a federal sentence of more than 17 years related to the same investigation.
Federal prosecutors also brought charges against both individuals. Brinley received a federal sentence of 14 years with supervised release, while Coney was sentenced to more than 17 years with additional supervised release.
Coney, who previously coached for the Arkansas Punishers minor league football team in Little Rock, was removed from the team after his arrest in December 2023.
