CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Charleston teenager was sentenced in Kanawha Circuit Court Wednesday to life in prison for shooting a pregnant woman in the stomach, killing her unborn son.

In May, Kelly Juwon Chapman, 16, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted murder. He admitted he knew Nastasha Folden, 19, was pregnant when he shot her outside the Shop and Go on Charleston's East End on Nov. 2, 2008.

Folden read a prepared statement in the courtroom on Wednesday, said Kanawha County assistant prosecutor Fred Giggenbach.

"[Kelly Chapman] took my child's life. My baby was real and living inside me. He was a fully developed baby and was taken from me by a cruel act of violence," she said.

Chapman's violent act shows that he cannot function in society, she said.

Folden's 1-year-old daughter was with her at the time of the shooting, she said.

"My daughter's innocence was taken from her as she lay underneath me, covered in blood," Folden said. "No child should ever have to experience such violence."

Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants noted that Chapman shot Folden three times in broad daylight.

He asked Judge Duke Bloom to sentence Chapman to the penitentiary for the rest of his life without a recommendation of mercy, which would mean that the teen would never become eligible for parole.

Chapman apologized to Folden, Giggenbach said.

Bloom sentenced Chapman to life without mercy, and ran the three- to 15-year sentence for attempted murder consecutive to the life sentence. Bloom said that under law, he would have to reconsider his sentence when Chapman turns 18, and he would base his decision then on Chapman's conduct over the next two years, Giggenbach said.

Bloom remanded Chapman to the Industrial Home for Youth in Salem.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.

In May, Kelly Juwon Chapman, 16, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted murder. He admitted he knew Nastasha Folden, 19, was pregnant when he shot her outside the Shop and Go on Charleston's East End on Nov. 2, 2008.

Folden read a prepared statement in the courtroom on Wednesday, said Kanawha County assistant prosecutor Fred Giggenbach.

"[Kelly Chapman] took my child's life. My baby was real and living inside me. He was a fully developed baby and was taken from me by a cruel act of violence," she said.

Chapman's violent act shows that he cannot function in society, she said.

Folden's 1-year-old daughter was with her at the time of the shooting, she said.

"My daughter's innocence was taken from her as she lay underneath me, covered in blood," Folden said. "No child should ever have to experience such violence."

Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants noted that Chapman shot Folden three times in broad daylight.

He asked Judge Duke Bloom to sentence Chapman to the penitentiary for the rest of his life without a recommendation of mercy, which would mean that the teen would never become eligible for parole.

Chapman apologized to Folden, Giggenbach said.

Bloom sentenced Chapman to life without mercy, and ran the three- to 15-year sentence for attempted murder consecutive to the life sentence. Bloom said that under law, he would have to reconsider his sentence when Chapman turns 18, and he would base his decision then on Chapman's conduct over the next two years, Giggenbach said.

Bloom remanded Chapman to the Industrial Home for Youth in Salem.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.