The 18-year old Sebastian, FL girl arrested for having a sexual relationship with her 14-year old girlfriend is facing a difficult legal decision.
Kaitlyn Hunt faces 2-felony charges of lewd and lascivious battery on a child between 12-and-16 years old. If convicted, Hunt will have to register as a sex offender. She could also be sentenced to 15-years in prison.
State prosecutors have offered to let Hunt plead guilty to the lesser felony charge of child abuse, serve 2-years of house arrest and another year on probation. Plus, she wouldn’t be labeled a sex offender.
But Atlanta criminal defense attorney Page Pate says Florida may give her a pass, but another state might not.
"Once she leaves the state, any sort of background check, traffic ticket, will result in her record being run and then somebody may pick up on it and say, wait a minute. You’re required to be on our registry", Pate explained. "So she may be protected while she’s in Florida but this could definitely affect her for the rest of her life and very well result in her being labeled a sex offender."
The deadline for Hunt to accept the state’s offer is tomorrow. Hunt’s attorney has asked that the charges against her client be reduced to a misdemeanor.