INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Judge Robert Pegg has granted Julia Graves, Kaitlyn Hunt’s lawyer, a continuance and has accepted the motion that would require Hunt to only appear at docket calls and not every hearing.
The next time that Hunt will appear in court will be July 25, at 9 a.m. in Judge Pegg’s courtroom.
Hunt is the 18-year-old Sebastian River High School student accused of having a sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old female schoolmate. She faces two counts of third degree felony charges of lewd and lascivious battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 16. Charges stem from sexual acts which, according to authorities, occurred in the girls’ bathroom on the high school campus and in Hunt’s family residence where the alleged victim spent the night after temporarily running away from home.
The trial date will be set at the July 25 docket call.
No testimony was giving at today’s court date, just argument between the State and the defense.
One of the main reasons for the defense’s need for a continuance was that Graves had two other cases set for that date. Graves also stated that she had more discovery to do with this case.
“We’re asking for a continuance so that we can get prepared,” said Graves.
The State still had concerns with the continuance.
“The State’s perspective is that the problem here is that nothing’s being done by the defense to move the case towards trial,” said Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman.
According to Workman, the defense got the State’s discovery response on March 19, 81 days ago, and since then nothing has been done.
“There seems to be continuances for no reason,” said Workman.
Graves stated that the State is still listing evidence, like a facebook chat, that she has not had a chance to review.
After Judge Pegg granted the continuance, he heard the motion to limit Hunt’s appearances.
“I have requested the court to allow my client to waive her appearance at anything that she wouldn’t be required to be here,” said Graves.
Judge Pegg did not have a problem with that when it came to anything but docket calls.
“We do require people to come to docket calls,” said Judge Pegg.
After this morning’s court date, Hunt’s family and lawyer seemed to be in good spirits, even congratulating each other.
“Just concentrate on graduation today,” said Graves to Hunt as she left the Indian River County Courthouse.
Hunt is scheduled to walk with her class Friday evening at the Sebastian River High School graduation ceremony, which was rescheduled from Thursday due to Tropical Storm Andrea.