Broward News

Kaitlyn Hunt's Attorney Asking Judge to Limit Her Court Appearances

The defense attorney for Kaitlyn Hunt, the 18-year-old high school student facing felony charges after she had a same-sex relationship with a younger student, is planning to ask a judge to limit the teen's court appearances until jury selection. Earlier this month, Hunt was arrested on charges of "lewd and...

By Chris Joseph

June 4, 2013

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The defense attorney for Kaitlyn Hunt, the 18-year-old high school student facing felony charges after she had a same-sex relationship with a younger student, is planning to ask a judge to limit the teen's court appearances until jury selection.

Earlier this month, Hunt was arrested on charges of "lewd and lascivious battery of a child 12 to 16 years old." The student she had a relationship with is 15.

Prosecutors had offered Hunt a plea deal agreement of two years house arrest and one year probation. Had Hunt taken the deal, she would have been labeled a "sexual offender." She and her attorney refused the deal.

According to WPTV, Hunt's attorney, Julia Graves, will make the request for the teen to have her court appearances limited at a hearing scheduled for Friday.

Graves is also requesting a defense motion to postpone a case status hearing scheduled for June 20.

The request will be heard by Circuit Judge Robert Pegg.

Hunt appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday. She did not speak.

Graves has indicated that she plans to defend Kaitlyn, as well as challenge the laws that have landed the teen in this predicament.

Graves has cited a 2011 case about an 18-year old male who faced the same charges when it was found out he had consensual sex with a 15-year old girl. That case saw the charges dropped to a misdemeanor battery case.

Kaitlyn has received an overwhelming amount of support online, particularly from those who believe this is a gay rights issue. There are those who oppose her, and use the staunch Florida law as a reasoning to push their bigotry.

The family says Kaitlyn's girlfriend's parents are pressing charges because they simply can't handle their daughter being in a same-sex relationship.

Kaitlyn and her supporters say the relationship was consensual. Florida law stipulates that anyone younger than 16 cannot legally consent to sexual activity.

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