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Free Kate FAQ from her family
For those that are following the story here is the FAQ from the family. They want this information out there (its from their Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeKate/).
Welcome to the "Free Kate" support group on Facebook! Please take a moment to review the following information in the "Free Kate" FAQ.
"FREE KATE" FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Who is Kate, and why does she need to be freed?
Kate is a high school senior living in Indian River County, FL. Until halfway through the school year, she was a student at Sebastian River High School, where she had been a cheerleader, a Varsity basketball player, and a medical trainee preparing for a career serving others in the nursing field. Kate was a productive and popular member of her school community and was voted as the student with "most school spirit."
Kate's girlfriend was a freshman student enrolled in International Baccalaureate courses with upper-classmen and a fellow player on the Varsity basketball team with Kate. While Kate was more than three years older than her girlfriend, they were peers in the same social circle.
When Kate's girlfriend's parents learned of their relationship, they went directly to the police to press charges without sharing their objections with Kate or her family. The police recorded a conversation between Kate and her girlfriend, which led to Kate's arrest. Kate was arrested and interrogated extensively without a lawyer present. Kate's father was a former police officer, so she trusted the police and didn't feel she had anything to hide. Unfortunately, the police took advantage of her trust in order to get her to make incriminating statements.
Kate was eventually charged with two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12-16. Kate and her lawyers have offered to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. This has been rejected by the prosecutor. The parents of Kate's girlfriend have claimed they only want to keep Kate away from their daughter. What they haven't admitted is that Kate has offered to leave the State of Florida and permanently cease contact with the other girl if they will drop the charges or agree to a non-felony charge. The other girl's parents have refused this offer.
Today, the girls are 18 and 15. We will not discuss the specifics of their relationship or when contact took place between them for their own legal protection. While the parents' names are now public in the press, we will not discuss them here for their daughter's protection. Kate's former girlfriend has taken no part in her prosecution and has denied from the beginning that she is a victim, but the law grants her no rights in this matter. We feel for her and worry about her safety and happiness in this situation.
2. Do we think Kate deserves special treatment because she's a girl in a same sex relationship?
Absolutely not! It is our national shame that states continue to prosecute relationships between consenting students at the same high school. We generally support age-of-consent laws, but we believe it is ludicrous that a 23-year-old college graduate can date a 16-year-old high school student, but two students in the same school and on the same basketball team cannot be in a relationship because of arbitrary age limits. The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children's sexual choices. We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for their dating life. Such students are not predators. They're just kids. Likewise, we believe the law should not be arbitrarily enforced based on a parent's anger. Parents should be empowered to protect their children, but not at the price of destroying another young person's life forever.
3. Who are the prosecutors?
The State's Attorney in charge of the case is Bruce Colton (BColton@sao19.org). The prosecutor handling the case is Colton's son-in-law Brian Workman (BWorkman@sao19.org). They can be reached at 772.462.1300. Please be respectful and polite when contacting them.
4. What is the point of this Facebook group?
The point of this group is to offer Kate support and to offer Kate's supporters a place to share and receive accurate information. This is not a forum to debate your views on same-sex relationships or age-of-consent laws. We believe in free speech, but you have your own Facebook wall for that. Anyone expressing negative views of Kate or our cause will be removed permanently from the group.
Likewise, we ask our supporters to keep a sharp look out for trolls and other negative content. Please do not argue with trolls. Simply tag their posts for an admin and ignore them. Responding to troll posts only bumps them up. If you see any pornographic or other inappropriate imagery, please report it immediately to Facebook and an admin.
Anyone (this goes for supporters, as well) using inflammatory speech, naming the the other family involved, or generally being disruptive will be removed.
5. Shouldn't we go after the other family?
NO! Please refrain from posting any personal information about the other people involved in this case. Doing so will only hurt Kate and her cause. We understand that their names are now out in the press, and if people look hard enough, they can probably identify the other girl involved in this case. We do not encourage this. It is not our desire to cause the other girl involved any pain or embarrassment over the actions of her parents. Let's keep this positive and go through the proper channels. No witch hunts, please.
6. How can we reach Kate's family?
If you want to show your support, please show it here, and do not attempt to contact the family. Thank you!
7. How can members of "Free Kate" help?
First, sign this petition: http://www.change.org/freekate
Second, if you would like to help the family cope with their considerable legal fees, you can do so here: http://www.gofundme.com/2yz5ts
Third, if you're a resident of Florida, please contact your state legislators and tell them the law needs to protect high school peers from prosecution. Find your state legislators here: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=295718277&CFTOKEN=95887900
Even if you're not a Florida resident, contact your state legislators, anyway. Most states have similarly unjust laws.
Fourth, share this story! Share with everyone! If you know a high school student, make sure he or she knows the law. We don't want our children going to jail out of ignorance.
Things need to change. We can make that change happen together.
"FREE KATE" FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Who is Kate, and why does she need to be freed?
Kate is a high school senior living in Indian River County, FL. Until halfway through the school year, she was a student at Sebastian River High School, where she had been a cheerleader, a Varsity basketball player, and a medical trainee preparing for a career serving others in the nursing field. Kate was a productive and popular member of her school community and was voted as the student with "most school spirit."
Kate's girlfriend was a freshman student enrolled in International Baccalaureate courses with upper-classmen and a fellow player on the Varsity basketball team with Kate. While Kate was more than three years older than her girlfriend, they were peers in the same social circle.
When Kate's girlfriend's parents learned of their relationship, they went directly to the police to press charges without sharing their objections with Kate or her family. The police recorded a conversation between Kate and her girlfriend, which led to Kate's arrest. Kate was arrested and interrogated extensively without a lawyer present. Kate's father was a former police officer, so she trusted the police and didn't feel she had anything to hide. Unfortunately, the police took advantage of her trust in order to get her to make incriminating statements.
Kate was eventually charged with two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12-16. Kate and her lawyers have offered to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. This has been rejected by the prosecutor. The parents of Kate's girlfriend have claimed they only want to keep Kate away from their daughter. What they haven't admitted is that Kate has offered to leave the State of Florida and permanently cease contact with the other girl if they will drop the charges or agree to a non-felony charge. The other girl's parents have refused this offer.
Today, the girls are 18 and 15. We will not discuss the specifics of their relationship or when contact took place between them for their own legal protection. While the parents' names are now public in the press, we will not discuss them here for their daughter's protection. Kate's former girlfriend has taken no part in her prosecution and has denied from the beginning that she is a victim, but the law grants her no rights in this matter. We feel for her and worry about her safety and happiness in this situation.
2. Do we think Kate deserves special treatment because she's a girl in a same sex relationship?
Absolutely not! It is our national shame that states continue to prosecute relationships between consenting students at the same high school. We generally support age-of-consent laws, but we believe it is ludicrous that a 23-year-old college graduate can date a 16-year-old high school student, but two students in the same school and on the same basketball team cannot be in a relationship because of arbitrary age limits. The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children's sexual choices. We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for their dating life. Such students are not predators. They're just kids. Likewise, we believe the law should not be arbitrarily enforced based on a parent's anger. Parents should be empowered to protect their children, but not at the price of destroying another young person's life forever.
3. Who are the prosecutors?
The State's Attorney in charge of the case is Bruce Colton (BColton@sao19.org). The prosecutor handling the case is Colton's son-in-law Brian Workman (BWorkman@sao19.org). They can be reached at 772.462.1300. Please be respectful and polite when contacting them.
4. What is the point of this Facebook group?
The point of this group is to offer Kate support and to offer Kate's supporters a place to share and receive accurate information. This is not a forum to debate your views on same-sex relationships or age-of-consent laws. We believe in free speech, but you have your own Facebook wall for that. Anyone expressing negative views of Kate or our cause will be removed permanently from the group.
Likewise, we ask our supporters to keep a sharp look out for trolls and other negative content. Please do not argue with trolls. Simply tag their posts for an admin and ignore them. Responding to troll posts only bumps them up. If you see any pornographic or other inappropriate imagery, please report it immediately to Facebook and an admin.
Anyone (this goes for supporters, as well) using inflammatory speech, naming the the other family involved, or generally being disruptive will be removed.
5. Shouldn't we go after the other family?
NO! Please refrain from posting any personal information about the other people involved in this case. Doing so will only hurt Kate and her cause. We understand that their names are now out in the press, and if people look hard enough, they can probably identify the other girl involved in this case. We do not encourage this. It is not our desire to cause the other girl involved any pain or embarrassment over the actions of her parents. Let's keep this positive and go through the proper channels. No witch hunts, please.
6. How can we reach Kate's family?
If you want to show your support, please show it here, and do not attempt to contact the family. Thank you!
7. How can members of "Free Kate" help?
First, sign this petition: http://www.change.org/freekate
Second, if you would like to help the family cope with their considerable legal fees, you can do so here: http://www.gofundme.com/2yz5ts
Third, if you're a resident of Florida, please contact your state legislators and tell them the law needs to protect high school peers from prosecution. Find your state legislators here: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=295718277&CFTOKEN=95887900
Even if you're not a Florida resident, contact your state legislators, anyway. Most states have similarly unjust laws.
Fourth, share this story! Share with everyone! If you know a high school student, make sure he or she knows the law. We don't want our children going to jail out of ignorance.
Things need to change. We can make that change happen together.
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