Fla. Teen Jailed for Same-Sex Relationship With Underage Girlfriend Ready to ‘Move On’

[The Straight Story]

A Florida teen's sexual relationship with her underage high school girlfriend made national headlines and culminated with her serving time behind bars.

"Now I just want to put it all behind me," Kaitlyn Hunt said exclusively to ABC News' Matt Gutman after her release from jail. "I want to stay out of trouble. I want to do the right thing, and then get it over with, so I can move on with my life."

The 19-year-old was released this past December shortly before Christmas from Indian River County Jail, in Vero Beach, Fla., where she had been locked up for 120 days.

Hunt was originally sent to the county jail for violating a judge's order to not contact her girlfriend. In October, she accepted a plea offer that kept her locked up for an additional two months.

...

Hunt's mother claimed that the prosecutor and the younger girl's family were motivated in part by an anti-gay bias.

"We have people that are homophobes," Hunt Smith said. "It's not something they're willing to allow their daughter to express. It's not something that they're willing to accept."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/fla-teen-jailed-sex-relationship-underage-girlfriend-ready/story?id=22504595&singlePage=true

[bravenak]

1. I really don't understand why she contacted her against the judges orders.

That was stupid. I had a friend in high school who was a fifth year senior and he was 18, his girlfriend was 15. Her parents called the police when they found out they were sleeping together. He got 2 years with 1 suspended, served 6 months, and has to register as a sex offender. They are married to this day, and he's never even been with another woman to my knowledge. They were high school sweethearts and went to homecoming together.

We need to fix the laws, and give the judges more discretion in cases of teenagers having consensual sex.

[msanthrope]

2. Because some criminals simply don't learn. How the mother escaped charges I will never know. nt

[NaturalHigh]

11. Yeah, the mother is a real piece of work.

I don't understand why she wasn't charged with witness tampering, at the very least.

[tammywammy]

21. Plus, Ms. Hunt's messages read as very manipulative.

You want me to go to jail, etc. I think people are still buying what the Hunt's were trying to sell, that the other girl's parents are homophobic. A lot of what the Hunt's were saying weren't true, Kaitlyn want arrested right after she turned 18, and not even right after the other girl's parents found out.

I'm also surprised about Kaitlyn's mother's actions. She should be taking her lucky stars she wasn't charged with tampering with a witness.

[msanthrope]

22. Manipulative and inappropriate...the revocation affidavit was stunning.

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/160537961?width=800

And this text from the mother to the victim was quite interesting...

I don’t want you to think I’m judgement [sic] or anything like that, but I 100% never supported this and I told Kate that. I am a Christian and I have a faith in God, so for me I don’t believe it’s right or what god intended. But, I have a cousin who recently came out being lesbian and I don’t love her any less. I hope that makes sense to u. But I told Kate I didn’t approve. I told her I didn’t feel like she was gay, and I felt like she needed to go talk to a counselor about her issues with her Dad, I told her that you were too young to be having this type of relationship and I didn’t think it was healthy.”

http://www.viralread.com/2013/11/25/kaitlyn-hunt-homophobia-teen-lesbian-crime-documents/

The sad thing is that many conservative sites have latched onto this case...the Hunts are liars.

[tammywammy]

32. Ah, yes, that's what I remembered.

Kaitlyn was lucky to only get 120 days.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Because 18 is still a kid, and kids do stupid things. Luckily, she's bright and happy and looking

forward to the future... Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the poor girl being raised by parents who objected to her girlfriend. This girl is dating a boy now... who is the exact same age that Kaitlyn is... yeah there was no anti-gay bias there.

[bravenak]

7. So they don't care if she has sex with a boy?

But if it's a girl it's prison time? Must want grand babies real bad. Some people just shouldn't have kids. They're too stupid.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. It appears that way.

She started dating him after Kaitlyn went to jail. I fear for her mental health. People can dislike Kaitlyn's mother, but she supports, loves, and defends her daughter at every turn--no matter who she loves. We need more parents like that.

[bravenak]

10. I'll love my daughters no matter what. I'm cool like that.:)

She's going to need more than just her mother. I'm a believer in support groups. They really help.
I don't understand parents trying to control their kids sexuality, makes no sense. I'm worried about the girl whose parents called the police. Sounds like she has a hard home life, with domineering parents.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. I don't either, and I recently had to deal with that myself.

Realizing my teenager wasn't my "baby boy" anymore.

I am extremely worried about the girl whose parents called police in. That isn't how one should deal with a situation right off the bat for starters. Her mother runs a "manners school." Think cotillion and you've got it. They don't come across as anything other than judgmental bigots in their interviews.

Happy to report, Kaitlyn has a new gf (her age, for those looking to get her in trouble ) and appears to have grown up during this ordeal (which never should have happened).

We need to change the laws. We can't expect 18 year olds to attend high school and not have these events happen.

[bravenak]

13. I agree.

You put kids together at that age, they will have sex with each other. Period.

[msanthrope]

25. You know...you stun me. You are a mother? And yet you talk about a minor victim of a sex

crime in a manner that is simple breathtaking, while refusing to cite a single one of your claims.

Can you cite any of your claims?

Here's a text for you to chew on...

"I dDn’t want you to think I’m judgement [sic] or anything like that, but I 100% never supported this and I told Kate that. I am a Christian and I have a faith in God, so for me I don’t believe it’s right or what god intended. But, I have a cousin who recently came out being lesbian and I don’t love her any less. I hope that makes sense to u. But I told Kate I didn’t approve. I told her I didn’t feel like she was gay, and I felt like she needed to go talk to a counselor about her issues with her Dad, I told her that you were too young to be having this type of relationship and I didn’t think it was healthy.”

http://www.viralread.com/2013/11/25/kaitlyn-hunt-homophobia-teen-lesbian-crime-documents/

That text is from Kaitlyn Hunt's mother, as she contacted the minor her daughter assaulted.

[msanthrope]

17. I'm pretty uncomfortable discussing the sex life of a minor who is the victim of a sexual assault

without at least some attributable source.

[bravenak]

24. Yeah ,you're right ,it's pretty gross.

I have no idea what happened there.

[msanthrope]

26. I followed this case extensively. Read this thread, and see who can cite their claims...and who

can't.

[bravenak]

27. I see that.

This is why I should shut up sometimes.

[msanthrope]

30. Ah...you're doing just fine. nt

[LittleBlue]

14. Massive red flag there

what with the parents letting her date a boy the same age. One could easily believe this was more about their daughter's sexual orientation rather than age.

This smacks of Christian "therapy" for gay people.

[msanthrope]

16. I'd like to see a source on that, and frankly, I'm disgusted that a minor victim of a sexual

assault is even being discussed in this manner.

[msanthrope]

15. Can you source your claim on that? Ms. Hunt's new girlfriend has a police record for domestic

violence and drug charges, but I haven't heard anything about the minor victim of the sexual assault.

[Yo_Mama]

23. But the girl is nearly two years older

At 14 she was below the age of consent to have sex with an 18 year old when this relationship started, and still 15 when the violation of court order occurred. She'll be 16 this spring if I remember correctly.

In FL, an 18 year old boy can't have sex with a 14 year old girl either.

I don't think it is fair to accuse the other family of homophobia, because I'd guess that if they had found out that if their 14 year-old kid had been having sex in a school bathroom with an 18 year-old boy, they'd have done the same, especially after the "night out" incident.

I hate to put it this way, but in my experience parents are less likely to get agitated by same-sex flings at that age because of the pregnancy issue which is bypassed when it is two girls. But out-of-control stuff like this at that age isn't a good sign and very few "good" parents would allow their 14 or 15 year old to be out all night without permission regardless of WHO the kid was with, much less an older romance. I'm sorry, that's just completely effed-up.

A LOT of boys are prosecuted for underage relationships. It just doesn't become big news.

[LadyHawkAZ]

6. All indications were that she was an immature 18 year old

and teenagers in love aren't always the brightest bulbs in the box. She acted like teenagers act.

I agree that more leniency is needed, although I think it needs to be codified rather than left up to judges.

[bravenak]

9. I've always thought it was crazy to put kids in jail for having sex.

Now we arrest them for taking pictures of themselves and posting them. Having nude pics all over the internet is punishment enough for a kid.

[TransitJohn]

28. Ther perp was 18, not a kid.

If it had been a boy that was 18, he'd be doing serious time. 120 days ain't shit for rape.

[bravenak]

31. This is why I said I should shut up.

I still don't know why she had to keep contacting the other girl after the judge ordered her to leave her alone. And the mother helping her makes me wonder why she didn't go to jail.
I don't know enough, and should just shut up. So here it goes.

[1monster]

34. I'm just old enough to remember when being 18 was still legally considered "being a kid"...

Twenty-one was when one reached one's majority.

That law was changed because of the Vietnam War and the draft. I seem to remember the slogan, "Old enough to die for their country, but not old enough to vote."

Eighteen year olds are not mentally, emotionally, or pshyically adults -- they have a long way to go on all counts. Scientific studies say that adolescence lasts until about twenty-five years old...

Perhaps our legal system should find a way to reognize that.

[proudretiredvet]

29. I agree

He is now collared with the Sex Offender label for the rest of his life in exactly the same way that a child rapist is. This is wrong.
Even if statutory rape laws do apply there should not be any automatics of minimum sentences mandated to the judge. Judges should be allowed to judge each and every case.

[pintobean]

3. Doing interviews with ABC news

is an excellent way of putting it all behind her.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. They asked for a followup. She complied.

People aren't allowed to do that when their case draws national attention?

I am super happy for her.

[msanthrope]

19. I'm still waiting for you, upthread, to source your claim about the minor sexual assault victim.

Could you at least link to your claims?

As for being happy for Ms. Hunt, her current new girlfriend has a police record of domestic assault on a teen, and drug charges. I'd be concerned for her.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/kaitlyn-hunt-jailed-underaged-sex-dating-older-woman-article-1.1615514

[TheMathieu]

18. Those laws often persecute the wrong people.

If we don't make them more complex than arbitrary numbers, then this kind of thing will keep happening.

[msanthrope]

20. Oh...they got the right one here. nt

[1monster]

33. Hasn't she been labeld a sexual predator? If so, it will never be behind her. Those tags

are a life sentence, sometimes deserved, sometimes not.