http://www.whas11.com/home/National-media-coverage-begins-in-Lou-as-sexual-abuse-twitter-case-goes-before-judge-169740186.html Judge toughens plea deal for teens in Savannah Dietrich case by Bryan Baker WHAS11.com Posted on September 14, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Updated yesterday at 11:54 PM Related:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Seventeen-year-old Savannah Dietrich got what she was desperately seeking from juvenile court judge Angela McCormick Bisig Friday, when the judge handed down a tougher sentence than the previously agreed upon plea deal for Dietrich's teenage attackers.
The boys can not get their records expunged for at least five years and must not get in trouble for three years in order to get the felony sexual abuse conviction reduced to a misdemeanor. They accepted the new, tougher plea deal. The boys must provide a list of anyone who saw nude pictures of Dietrich and perform 50 hours of community service each at a charity involved in women's issues. They also must enter a sex offender treatment program but will not be considered sex offenders, because they were underage when they committed the crimes.
Dietrich didn't agree with the severity of the plea deal for the two boys who confessed to sexual abuse and voyeurism for touching her, taking nude pictures of her, and spreading them around to friends. It happened while she was unconscious after a night of underage drinking at her home in August 2011.
Because Dietrich said she wasn't consulted and was confused by the original plea deal, she posted the names of her attackers on Twitter. She faced jail time, because juvenile court records usually remain sealed from the public. David Mejia, an attorney for one of the boys, filed a contempt of court claim against Dietrich for revealing the boys' names but later dropped it.
Dietrich read a 20-minute statement in court criticizing the attorneys involved in the original plea deal and the court's handling of the case. She also talked directly to her attackers who were watching in court.
It is WHAS11's policy not to reveal the names of the boys because they are underage despite the unsealed court records.
Judge Bisig is running for reelection in November.
Chris Klein, an attorney for one of the boys, released this statement from his teenage client who wanted to address Dietrich:
"I'm truly ashamed at what I've done to you and your family. I violated you and your trust. You may not think I'm truly sorry but I know I must face the consequences and rebuild the trust I have lost."
