Kaitlyn Hunt, 19, released from Indian River County Jail

[alp227]

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2013, 12:15 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: WPTV

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Kaitlyn Hunt, the Sebastian-area teenager who was arrested after police said she had a sexual relationship with an underage girl, was released from the Indian River County Jail early Friday morning.

Hunt, 19, was released just after 1 a.m. and was quickly driven away in an SUV with her family.

"I think she's grown up a lot. She's had to face a lot of adult issues being very young. She's learned and she wants to just close a chapter and move on, set some goals and look to the future," said Hunt's mother Kelley Smith.

She had been in jail since Aug. 19.

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_indian_river_county/sebastian/kaitlyn-hunt-19-expected-to-be-released-from-indian-river-county-jail

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Meanwhile, a local activist has written the US Attorney for South Florida asking for a federal investigation regarding "transfer of material harmful to minors," a charge dropped in Hunt's final plea bargain.

Thanks to the "#FreeKate" campaign, people believe that "The Left" sympathizes with pedophiles. Especially since her parents lied about her and her victim's ages.

WPTV reported in October: "Hunt pleaded no contest to five criminal counts including battery, interference with child custody and contributing to the dependency of a child." But she didn't have to be registered as a sex offender. So in the eyes of the law, she isn't seen as a rapist and predator unlike how most people perceive Hunt.

What has the Hunt case taught America? Do the benefits of protecting the innocence and morality of children outweigh personal choices like Hunt's, in keeping current age of consent laws? And could you imagine an 18-year-old man getting a 2nd chance plea deal like Hunt did, as Hunt violated her "no-contact" order?

[stevenleser]

1. Another one...

... this will not end well.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Do we really want to call Kaitlyn Hunt a pedophile?

Teenage girl had sex with teenage girl. Even if it was unlawful, I think calling her a pedophile is over the top and just plays into the hands of the freak-out brigade.

[Blue_Adept]

6. A quick label

And never a good thing.

Places all have their own variants, but there have been enough instances where a parent, if pushed as they don't like a relationship their kid has, could use someone who turns 18 and the other still seventeen and turn it into a case. There's no reason that they should be labeled a sex offender, rapist, pedophile or anything else. It's ridiculous.

[alp227]

16. Is it perverted for an 18 year old to be attracted to a 14 year old?

Tough question ain't it?

[leftyohiolib]

19. another area with 2 justice systems

[penultimate]

21. Isn't the definition of pedophile someone who is attracted prepubescents?

[PeoViejo]

3. "innocence and morality "

Since when is innocence and morality a reason to judge a gay relationship?

We don't know all the facts, but the authorities felt that Justice was served. This is Florida, the State that sent someone I worked with to a Chain Gang for seven Years. The Crime? Possession of two joints.

[roody]

4. Two teenagers in love does not a pedophile make.

[cosmicone]

5. Law is the law

Anyone over 18 having sex with a 14 year old is guilty of statutory rape.

This woman got off easy. She should have been required to register as a sex offender.

I'm sure a lot of DUers would support me since they have been preaching the "law is the law" on threads involving the strip and cavity search of the Indian consul general in NY.

[Lancero]

8. Ironic...

Is that, despite Katlin being told repeatedly to stay away from the girl, she decided to have sex with her.

When she was arrested, practically everyone here was speaking out for her, saying that she did nothing wrong.

In another case, we have a six year old boy kissing a six year old girl (A act that is, according a psychologist trained in child sexual development and preventing child abuse, completely natural for that age), even after being warned to stop bothering her. Everyone supported him being labeled as a sexual harasser.

I'll say this - If that six year old kid deserves to be labeled as a sexual harasser, then Katlin more then deserves her label as a pedophile. Because while the kids action's are natural for his age, Katlin's actions are not.

[seattledo]

27. Because attacking a six year-old

is in no way comparable.

[Comrade Grumpy]

10. Do you really believe she "got off easy" or are you just making a point about India threads?

[cosmicone]

12. She did get off easy and I was also making a point

Only 6 months in jail and no requirement to register as a sex offender.

If it was a male in her place he would have spent years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.

On the other hand, law is the law and we need to uphold it regardless of circumstances because we are Americans and we are exceptional.

[24601]

24. “Romeo and Juliet” exceptions are intended to prevent serious criminal charges against

teenagers who engage in consensual sex with others close to their own age. In Florida, there is a limited Romeo and Juliet exemption for consensual sex when the minor was 14-17 years old and the defendant was no more than four years older than the victim. If the defendant meets certain eligibility requirements, the exception removes the requirement that the defendant register as a sex offender."

Under those provisions, a male in the same circumstances would not have to register as a sex offender. Females as sexual predators/aggressors aren't seen as the norm and, in my judgment, it's likely that the basic punishment would have been harsher if Kaitlin was Karl.

http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/florida-statutory-rape-laws.htm

[bitchkitty]

18. Are you serious? n/t

[davidpdx]

28. The woman from the consul was not given a body cavity search

and repeating that is just outright lying. She was given a strip search, which as I have said before I think was overzealous.

As for Hunt, she's served her time regardless of the sentence. She still has 2 years house arrest and probation. Maybe it's time you and others to move on to stuff that actually matters rather than writing vitriolic posts about her. Some people's obsession with her is borderline unhealthy.

[big_dog]

7. innocent of all charges! she's way too cute for jail :):)

[Ash_F]

9. There are two cases for statutory rape laws

The first is that the rights of the child are being violated.

The second is that the rights of the parents are being violated.


As our society matures, the former becomes more important and powerful. But when these laws were written, the latter was the main consideration.

It may be time to revisit our reasoning for where the lines are drawn if a relationship between a 14 year old and 18 year old can stir up this much debate.

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. I see the OP hasn't come back to defend his flamery.

"Pedophile"

"Rapist"

"Predator"

Two teenage girls. Please. That shit is just way over the top.

[cosmicone]

13. She was over 18 and an adult

able to vote and enter into binding contracts.

She should have been punished more severely. Law is the law.

[enki23]

14. The law allows for flexibility for a reason.

That reason is that there are fucking morons out there. You know, somewhere. Morons who believe that laws are, or ever could be written well enough that it would be reasonable to apply all of them in exactly the same way under any circumstances which meet their minimal definitions.

Some people are just fucking stupid assholes. Sad, and I know this is hard to believe, but it's actually true. Fortunately, our legal system isn't *quite* that fucked up. In spite of the efforts of assholes and morons at every turn. Out there. Somewhere...

[cosmicone]

15. Since no flexibility was warranted for the Indian diplomat

no flexibility should be warranted in any case. That is what many on DU believe.

[enki23]

17. The only thing i've seen about the indian diplomat...

is that she should have been excepted because she was a nice middle-class lady. Being perceived to be generally nice or being middle-class have nothing whatsoever to do with whether a strip search is warranted when a person is detained or arrested. Me, I would fall on the side of less-is-better when it comes to strip searches. But I recognize that there was no relevant evidence produced (that I have seen, I'll grant) for why her situation actually should have been considered exceptional in that way.

The other story, on the hand, hinges on several things. The most important of those is that 1) the age range was not very large, and 2) the supposed statutory rapist was only slightly over the age at which the accusation could be leveled at her. This is a case in which the boundary conditions clearly came into play, as they always sill. We are all smart enough to realize that there's a problem when someone can be labelled a sexual predator for having a relationship with someone else that would have been considered legal (or at least much, much less illegal) mere months ago.

I can see you think you have a gotcha, in this. But you don't. You may still be right about the other thing. I don't know enough about it to take a stand on that one. But the two situations just aren't analogous enough to claim anyone is being a hypocrite. (Besides, I'd be surprised if many of the same "law is the law!" people weren't on the same wrong, stupid side in both cases. Do you have actual reason to think otherwise?)

[cosmicone]

20. The flexibility in the other case

was not warranted because she was a nice middle class lady but a consular official of a sovereign country, a US ally and representing said government in the United States.

As to the OP, the age difference was 4 years and the woman violated a direct "no contact" court order.

A 14 year old is just not as mature as an 18 year old which is why we have statutory rape laws. If the other girl was 17, I would be completely sympathetic.

[plantwomyn]

22. Right because that extra 24 hours between being 17 and turning 18 is a revolution in maturity.

[plantwomyn]

23. The Indian diplomat

was given all kinds of extra perks. They let her use her cell phone, they let her arrange for her children to be taken care of and unlike most of the other inmates, she was NOT cavity searched. That quite enough genuflecting to her caste thank you very much.

[davidpdx]

25. Comparing the two cases is rediculous and simply a deflection of the what has happened

She served plead guilty, accepted responsibility, and served her time. Now she has house arrest and probation.

The Indian consular does not have diplomatic immunity from prosecution of events that happen outside her consulate. She was arrested and allowed to make several phone calls on her own cell phone something most people are not allowed. Whether she is guilty or not is up to the courts.

IMHO Hunt has done her time and people need to layoff.

[davidpdx]

26. I think it's about time to layoff Katylin Hunt

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2013, 03:42 AM - Edit history (1)

She has plead guilty, taken responsibility, and done her time. This continued vitriolic attack is unwarranted. Stop rehashing the same old arguments. The case is over. The only thing newsworthy is that she was released.

Who the fuck cares about what people think of the left? If people want to make false generalizations that everyone on the left supports pedophiles let them. It's about as valid as an argument as saying everyone on the left believes in Socialism. Neither are true.