LOUISVLLE, KY (WAVE) - A teen's determination
leads to changes in a plea deal in a sexual assault case. The judge who opened
up her juvenile courtroom to the public after a Savannah Deitrich tweeted about
the case announced changes late Friday afternoon.
The teens are now in the custody of the
Department of Juvenile Justice on house arrest. The teens' records will no
longer be expunged at age 19 and a half. The judge ruled they also have to give
Savannah Dietrich a list of everyone they showed the pictures they took of her
during the assault. Finally, they have to do 50 hours of community service that
helps women.
Before making her decision, Judge Angela
McCormick Bisig heard from everyone involved in the graphic assault.
Dietrich told the judge all she ever wanted
was the truth. The boys admitted to inserting their fingers into 16-year-old
Dietrich and taking pictures of it. "You waited until my eyes were
closed to treat me like an object at your disposal. Now you must look me in the
eyes," explained Dietrich.
On their behalf, attorneys for both the boys
who are now 17 years old read letters of apology they wrote to Dietrich.
"I hope that you will accept my apology and please know going forward my
life will be different because of that night," said attorney David Mejia
on behalf of is client. "Again, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am.
I hope you believe that."
"I still can't believe that I was
foolish enough to have such bad judgment," said attorney Chris Klein on
their behalf. "You may not think that I am sorry, but I truly am
remorseful for my actions."
Both the teens' attorneys told the judge they
were amazed at the maturity they showed when they were approached by police
about what happened that night in August 2011 after the three were drinking.
Mejia and Klein said the boys admitted to it immediately and took
responsibility.
Dietrich disagreed when she said, "All
I've ever wanted was for you to own up to your actions and as far as i have
seen you have only owned up to them in this courtroom."
A
courtroom where the judge said the deal Dietrich tweeted she was unhappy about
should be changed. Dietrich said she was happy with the decision.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
Savannah Deitrich
The judge in the case.
The two teenagers accused in the case appeared in court.
