Hunter Scheduled For Jury Trial
WARSAW — Judge David Cates rejected a plea agreement for a Goshen teen charged with sexual battery today, Oct. 2, in the Kosciusko County Superior 1 Court.
Cameron Douglas Hunter, 18, was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail on April 6 on a charge of count I sexual battery, a level 6 felony. The charges stem from events that occurred Sept. 8, 2016, when Hunter was still a minor.
Cates began the hearing by stating that, although the original purpose of today’s hearing was for a plea acceptance and sentencing, based on information received regarding indirect contempt, a petition for citation for contempt has recently been filed. This was based on an allegation that Hunter was in violation of the court’s order for modification of pretrial pleas.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katy Hampton said the state is prepared to show evidence regarding this matter. Hunter’s attorney, Dana Leon, requested a continuation, citing insufficient notice. The hearing on information in contempt and rule to show cause is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 9.
In today’s hearing, Cates rejected the plea agreement and scheduled Hunter for a pretrial conference at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 29, 2018 with a two-day jury trial to take place at 9 a.m. March 13.
The victim’s mother gave an emotional victim impact statement, directing her comments to Hunter, as she said, “Today I address you, not as a person we tried to help and a person I loved, but as the monster you are – the monster who stole my baby’s innocence.”
Cates addressed Hunter, stating, “It appears that, as you sit here today, you have not been accepted into any community corrections program, which is a requirement of the plea agreement.”
“In my view, I don’t think the plea is adequate because it does not include time for incarceration,” Cates continued, before rejecting the plea agreement.
After Cates made his ruling, there was an outburst in the courtroom, when the victim’s father, appearing distressed, questioned loudly, “So he’s going to f***ing walk again?”
At that time, the victim’s father was restrained by family members, and security officers cleared the courtroom.