INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The judge overseeing the pre-trial proceedings in the Sebastian River High School student’s sex case has denied a motion calling for his removal.
Judge Robert Pegg ruled on Kaitlyn Hunt’s attorney’s motion Monday, which outlined various reasons why the judge should no longer preside of the case, denying the motion.
Judge Pegg wrote in his order denying the motion that the Motion for Disqualification is “legally insufficient.” He did not elaborate on his finding.
Hunt’s attorney, Julia A. Graves, filed the motion last Monday. In the motion, Judge Pegg is described as “prejudiced” and “biased” against the 18-year-old student who is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female schoolmate.
Hunt faces two felony charges of lewd and lascivious battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 16, which carry a maximum 15-year sentence each.
The judge “has departed from his role as a neutral and impartial trier of fact,” the motion reads.
“This case is being singled out by the State due to the fact the relationship involved was between two girls attending high school together,” the motion further states. “Now Judge Robert L. Pegg is following the State of Florida and pushing this case forward above all others demonstrating that he is also singling this case out above all others due to the relationship being between two girls. Otherwise there is nothing unique about this matter.”
