Florida Teen Charged With Having Sexual Relations With Younger Girl Urged To Take Plea Deal

Would not be registered as a sex offender if deal is accepted

(CNN) -- Florida prosecutors are pressing teenager Kaitlyn Hunt to accept a plea deal -- one that would keep her out of jail, even if she'd have to admit wrongdoing -- tied to charges she's facing for having sex with a then-14-year-old girl, a state attorney said Wednesday.

Hunt, who turned 19 on Wednesday according to her family, is charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery after the parents of the 14-year-old went to authorities. Hunt's family says their relationship was consensual, though in Florida a person under the age of 16 is not legally able to give consent to sex.

Bruce Colton, state attorney for Florida's 19th judicial circuit, told CNN that his office offered Hunt the latest plea deal in July.

Comments

[anon]

To clarify, Hunt (the defendant) was 18 years old (108 days after being 17 years old) having a homosexual relationship with a 14 year old girl. The parents (plaintiffs) told her to stop twice before filing charges. The 14 year old would sneak out of her bedroom to visit Hunt, allegedly.

[Steve G]

The CNN comments... it burns!

[Beezard]

I remember in the original story months ago, Hunts parents said they were never told, the younger girl's parents just called the cops.

[Beezard]

Anyhoo, If she has a public defender this girl will be on a sex offenders list the rest of her life.

[Beezard]

Never mind, just saw she wouldn't be on the list.

[Beezard]

So the subtext I'm getting is: prosecutors tried something much harsher first, but she didn't have a public defender to send her up the river, she had a real lawyer. And public opinion and news coverage have made this embarrassing for everyone concerned so they're just going to dangle something symbolic. "Admit you did something wrong so we can all save face".