Judge Rejects Plea Deal In Sexual Battery Case
October 3, 2017 at 4:56 p.m.
Despite a judge rejecting a plea deal that had no jail time for a defendant in a case of sexual battery on a child, the family of the victim expressed anger that the defendant is still walking around as a free man.
Cameron Hunter, 18, Goshen, pleaded guilty to sexual battery in August.
Police say Hunter, then 17, inappropriately touched a 4-year-old girl in Syracuse in September 2016.
On Monday in Kosciusko Superior Court I, Judge David Cates rejected a proposed plea agreement that would have given Hunter 2-1/2 years of home detention rather than jail time.
Deputy Prosecutor Katy Hampton asked Cates to accept the plea. Hampton said that while she understands the family didn’t think the plea has enough consequences, she felt the plea agreement was in the best interest of the victim.
Cates rejected the plea because Hunter had not yet been accepted into Elkhart Community Corrections, a condition of the agreement.
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“In my view, I don’t think the plea is adequate because it does not include time for incarceration,” Cates added.
Cates set a jury trial date for March 13. Cates then removed the plea agreement and the plea from the court record in accordance with state law.
Family and friends of the victim showed up to court with shirts and bracelets demanding justice.
After the court hearing, the father of the girl exploded because Hunter is still out of jail on a conditional release.
As part of the release, Hunter is ordered to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18. Hampton filed contempt of court charges against Hunter after Hunter allegedly left a previous hearing with two minors. Cates continued the hearing on contempt to Oct. 9 due to Indiana law that allows a defendant 10 days to respond to contempt charges.
Court security cleared the courtroom. Police escorted Hunter out of the courtroom to avoid a conflict.
During the hearing, the mother testified of the pain Hunter brought to the family.
“You showed my daughter that monsters were real,” the mother said. She said her daughter has to take Ambien to sleep and asks everyday if Hunter is coming back to hurt her.
The family took Hunter in when no one else would, she testified. She said that Hunter was undergoing treatment for being a sexual predator in Goshen.
“We gave you a chance, we’re the only ones who would,” she said. She added she was guaranteed by mental health professionals that Hunter would not re-offend.
Cates asked the mother about information he had received that the plea agreement may be in the best interest of her daughter.
“I don’t believe so,” she said.
Despite a judge rejecting a plea deal that had no jail time for a defendant in a case of sexual battery on a child, the family of the victim expressed anger that the defendant is still walking around as a free man.
Cameron Hunter, 18, Goshen, pleaded guilty to sexual battery in August.
Police say Hunter, then 17, inappropriately touched a 4-year-old girl in Syracuse in September 2016.
On Monday in Kosciusko Superior Court I, Judge David Cates rejected a proposed plea agreement that would have given Hunter 2-1/2 years of home detention rather than jail time.
Deputy Prosecutor Katy Hampton asked Cates to accept the plea. Hampton said that while she understands the family didn’t think the plea has enough consequences, she felt the plea agreement was in the best interest of the victim.
Cates rejected the plea because Hunter had not yet been accepted into Elkhart Community Corrections, a condition of the agreement.
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“In my view, I don’t think the plea is adequate because it does not include time for incarceration,” Cates added.
Cates set a jury trial date for March 13. Cates then removed the plea agreement and the plea from the court record in accordance with state law.
Family and friends of the victim showed up to court with shirts and bracelets demanding justice.
After the court hearing, the father of the girl exploded because Hunter is still out of jail on a conditional release.
As part of the release, Hunter is ordered to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18. Hampton filed contempt of court charges against Hunter after Hunter allegedly left a previous hearing with two minors. Cates continued the hearing on contempt to Oct. 9 due to Indiana law that allows a defendant 10 days to respond to contempt charges.
Court security cleared the courtroom. Police escorted Hunter out of the courtroom to avoid a conflict.
During the hearing, the mother testified of the pain Hunter brought to the family.
“You showed my daughter that monsters were real,” the mother said. She said her daughter has to take Ambien to sleep and asks everyday if Hunter is coming back to hurt her.
The family took Hunter in when no one else would, she testified. She said that Hunter was undergoing treatment for being a sexual predator in Goshen.
“We gave you a chance, we’re the only ones who would,” she said. She added she was guaranteed by mental health professionals that Hunter would not re-offend.
Cates asked the mother about information he had received that the plea agreement may be in the best interest of her daughter.
“I don’t believe so,” she said.