Kaitlyn Hunt, the Florida teen arrested
and expelled from high school over a lesbian relationship, faces a
deadline of Friday to accept or reject a plea deal.
Hunt began dating a female student 3
younger than herself at the start of the year when she was 17.
In February, after Hunt turned 18, her
girlfriend's parents went to the authorities, who arrested the teen
and charged her with the felony of “sexual battery on a person
12-16 years old.” After officials at Sebastian River High School
refused to expel Hunt, the parents appealed to the school board and
had her expelled.
The Indian River County State
Attorney's Office has given Hunt until Friday to accept a plea deal
that would allow her to avoid registering as a sex offender if she
pleads guilty to a charge of child abuse.
On Thursday, Hunt's attorney, Julia
Graves, reportedly spoke with prosecutors in an effort to lessen the
charges.
Graves presented a case involving an
18-year-old male who allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old female.
His final charge was lessened to a misdemeanor battery case and he
was sentenced to one year probation.
However, Charles Sullivan Jr., the
attorney of the alleged victim, told reporters that the family
continues to support the prosecution.
“This is not driven by prejudice or
approval or disapproval of any sexual orientation,” Sullivan said.
“The family's concern is for the safety of their child. And that a
crime was committed and a person is being prosecuted for the
commission of that crime.”
If found guilty of the original
charges, Hunt faces up to 30 years in prison, according to NBC
affiliate WPTV.