Judge changes plea deal after teen Tweets displeasure - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Judge changes plea deal after teen Tweets displeasure

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By Jaimie Weiss - bio | email
Savannah Deitrich Savannah Deitrich
The judge in the case. The judge in the case.
The two teenagers accused in the case appeared in court. The two teenagers accused in the case appeared in court.

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.

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