Posted on 05/20/2013 12:47:07 PM PDT by presidio9
An 18-year-old Florida student’s senior year has become a nightmare — all because she was in a same-sex relationship with a 15-year-old, her family says.
Kaitlyn Hunt was arrested Feb. 16 for having a physical relationship with a younger classmate, who was her girlfriend at the time, mom Kelley Hunt Smith wrote on Facebook.
Under Florida law, Hunt could see up to 15 years in prison and must register as a sex offender. A plea deal, however, remains on the table that would give Hunt two years' house arrest and one year of probation, her family said.
“Does my daughter deserve to lose her life for 15 years, or 3 years, or to have no life, because of one choice she made in high school, absolutely not!!” Hunt Smith wrote Friday, adding, “This is a mother’s nightmare.”
The distraught mom and her family has launched an online campaign asking supporters to petition the State Attorney’s office in Indian River County and have them reconsider the charges.
“The (assistant) state attorney, Brian Workman needs to use taxpayers money to prosecute REAL criminals, not a high school student who has never been in trouble a day in her young life, all because she had a mutual consenting relationship with someone who has bigoted parents,” wrote Hunt Smith, who didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Sunday.
Hunt’s uncle, Andrew Gay, told the Daily News that the girls were in the same social circle at Sebastian River High School and played together on the basketball team.
In September, after Hunt turned 18, she and the other girl, a freshman, began dating and expressed their relationship in “intimate ways,” the family said.
But when the basketball coach found out about their relationship, Hunt was thrown off the team and the other girl’s parents were notified.
The parents then told police, and a phone call was recorded between their daughter and Hunt in which the girls discussed their relationship, Gay said.
The age of consent in Florida is 18.
Hunt was arrested on two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child ages 12 to 16, jail records show.
Her family was devastated.
“We certainly aren’t saying that all 18-year olds anywhere should be able to date all 15-year olds,” Gay said. “But this is a situation where these two girls were in the same social circle, on the same basketball team. I just don’t think Kaitlyn looked at this girl and thought, 'She’s a certain age, so she’s off limits to me.'”
Hunt Smith claims the other family was upset because their daughter was in a same-sex relationship and believed that Hunt had somehow “made” their daughter gay.
“Of course I see it 100% different,” Hunt Smith wrote. “I don’t see or label these girls as gay. They are teenagers in high school experimenting with their sexuality, all teens do it in one form or another. ... And even if their daughter is gay, who cares, she is still their daughter.”
Hunt was expelled from the high school and agreed to have no contact with the other girl. She also transferred to an alternative high school.
Although she’ll be allowed to walk with the graduating class at Sebastian River High School, her final year — and future — has been tainted by scandal.
“Should the girls have made better choices, YES. I agree," Hunt Smith said, "but is this criminal, no."
The State Attorney’s Office in Indian River County couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Regardless of whether the family takes the plea, Gay said, a felony child abuse charge will ruin his niece’s future and her dream of one day becoming a nurse.
“She’s been a great student, so bright and not troubled at all,” Gay said. “She was voted ‘most school spirit.’ What’s happened to her now is ridiculous.”
Why was such a law “necessary” in the first place?
Because the left and society have denigrated the role of the father to the point where it’s virtually illegal for a father to control and protect his daughters.
Many States have ‘romeo and juliet’ provisions that would avoid this sort of ridiculous notion that sex between a 17 year old and a 15 year old is legal the day before the 17 year old’s birthday - and illegal the day after.
I have heard that this is usually not prosecuted UNLESS the parents of the younger partner object. So any ‘just turned 18 years old’ person with an underage partner had better be REAL NICE to that partner's parents.
While I am all for protecting “children” I am not sure something magical happens at 18 that suddenly turns a “child” into an “adult” - I think the law should reflect this is some capacity.
Fair is fair.
That said, this is a relationship issue that the parents should be handling, not law enforcement or the school.
Translation: My niece should not be held to account for the same laws that apply to all other 18 year old's.
I agree. Most of the lesbians I’ve seen probably wouldn’t have much success looks-wise if they were after a man. The super hot lesbian is the albino of lesbians.
I am not saying I disagree with you here, but I do think you are changing the subject just a little bit. According to the article. Kaitlyn Hunt was already 18 years old when the relationship began. The victim was 15, not 17.
If you are ok with the number 15, where do you draw the line? Would it have been ok if the other girl was 13? In this case, obviously, the younger girl's parents were not ok with it. They were the ones who called the police.
” because she was in a same-sex relationship with a 15-year-old “
The age of consent thing applies even to non-standard-sex people. They want special privileges. Sorry, bub, but a law applies to all or it’s invalid.
The daily news is an illiterate rag.
I’d tell her to look me straight in the eyes and tell me she thinks it’s alright.
IMO, Especially if it's a lesbian affair.
First thought: I do not support homosexuality Period.
Seconf thought: Many freepers currently freaking out over the age thing better ask granny how old she was when her husband statutorially raped her. Because MANY of the women throughout history were ‘under age’ when they got married. By the modern definition.
Which is the problem with the modern definition.
If you like crazy eyes, maybe.
He would do prison time and have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and he would be highly restricted as to where he could live, visit, possibly banned from parks, schools, internet, any public events where children may be present, etc., etc., etc.
Well there is no indication that they had sex before and after her birthday - but according to the law apparently it would have been legal the day before and illegal the day after; and I don’t believe it is changing the subject to point it out.
There are age of consent laws in many States, and in general I am opposed to them applying to any adult having sex with any 15 year old. I am more in support of ‘Romeo and Juliet laws’ and I think a four year span of age would be appropriate - this would cover the majority of partners in High School.
And yes, usually this crime is only prosecuted if a parent complains.
Big deal, eh? I guess you’re a believer in abolition of the family, in that case.
if her outer body was the teenage boy her inner body is, and she was an adult 18 yr old man bonking a 15 yr old, this wouldnt even be a story
statutory rape
buh bye
I couldn’t care less what teenage girls do - they’re teenage girls after all. They’re going to do whatever they want.
First thought: I do not support homosexuality Period.
Seconf thought: Many freepers currently freaking out over the age thing better ask granny how old she was when her husband statutorially raped her. Because MANY of the women throughout history were ‘under age’ when they got married. By the modern definition.
Which is the problem with the modern definition.
Heck, most people these days are so immature they don’t even START acting an adult until they are in their mid to late 20’s....
Back inthe 1800’s you were considered an adult in your mid teens because you had to be responsible to survive... Now a days people can skirt by with little responsibility until they are almost 30....
So once could make the case we need to move the age of consent up to 24.... A lot more easier than lowering it to 16....
Personally I think our education system is what is helping screw kids up and contributing to them being immature useless babies who play video games all fo the time.
Good point.
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