Florida lawmaker wants to adjust laws used to prosecute teens for consensual sex

[DonViejo]

State Sen. Thad Altman may introduce a measure to adjust the law in cases like 18-year-old Kaitlyn Hunt's

BY KATIE MCDONOUGH

Florida state Sen. Thad Altman would like to adjust the laws being used to prosecute teens for consensual sexual relationships, according to a report from Florida’s TCPalm News: “State Sen. Thad Altman thinks the law should provide more forgiveness for teenagers who risk criminal charges by having consensual sexual relationships, like the case pending against 18-year-old Sebastian high school student Kaitlyn Hunt.”

Critics of Florida State Attorney Bruce Colton’s handling of Hunt’s case argue that the felony charges against the high school senior over a same-sex relationship with a 14-year-old freshman classmate are based on laws intended to prosecute adult offenders against minor children, not two high school students in a consensual relationship.

On Friday, Hunt refused a plea deal that would have labeled her a sex offender and placed her under house arrest for two years. Hunt’s lawyer Julia Graves explained the decision to go to court in a statement: “This is a situation of two teenagers who happen to be of the same sex involved in a relationship. If this case involved a boy and girl, there would be no media attention to this case … If this incident occurred 108 days earlier when she was 17, we wouldn’t even be here.”

The first hearing in the trial is scheduled for June 20.

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http://www.salon.com/2013/05/28/florida_lawmaker_wants_to_adjust_laws_used_to_prosecute_teens_for_consensual_sex/

[davidn3600]

1. Good. Im glad this issue is finally getting the necessary attention

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Good. That Florida law is crying out for a humane fix.

[Voice for Peace]

3. she's brave to be taking it to trial before the laws are changed...

I wish her the best and hope for a merciful judge and jury

[davidn3600]

4. One of the reasons she rejected the plea is to bring attention to the law and get it changed

95% of these cases are plea dealed out and a flawed law never changes.

[Voice for Peace]

5. well good for her!!! bravo and there will no doubt be a TON of support via the internet